Lineouts! 08/15/13: Soriano is streaking, Goldschmidt is awesome and expanded replay

MLB Hot Topics

Expansion of MLB replay a major task by Bob Nightengale -- USA Today Sports

Joe Torre and Tony La Russa gave their presentations to owner's on whether there should be instant replay beyond home run review.  Right now it looks as if coaches will have NFL-style challenges, where they get a certain number per game, which ultimately would slow the pace of the game down. They are looking to implement this system beginning next year with a start up fee from anywhere between $25 to $40 million.

Marlins prodigy Jose Fernandez speaks volumes with season that's in class of Doc Gooden by Jeff Passan -- Yahoo Sports

Another great start by Jose Fernandez Tuesday gets the history books out again, as he is being compared to Doc Gooden's 20-year-old season. Gooden had a 229 ERA+ during that season, while Fernandez has a 158 ERA+, the second-best. If you gave me the option between Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez I think I would resort to a coin flip at this point. Although Harvey does have better stuff, I think Fernandez's age boosts his value for me.

Soriano's seven RBIs power Yanks past Halos by Bryan Hoch -- MLB.com

Alfonso Soriano is on his normal tear where he carries a team on his back for a few weeks stretch at a time, where he did so often in Chicago with the Cubs. Soriano has 13 RBI in his last two games, along with four home runs. He became only the third person ever to have six RBI in consecutive games, and the first time a Yankee has hit consecutive multi-HR games since Jason Giambi did it in 2005.  It's hard to say there isn't a hotter hitter in baseball than Soriano right now.

The Sabermetrics Community

Finding Value in Pitcher Inconsistency by Matt Hunter -- FanGraphs

Matt Hunter wrote a great in-depth article on trying to find value within pitcher's contributions to his team winning or losing the ballgame.  He takes a look at winning percentage by IP and RA and puts it in to perspective what a pitcher really contributed over a season to keeping his team in the ballgame.

Paul Goldschmidt is awesome by David Schoenfield -- ESPN

Paul Goldschmidt became the ninth player since 1963 Tuesday night to have 0.4 WPA in a single game more than seven times. Only two players have done it more than Goldschmidt during a single season: Steve Finley with the Padres in 1996, and Bobby Bonds with the Giants in 1973. Goldy really knows how to put the D-Backs on his back when needed.

Big money underperformers playing a role in Indians' slide by Mike Axisa -- CBS Sports

Mike Axisa brings up the fact that Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher aren't truly living up to their contracts in just one season. Regression could be the case for both of these players -- who had pretty good years in 2012 -- but I wouldn't want to rely on these two guys to carry the team down the stretch.

New at SBNation MLB

Lifetime bans and the similarities between gambling and steroids by Grant Brisbee -- SB Nation

This article was retweeted Wednesday night by Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper, citing that this was top notch analysis, and I tend to agree with Len. He looks at the difference in the public's view between gambling and steroids, and what should the result be of both of these illegal actions in the sport.

Comparing past Mike Trout to present Yasiel Puig by Marc Normandin -- SB Nation

Marc isn't trying to say that Puig is in any way Mike Trout -- but he is comparing Puig's 2013 with Trout's 2012. As he looks at it, it seems as though Puig is having a better offensive year right now in terms of OPS+, but that is with 70 less games played right now than Trout played last season. If Puig keeps it up and keeps making quick adjustments, he could ultimately have a better year in terms of hitting than Trout by rate -- but not anywhere near what Trout did defensively and base running. To be fair, Puig's arm is one of the best, if not the best in the game. Take a look for yourself here from Wednesday night.

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All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.

Anthony Bauer is a writer at Beyond The Box Score. You can follow him on Twitter at @skipbauer22.

More from Beyond the Box Score:

• Mike Trout and the inevitable contract negotiation
• Do pitchers get more efficient with experience?
• Matt Dominguez and a line in the sand
• Lineouts! 08/14/13: Cabrera's mashes, the Twins fall apart and Anraku returns
• The Smallest Sample Size 8/14/13: Multi-homer madness