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Prospectus Hit List for August 1



by Matt Sussman

Hit List for July 29 Hit List for August 5
Teams are ordered based on Adjusted Hit List Factor, a computer generated number, and the author isn't responsible for the order of the teams.

Wouldn't trade these jokes for Rich Hill, but would trade them for Chris Sale, if you're offering.

RkTmWLW1W2W3HLFAHLFWin Div%Win WC%Playoff%1-Day7-Day
1

63

41

69.2

73.0

71.4

.665

.660

96.9%

2.7%

99.5%

0.1%

0.4%

The Cubs had an extra vial of magic Jake Arrieta dust that they sprayed on Brian Matusz for his first Cubs start. It did not work. Turns out the vial was just full of turmeric.
2

61

44

64.9

67.5

67.1

.620

.615

88.9%

8.3%

97.2%

-1.1%

1.8%

Prediction: they will neither win nor lose the Mark Melancon trade, just like every other trade, because no matter who the Nationals acquire, they always turn out to be a Wash.
3

59

46

60.8

67.0

66.8

.604

.599

61.8%

29.6%

91.4%

2.1%

2.5%

The Dodgers won 9-7 on Friday despite a 73-minute seventh inning where they gave up seven runs and scored five of their own. It was just enough time for Vin Scully to completely annotate the entire Sue Grafton alphabet novels.
4

60

42

61.1

60.9

59.6

.592

.597

90.2%

7.2%

97.4%

1.0%

1.2%

You how Philly fans booed Santa Claus? Well now Cleveland fans are going to be famous for booing No Trade Clause.
5

57

46

59.4

62.6

62.6

.587

.591

36.2%

35.6%

71.8%

4.4%

-9.0%

Hindsight is 20/20, but perhaps in the offseason the Red Sox would have been better off signing David Price.
6

59

46

60.8

62.3

62.4

.582

.587

43.2%

34.6%

77.8%

-4.5%

9.2%

Giving up a four-spot in the 12th inning, with Drew Storen already traded days ago, is almost too convenient an alibi for us not to look into it.
7

56

49

61.5

63.9

63.6

.583

.579

3.0%

47.4%

50.5%

-8.4%

8.7%

Usually "Jerome Williams found his way on the 25-man roster" is a pretty decent indicator of how your season is going, but once again the Cardinals broke the rule.
8

61

44

58.4

59.1

58.6

.564

.559

37.9%

43.4%

81.2%

4.1%

-1.3%

Bruce Bochy pinch-hit Madison Bumgarner for Matt Cain, then had Jeff Samardzija pinch run for him en route to a run, so you know what? Give all other 29 teams the DH and see if they care.
9

55

49

56.1

55.6

54.1

.531

.536

16.2%

22.6%

38.7%

-6.8%

-22.4%

It took 20 plate appearances for Alex Bregman to record his first major league base hit. So just 59,980 more PAs and he should make it to 3,000.
10

56

48

53.7

55.2

54.8

.528

.533

9.3%

38.0%

47.3%

5.4%

32.1%

The Tigers bullpen gave up just one earned run on the weekend that Todd Jones was honored. Man, you couldn't have picked a worse weekend.
11

59

45

54.8

52.7

52.8

.527

.532

19.6%

32.0%

51.6%

6.0%

-12.3%

I don't care how much of a dad it makes me, from now on I'm calling him Wade Frequent Flyer Miley.
12

57

48

54.9

56.0

55.8

.533

.528

6.1%

32.8%

38.9%

5.0%

8.2%

Andrew Cashner revealed the worst part about the first week after shaving a long beard: all those pimples got nowhere to hide.
13

52

50

54.3

53.1

53.0

.520

.525

10.0%

13.1%

23.0%

-4.9%

-2.7%

Dae ho Lee has a ways to go, but he is slowly working our way into the empty void left by Adam Dunn and Adam Dunn's batting average.
14

62

44

53.9

51.3

51.4

.516

.521

73.8%

10.7%

84.5%

2.6%

11.3%

Lucas Harrell went from released by the Tigers' Double-A team to signed by Atlanta and traded for a prospect to the division-leading Rangers. And of course his first Rangers appearance was a quality start.
15

54

50

53.1

55.2

55.7

.524

.519

5.0%

27.3%

32.3%

1.8%

-15.7%

The bad news is the Mets can't trade for Yoenis Cespedes again, but that doesn't mean they won't try.
16

52

53

53.3

53.6

52.7

.504

.499

0.4%

2.1%

2.5%

-1.1%

1.6%

Kind of was hoping that the Rockies would be buyers at the deadline, just so they would know how it feels.
17

52

52

48.4

49.6

50.0

.481

.486

1.1%

3.3%

4.3%

-1.6%

-3.1%

Nine years ago, Tyler Clippard was a young reliever in pinstripes. Four trades and a free agency signing later ...
... are you ready for it?
The Clippard has come home to roost.
18

52

51

51.2

48.0

48.9

.486

.481

0.1%

6.3%

6.4%

-2.4%

-6.4%

The Pirates winning percentage in Miller Park since 2007 is now .209, or roughly what Chase d'Arnaud's batting average as a Pirate was.
19

51

54

49.0

47.7

48.2

.466

.471

0.5%

2.5%

3.0%

-1.2%

-1.2%

It's time for a Tim Anderson strikeout-to-walk rate update! We're up to 57-2, which up from last week's rating of "maybe he just needs glasses."
20

47

58

52.6

47.0

47.4

.462

.467

0.0%

0.1%

0.1%

-0.1%

-0.0%

Huston Street gave up five runs in an appearance for just the second time in his career and the first time against a team not named Houston.
21

42

61

46.3

49.4

50.7

.457

.462

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

It's been mayhem for Tampa Bay in the last couple weeks as no Rays starting pitcher has been able to complete a start without at least a dozen scouts rushing onto the field and physically examining them. Sure, it's flattering, but it's not the time.
22

49

55

45.5

44.0

44.9

.441

.446

0.1%

0.3%

0.3%

-0.4%

-3.0%

It doesn't matter that the Royals are now on pace to win 76 games just like PECOTA said, because projection systems can't feel feelings, so the Royals still win this battle of wits.
23

47

56

45.4

43.6

43.5

.436

.431

0.0%

0.2%

0.2%

0.0%

0.2%

Jonathan Lucroy knows there are no Culver's in Cleveland, so this was an easy veto.
24

47

58

44.0

42.7

42.8

.420

.425

0.0%

0.1%

0.1%

0.0%

-0.1%

There is a nonzero chance the A's traded Billy Burns to the Royals thinking they had an agreement to trade Billy Butler.
25

40

64

44.2

45.2

44.8

.419

.424

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

With Eduardo Nunez already dealt, their next highest asset of value is this old photo of Brad Radke. Laugh all you want, but this still has value for the right team that doesn't have one.
26

45

60

47.0

42.6

43.2

.423

.418

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.0%

It looks like the Padres will continue to trade every single one of their starting pitchers until Edwin Jackson becomes a viable asset. Fingers crossed.
27

43

62

43.5

44.0

45.1

.418

.413

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.0%

A wacky and wild trade deadline was exactly the right time for the Diamondback to designate their last season's Opening Day starter for assignment. No one outside of this paragraph will have noticed.
28

48

59

41.9

40.6

40.5

.400

.395

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.0%

-0.0%

In his first 336 PA, Cesar Hernandez unintentionally walked 17 times. In his next 40 PA, he had 10 unintentional walks. No word on if this sudden plate discipline was intentional.
29

37

68

37.4

40.9

41.1

.372

.368

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

The Braves are still at an MLB-worst 65 home runs, but with plenty of season left should be able to surpass Barry Bonds' single season mark.
30

42

62

38.9

33.6

34.3

.358

.353

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

If that was Jay Bruce's last game with Cincinnati, he will be higher on the Reds' all time home run list than Ken Griffey, Jr. and Eric Davis. If it's not his last game with them, then well this is awkward.