FanGraphs | Jay Jaffe: What does a Hall of Fame case look like for Lou Pinella and George Steinbrenner? The former had a so-so major league career and a fiery tenure as manager, and Steinbrenner was “cartoon villain” who, still, changed the game quite a bit. We shall see if either is enough for the Veterans’ Committee.
Baseball Prospectus | Matthew Trueblood ($): Whit Merrifield is a revelation for a downtrodden Royals team, but he could be excellent trade fodder as they start their next rebuild. Merrifield will be cost-controlled for one, but his Statcast numbers show some excellent hard-hit rates that could predict more offensive success.
The Athletic | Eno Sarris ($): Bob Melvin is Manager of the Year, but this is more about how impossible it really is to vote on such an award. Do managers help a team over-perform projections? How much is bullpen management valued? Do they add “hidden value” off the field? Do bunts and steals even matter anymore? All of these come into play when voting on such a subjective award.