Around the SaberSphere 11/28: Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Madson, Trade Value Rankings

Russell Carlton of Baseball Prospectus gives us an idea of what the effects of adderall are in various cases and how they relate to baseball Baseball Prospectus | Baseball Therapy: The Truth About Adderall

For catchers like Ruiz, there might be an extra incentive. Calling a game is like a three-hour final exam where you are constantly trying to balance what is working for the pitcher, what he can throw, what the batter is vulnerable to, and what he might be expecting on this next pitch. I’ve never done it, but I have to assume that it’s mentally exhausting. I can imagine the temptation that a "gramme is better than a damme." (A billion points for catching that reference.)

Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs analyzes Ryan Madson's signing with the Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Madson: Bounceback Player for a Bounceback Team | FanGraphs Baseball

So there’s a certain appropriateness to the Angels and Madson now coming to a contract agreement. Madson re-entered the market as a free agent after not pitching, and though he still has to pass a physical, and though we still don’t know of the terms, it sure looks like Madson’s joining the Angels for a year and a low base, with the usual incentives for a player in Madson’s position.

Jonah Keri of Grantland released the final part of his MLB trade value rankings: Rating the players (and contracts) in Major League Baseball, Part 2 - Grantland

Still, there would seem to be a clear pecking order here. Trout just put up the best season by any under-21 position player in baseball history; Harper was about as good as Miguel Montero. They were both rookies, Trout was much better in his rookie season, ergo Trout wins. Or does he?

Rob Neyer of Baseball Nation also released the final part of a similar series: More E-Longo Candidates (Part Deux) - Baseball Nation

Anyway, the Pirates already lay claim to Andrew McCutchen's talents through 2018, so why not four more years? Sure, McCutchen will be 35 in 2022. But he seems like a genuinely outstanding person, and there's no reason to think he won't still be good then. Sure, you could take a flyer on Starling Marte. But he's only two years younger than McCutchen.

Dave Studeman of the Hardball Times gives us some idea of how Stephen Strasburg is discussed in the Hardball Times Annual: Stephen Strasburg and the Hardball Times Annual

Following through on their plans, the Washington Nationals shut down Strasburg, banking on a playoff rotation of Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler. In related developments, students stop studying for tests figuring they know the material cold, drivers stop wearing seat belts figuring they won't get into accidents, and the army stops issuing Kevlar vests assuming that the enemy can't shoot straight.