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SPORTS Thursday 28 July 2022
Defense matters for Stroman, MLB’s top fielding pitchers

By JAY COHEN “It’s definitely an asset,”
CHICAGO (AP) — Marcus Cubs manager David Ross
Stroman takes pregame said. “We have real talks
grounders at second base about bunt plays or the
and shortstop. He is work- threat of a bunt, you don’t
ing with SSK on his own line have to worry about the
of gloves, and there are a left side as much.”
couple in his Wrigley Field The 31-year-old Stroman
locker in various colors. was a pitcher and an in-
He takes his defense seri- fielder when he was grow-
ously especially for a pitch- ing up in New York. He
er. continued to play the field
In an age where the focus during his three seasons at
in on velocity and stuff, Duke. The right-hander was
pushing fielding even fur- selected by Toronto in the
ther into the background, first round of the 2012 ama-
Stroman is part of a small teur draft and won the AL
but proud group of pitchers Gold Glove with the Blue
mindful of the maybe one Jays in 2017. But he contin-
or two extra outs they can ues to take ground balls in
record per game because the infield between starts.
of defense. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman watches a throw to an Arizona Diamondbacks “I feel like sometimes pitch-
“Nothing I hate more than batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Thursday, May 19, 2022. ers can become robots
a weak-hit ball that drib- Associated Press with throwing techniques,”
bles on the infield and ends Stroman said, “and go-
up being a hit and now you “I think the biggest thing is is a big part of the game.” recorded a .949 fielding ing out there and taking
got the guy on first,” said you got to want to be in- The 40-year-old Wain- percentage, according to ground balls just reminds
Stroman, who signed a $71 volved in that,” Mets man- wright, a two-time Gold Sportradar. They totaled me that I have that athleti-
million, three-year contract ager Buck Showalter said. Glove winner, grew up in 312 errors and a .952 field- cism in there and I need to
with the Chicago Cubs last “A lot of guys, you see Georgia, giving him plenty ing percentage last year, use it.”
December. “So I’m go- them almost run away from of opportunities to watch compared to 137 errors The balance he shows on
ing all out always to make the ball.”Not Stroman. Or one of baseball’s best field- and a .944 fielding percent- the mound is no accident,
every play.” Stroman’s ag- Phillies left-hander Ranger ing pitchers in Greg Mad- age during the shortened either. “In the weight room
gressive approach is com- Suárez, who leads major dux. The Hall of Fame right- 2020 season and 373 errors there’s definitely a huge
mon among baseball’s top league pitchers with five to- hander won a record 18 and a .948 percentage in emphasis on balance, sta-
fielding pitchers, a group tal runs saved, according to Gold Gloves during 23 sea- 2019. bility, single leg,” Stroman
that also includes Atlanta The Fielding Bible. Or Aaron sons spent mostly with the Pitchers aren’t called on said. “I do a lot of work in
left-hander Max Fried, St. Nola, Suárez’s teammate in Braves and Chicago Cubs. to make that many plays, there hoping that it cor-
Louis right-hander Adam Philadelphia, who tops big “That’s who we grew up but their defensive ability relates and kind of shows
Wainwright and Kansas league pitchers with six run- wanting to be like,” Wain- can influence the game in when I’m out on the field.”
City right-hander Zack ners caught stealing. “The wright said. “I tried to mod- other ways. Besides hold- Like so many of his slick-
Greinke, among others. guys who are the best field- el myself after him but not ing runners on and getting fielding brethren, Stroman
Another common trait is a ers out there are the ones very well. But I tried to.” over to cover at first, they also shares an admiration
balanced finish to their mo- who usually take it most Through Tuesday’s games, also can affect how their for other pitchers pay-
tion, leaving the pitcher in seriously. In practice also,” big league pitchers had team positions the rest of its ing close attention to their
position to make the play. Wainwright said. “Fielding committed 191 errors and infielders. defense.q

MLB average salary up $1K after arbitration decisions, deals

By RONALD BLUM midpoints with the figures This year’s average would
AP Baseball Writer determined by arbitration have been a record $4.62
NEW YORK (AP) — Recent panels or agreements that million had active rosters
arbitration decisions and avoided hearings, show- not been expanded from
settlements have lifted ing an increase of $1,091. 26 to 28 through May 1
Major League Baseball’s Teams won nine of 13 cas- following the shortened
average salary by 6% from es that went to hearings. spring training, adding
the start of the 2021 sea- Players averaged players who are at the
son to $4,415,275, accord- $4,167,164 at the start of $700,000 minimum or close
ing to a study by The Asso- the 2021 season. The re- to it.
ciated Press. cord is $4,451,508 set in The new labor contract’s
When the AP first published 2017, before the salary $50 million bonus pool for
the study on April 14, the slide that angered players lower-salaried players who
average was $4,414,184. during the labor contract are not yet eligible for ar-
At the time, 23 players that expired last Decem- bitration will boost the final
were eligible for arbitra- ber. average salary; adding
tion, so the study used The players’ association that figure and dropping
midpoints of the figures uses slightly different meth- the added 60 players, the New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws against
submitted by players and odology, and calculated average would be $4.68 the Chicago Cubs during the first inning in the second baseball
teams. its 2022 opening day aver- million.q game of a doubleheader in Chicago, Saturday, July 16, 2022.
The revision replaced the age at $4,467,314. Associated Press