Nothing to do with this post, I just like this photo I took of today's eclipse
The Baltimore Orioles announced today that they have granted Paul Janish his release from the AAA Norfolk Tides. Previously, they had said he would play out his contract, including through the end of MLB season if needed. But I guess they don't need him any more, with Ruben Tejada outrighted to Norfolk and JJ Hardy there on rehab assignment. And, sadly, the Orioles are playing so poorly they are unlikely to need to call up anyone for the stretch run or the post-season, no matter what happens.
Paul said he couldn't wait to start at Rice, so this is probably good news for him.
He's had quite a career. A lot of players were drafted out of Rice that year. Janish has lasted longer than any of them.
Jeff Niemann (#4 overall) was probably the most successful of the lot, by money earned and Wins Above Replacement, but he had just a 7 year career. First rounder (#3 overall) Phil Humber played 10 years (and had that perfect game). First round pick Wade Townsend didn't sign that year and ended up playing just 5 years (the last year in independent ball) and never made it to the big leagues (shoulder injury). Fourth rounder Josh Baker played only three years and never made it out of A-ball. Tenth rounder Chris Kolkhorst played two years, peaking in high-A.
Paul Janish is retiring with 14 years in pro baseball, including parts of 9 seasons in the big leagues. Quite an accomplishment.
“I have a lot of vested interest in Rice, and having the opportunity to coach under him, it’s just a pretty cool deal,” Janish said Saturday from Rochester, N.Y., where the Tides were scheduled to play the third game of a four-game series. “And being able to do it at home, where I’m from and stuff – a lot of stars aligned, to be honest with you. It’s just the right time to do it.
“The only complication, really, was that I’m still playing. But at this point in my career, it’s pretty clear to me with this opportunity being presented what’s supposed to happen.”
...Janish’s career .983 fielding percentage in the big leagues has helped establish his reputation as one of the game’s most sure-handed shortstops. His friendly, approachable demeanor has made him a clubhouse favorite among teammates and the media.
...“Paul has got strong leadership qualities and that will definitely help, and of course his character is impeccable,” Graham said in a statement. “I think it’s all good. It’s an all-win situation. We’re really happy to have him, and I think the Rice community will be real happy to have him.”
“I am of course very happy to have Paul come back home to Rice and join the coaching staff,” said coach Graham, who in 2017 completed his 26th season at the helm of the Owl program. “Paul has always had high character and I think he will be a great teacher and coach.
“He was a team captain for us in (the national championship season of) 2003,” Graham explained. “For all the talented players we had on that team, I am not certain we still could have won the national championship without Paul Janish at shortstop. He was a great player and great leader. His leadership qualities are among the reasons we first recruited him, well before 2003.
“I don’t think I could ask for a better transition of going from playing to the next chapter,” Janish said. “I have long kept in touch with coach Graham and always tried to visit when I have been in town. Now having a chance to come back and coach at Rice, under coach Graham, is very important to me. There are a lot of things that had to align for this to happen, and I am very thankful. I cannot wait to begin.”
Wayne Graham also tells the story about the last time he was ejected from a game...when Janish was playing for him.
“I will add that the last time for me to be ejected from a game (in 2003) was for arguing with an umpire when Paul was called out on strikes,” Graham recalled. “I was thrown out of a game because I have always been a big believer in his judgement.”
"He’s a quality human being. His priorities are a good husband, a good father, and then try to be a good shortstop," [Buck] Showalter said. "He’s got things in order."
That last bit reminds me of one of Janish's former teammates, Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo's first priority was always baseball. But now his rubber arm has finally given out. He's 40 years old, and doesn't expect to come off the 60-day DL. He knows his career is over. Like Janish, he will be retiring after this season. Unlike Janish, he doesn't want to be a coach, though it sounds like they would welcome him if he did. He's ready for life beyond baseball.
He’s ready for his second chapter. He said he’ll pop back into the baseball world every so often, but he wants to catch up with the people he’s missed the last two decades.
“The ride the last 22 years, it was my life’s work. It’s what I set out to do, man,” he said. “Like I tell people, if my body would hold up as if I was a 30-year-old guy for the next 50 years in this game, I’d probably continue to pitch. And then you’d look around and all your friends would be dead and you would have done nothing else but play this game.
“In a lot of ways, the exit from this is an opportunity to enjoy the millions of other things that are out in the world.”
Arroyo used to tell young players to simplify their lives, so they could concentrate on baseball. Unlike many players, he never bought a big mansion. He lived in a small apartment, so he wouldn't have to worry about maintaining a house. He never married or had children, seeing them as a distraction he could not afford.
There's a lot of sacrifice involved in a career in baseball. Maybe it's good that it doesn't last forever.
I'm not surprised he's contemplating retirement. He’s been talking about the end of his playing career for awhile now. I was planning to go see the Tides in Rochester this weekend, in part because I suspected it might be my last chance to see him play.
But I am surprised he's returning to Rice. I was expecting him to join the Baltimore Orioles minor league coaching staff. Buck Showalter said he wanted Janish as a coach when he retired, and Janish seemed happy at the idea. I guess Rice would be a more appealing option to a guy with three little kids. Less travel, and family around to help out.
I am disappointed that it's looking like Janish won't be on the big league roster for Player's Weekend. I wonder what name he would choose? Maybe "Soft-J," the nickname given to him in Cincinnati?
Tony Cingrani, now a Dodger, is going with "Grani." Tyler Duffey is "The Doof." Brock Holt is "Brock Star." Anthony Rendon is "Ant." At least they didn't go with their real first or last names, like a lot of players did.
Paul Janish was the hero in Friday's Norfolk Tides game. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, he hit a blooper over the second baseman to drive in the winning run, sending his former team, the Louisville Bats, to defeat.
They interviewed him yesterday before the game. They asked him if he felt any pressure, coming to bat in the bottom of the 9th with the game on the line. His response was, "Nah, I just didn't want to play extra innings."
The announcers loved that answer, but I guess the baseball gods were not amused. The game after that interview went 16 innings. Both teams ended up using position players as pitchers. (Not Janish, alas.) Hernan Iribarren pitched three shutout innings for Louisville. Jesus Montero (yes, the former Yankees catching prospect) pitched the last inning for the Tides, and took the loss.
Janish did not play in today's day game. He probably wouldn't have anyway, it being a day game after a night game, but after 16 innings, I'd have been really shocked if they started him again.
And it's possible he'll get another call up tomorrow. Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was hit by a pitch on his wrist in today's Orioles game, and the x-rays are reportedly "not good."
Hardy is likely headed to the DL. They could let Ruben Tejada make most of the starts at SS, or they might move Manny Machado to SS and let Tejada cover 3B. In any case, they'll need another backup infielder. It could be Janish getting the call, or another Norfolk player. Luis Sardinas is another possibility, though Janish has hit better and is better on defense. Johnny Giavotella has hit very well in Norfolk, but his glove is so bad it almost cost him his spot on the Tides during spring training.
Another possibility is that they'll call up Pedro Alvarez to play 3B if Machado moves to SS. Alvarez has been in a deep slump this season, and his glove is so bad the O's are trying to transition him to right field. But El Toro has an opt out clause, and the O's may be reluctant to lose him.
Former Braves teammates Paul Janish and Chris Johnson at an O's spring training game
Well, I have to say, I wasn't expecting this. Paul Janish was called up by the Orioles about three weeks ago, when utility infielder Ryan Flaherty went on the DL with shoulder inflammation. I figured his roster spot was safe until Flaherty came off the DL.
But the O's had other plans. They acquired Ruben Tejada from the Yankees, two days ago. They announced he was being assigned to AAA, but today purchased his contract and designated Janish for assignment.
Janish has had all of five at-bats in his three weeks with the O's this year, so it seems odd that they would even bother to switch utility infielders.
Unless they are hoping Tejada can be more than a utility infielder. JJ Hardy has been really struggling this year. And it's the last year of his contract. Baltimore may be hoping Tejada can be the starting SS, at least part of the time.
Janish can refuse a minor league assignment and elect free agency if he clears waivers, but I expect he will report to Norfolk. He has in previous years, and this year, he's moved his family to Norfolk. It sounds like the Orioles have offered him a coaching job once his playing days are done.
Here's a short interview MASN did with Janish last weekend.
He talks about finishing his Rice degree, interning in real estate, and wanting to stay in the game even after he retires from playing. And about what a great experience winning the CWS was, and how he's still good friends with the guys he played with back then. (He said that when he was in Cincinnati, too: that winning the CWS with Rice was the best experience he ever had in baseball, because they won it all.)
Roch Kubatko had another interview with Janish the other day, that was kind funny. Janish said he wanted to be the emergency catcher and the disaster relief pitcher (roles he filled in Cincinnati). Kubatko warned him it could be dangerous. The O’s have had to put two catchers on the DL with...um...testicular injuries. Janish said he’d be okay, because with two boys and a girl, he’s not planning on having any more kids.
Good ol’ Janny, always ready to take one for the team. Maybe he'll get called up again later this year.
Meanwhile, the Reds activated Tony Cingrani today. He's been on the DL for a couple of months with an oblique injury. The Reds have given up on Cingrani starting; he's just not durable enough. But he's been solid out of the pen, at least when healthy.
Paul Janish turns a double play for the Norfolk Tides
If the first game of the season is on opening day, then the last game must be on closing day, right? Today is "closing day" for AAA. There's still the postseason for teams that have made it, but for most minor leaguers, the season is over.
Unless they get called up to the big leagues. The Orioles say they are still considering calling up Paul Janish. They seem to really like him, but they're facing a bit of a roster crunch, and they have other needs. Lots and lots of other needs.
If they don't call Janish up tomorrow, I assume they will send him to Sarasota to work out with the other players they are keeping warm on the backburner in case they are needed. Though Janish was not on the roster by August 31, he can still be added to the postseason roster if he replaces someone on the DL.
Paul Janish is making a great first impression with the Orioles. He got a hit in his first at-bat the other day, and made a nice diving grab.
Today was even better. He wasn't even supposed to be in the lineup, but ended up subbed in when the CFer was injured. (No, he didn't play CF. They moved the SS to 1B and 1B to CF, which meant they needed a SS.) He was the only Oriole to get a hit off Yordano Ventura - and he got two of them.
J.J. Hardy has really struggled this year, probably due to injury. His wRC+ is just 52. Janish won't continue batting .500, but even if he doesn't hit a lick, his defense might make him the better choice. He's opening up some eyes in Baltimore, that's for sure.
He'll likely play in the next two games in Texas, with lefties as the probable pitchers.
The Reds announced today that Tony Cingrani will be moved to the bullpen. He does not seem happy about this. I think he really wanted to be a starter.
But his heavy reliance on his fastball has raised red flags for many. Not to mention his recurring shoulder issues. I think there's some concern that if he pitches multiple innings, fatigue will increase his risk of injury.
Meanwhile, former Red Paul Janish has healed much faster than anticipated. He played in a minor league game last weekend, and DH'd in the "B" game yesterday.
He's DHing because the Orioles didn't want him to throw across the diamond yet. There was some talk of using him at 1B, where he wouldn't have to throw as far. Though he's now throwing 120 feet, so if he's not ready now, he's close.
Sure doesn't feel like spring yet here in the northeast, but spring training is underway in Arizona and Florida.
Paul Janish hasn't played in a game yet. I thought at first he was just buried on the depth chart, with Rey Navarro, Everth Cabrera, etc. signed after he was. But no, he's injured. He had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow last month. He's hitting off tee and just started fielding grounders. He can't throw yet. He's hoping to get into an actual game March 20 or 21, but admits that's optimistic.
Haven't seen Tony Cingrani yet, either. Not sure if he's injured or just hasn't gotten into a game yet. He's supposedly being considered as a starter, but might end up in the pen.
He did give up a home run to Billy Hamilton in batting practice, so he is pitching.
Update: Cingrani is starting tomorrow (Friday). I guess he really is in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation.
Paul Janish got a minor league deal and spring training invite from the Baltimore Orioles. That means he'll be back at Ed Smith Stadium, formerly the spring training home of the Reds before they decamped for Arizona.
Supposedly, the Orioles wanted a veteran shortstop to work with their young pitchers in Norfolk. Janish also has a chance to make the team as a utility guy.
The Orioles have a reputation for shuffling the roster constantly, even calling up and sending down players who are out of options (asking them to decline if claimed by other teams). So even if Janish doesn't make the roster out of spring training, he probably has a better chance of being called up with Baltimore than with KC and Colorado last year.
And if he does end up a Norfolk Tide, that's convenient for me. I see a lot more IL games than PCL.
For awhile, I was wondering if the Royals were going to make the post-season. But it now looks like they will, probably as the first wild card.
I'm really baffled that they aren't carrying another utility infielder. They've got no depth. With any other team, I'd think Paul Janish had a good chance of being called up. But the Royals are weird.
The Omaha Storm Chasers defeated the Pawtucket Red Sox in a rain-delayed game Tuesday night to take the AAA Championship...again.
Paul Janish is somewhere in the above photo, but I couldn't pick him out. I did recognize him this photo, #21, front and center.
George Grande and Jim Kaat called the game for NBC. Grande is a Reds announcer, so he was pretty familiar with Paul Janish. He said some nice things about him. According to him, the Storm Chasers had the worse defense in the league until Janish came on board. They ended up solidly in the middle of the pack. (Hey, one man can only do so much.) He also said the Storm Chasers manager pointed to Brian Bocock and Paul Janish when asked who the leaders in the clubhouse were.
FWIW...the Royals put backup SS Christian Colon on the 15-day DL yesterday. The timing seems a bit odd. He broke his finger 10 days ago. With the expanded rosters, there's no need to DL him if they want to call up someone else. The only reason to put him on the DL is to substitute someone else for the postseason roster...someone who was not on the 25 man roster on Aug. 31.
They could have waited until they actually had to set the postseason roster, so it's still a little odd. I think what this means is that they don't think he'll be healthy enough to play this year. Also, DLing him the day after Omaha's season ended suggests that they're considering calling up someone from the AAA team.
The Royals have not called up anyone to replace Colon yet. Today's an off day for them, so they might not make a move until tomorrow. Assuming they even make a move.
In other news, Bryan Price thinks Tony Cingrani's role might be in the pen next year.
"I think the more he starts, the more it becomes apparent that he definitely needs to improve the breaking ball and the change-up or he'll be better served pitching out of the bullpen."
Ugh. I'm afraid they're going to do the same thing with him that they did with Aroldis Chapman. The Reds see next year as their window. In the long run, they might be better off letting Cingrani perfect his secondary pitches in AAA, but they're in "win now" mode and don't have time for that.
Both the IL and the PCL went the distance this year. Omaha won Game 5 yesterday, so they are PCL champions for the second year in a row.
The announcers noted that Janish had been on the Rice team that won the College World Series in Omaha eleven years ago.
There's one more game: the one-game PCL vs. IL championship, played in Charlotte, NC this year. That's tomorrow night.
As for whether Janish will be called up after Omaha's season is done...I haven't a clue. They could definitely use some infield depth in Kansas City, but Ciriaco might get the call, rather than Janish. It's also possible they'll try to stick with Colon, broken finger and all.
If I were the GM, I'd pick Janish. But then, if I were the GM, I wouldn't have let the team go without a backup SS for most of the season. Anyways, Janish has a better glove; Ciriaco's been a better hitter, but not that much better. But Ciriaco was called up when rosters expanded last year, and that's probably an advantage. They know him.
It might be moot, anyway. The Royals are collapsing, and are in danger of missing the postseason. I feel so sorry for their fans. They got their hopes us this year. If they are dashed, it's going to be ugly. The natives are definitely getting restless.
This might create an opening for Paul Janish. Colon is probably the only reserve player on the roster you'd want to see in the middle infield.
OTOH, the Rockies seem much more concerned about offense than defense (and I can understand why). And they have Cal Ripken starting at SS. Alcides Escobar has started at SS every game this season. My mind is boggled.
The Storm Chasers celebrate after clinching a playoff berth. I think that's Paul Janish at the far right. Eric Hosmer is jumping on someone.
The Omaha Storm Chasers clinched a postseason berth in the wee hours last night, in a rain-delayed game. Today was the last game of the regular season, and it ended up being called early due to "travel curfew." Janish's former team, the Sky Sox, wanted to get the heck out of dodge. With the game meaningless - the Sky Sox are the cellar dwellers of their division - they wanted to make sure they made their flight. So the game was called with two outs in the bottom of the 8th.
Janish did not play in today's game. I wondered if he'd been called up, but it looks like it was just a day game after a night game thing. The Royals have announced their September callups. Johnny Giavotella was the infielder who got the call.
Looks like the Royals are going with Jayson Nix as their backup SS. Even though he's pretty horrendous there. They do have a SS on the 40-man roster, Christian Colon, but it seems he's not being called up, either.
Janish went 2 for 3 with a double and walk last night, in the last game of the regular season. That makes his line .268 / .323 / .359 for the season, .314 / .375 / .438 for the Storm Chasers. I assume he'll start at SS in the PCL playoffs, so last night wasn't his last game.
In other news, Oakland has DFA'd Joe Savery. He put up decent numbers this year, and someone will likely take a flyer on him. But he will not be eligible to play in the postseason.
Well, the Reds traded Jonathan Broxton to division rival Milwaukee today. It was evident well before this, but that trade makes it official: put a fork in the Reds, they're done.
Tony Cingrani still has not thrown a pitch since mid-June. He has some kind of shoulder problem. Which is apparently much more serious than they thought at first, or at least that they let on.
No reason to rush him back now, that's for sure. Hopefully he'll be healthy and ready to go next season.
For teams with more hope than the Reds, tonight is the deadline for setting up the roster for the postseason. Rosters expand tomorrow; any player you want to use in the postseason must be added to the roster tonight.
In theory. In practice, any player anywhere in the team's organization as of midnight tonight is eligible for the postseason, if they are substituted for someone on the DL.
The Royals plan to add three players to their roster tonight, all young prospects. Not sure how they will make room, but they have only three players on the DL. And one of them, Hosmer, is expected to be back for the postseason, so it's really two spots for roster substitution. Most teams have more. Some even stock up the DL at the deadline, to increase their options. This might be bad news for Paul Janish's chances of making the postseason roster.
The Omaha Storm Chasers game is in rain delay now. They have a good chance of making the PCL post season, so the Royals might want to wait to call up players until after it's over. But they're going to have a bit of a roster crunch, at least if they want to use any of the late callups in the playoffs.
I dunno, normally, I'd expect Janish to have a good chance of being added to the postseason roster. But the Royals are different. Maybe it's because they're not used to being in the postseason, but they don't seem to be doing the kinds of things teams usually do in their situation.
Not to mention, they're kind of collapsing. They might let their postseason opportunity slip away.
An African serval cat - wild cousin of Mat Latos' savannah cat, Cat Latos
Been offline the past couple of weeks. I joined my parents on an "adventure" trip to Africa. Which meant no running water, no electricity, and definitely no Internet. (Not to say all Africa is like that - we spent a lot of time off the beaten path.)
I ended up sitting next to a professional athlete in the plane on the way back. Not a baseball player. A basketball player - Tanzania-born Hasheem Thabeet. Man, is he tall.
Anyways, I returned to find a lot had happened in the world of baseball. A new commissioner has been named. The Reds have fallen below .500 and are solidly in fourth place in the division; their season is likely done, though apparently owner Bob Castellini is still hoping.
The Reds have been decimated by injury. Including Tony Cingrani. He has not thrown a pitch since June, and at this point it seems unlikely he'll return this year. Supposedly he'll start a throwing program soon, but with the Reds having nothing to play for except draft picks, there's no reason to push him.
Things seem to be looking up for Paul Janish, though. He is en fuego for the Omaha Storm Chasers. He went 2 for 4 with a double and a home run last night (off lefty John Lannan). He's OPSing .877 for the Storm Chasers. .345 / .408 / .469
And the Royals took over the top spot in their division while I was gone. They are looking like a legit playoff team. That's good news for Janish. With the post-season roster rules, many teams like to carry a player like Janish: versatile guy who can be a solid backup at SS. Be interesting to see if they add him to the roster before the Aug. 31 deadline. (Even if they don't, he can still be added later.)
Janish also got a shout-out from former teammate and still good friend Jay Bruce. Bruce participated in the ice bucket challenge, and challenged Janish to do the same. Which probably means Janish will be getting an ice water bath and writing a check soon. All for a good cause, of course.
Today is still sadly baseball-less when it comes to big league games, but AAA has started up again. The CBS Sports Network's "Minor League Game of the Week" airs tonight at 9pm ET. It's the Omaha Storm Chasers at the New Orleans Zephyrs. Paul Janish is starting at SS for the Storm Chasers.
Former Reds prospect Donnie Joseph is a Zephyr. The Reds had really high hopes for him at one point, but traded him for established reliever Jonathan Broxton.
Apparently, the Royals traded him to the Marlins. Joseph was a Storm Chaser not long ago.
Update: I just noticed Josh Rodriguez is New Orleans' third baseman. I'm kind of surprised he hasn't gotten more of a shot. He's put up some decent numbers in AAA.
Paul Janish has been playing (almost) every day with the Omaha Storm Chasers, and hitting pretty well. He's had several multi-hit games, including going 4 for 4 today. His ground rule double drove Brett Tomko from the game. He's hitting .333 / .405 / .364 with Omaha, good for a .769 OPS. His OPS in Colorado Springs was just .586.
Not sure why he's hitting so well now. Small sample size, of course. But also, he was hitting a lot better even before he left the Sky Sox. His June OPS was something like 200 points higher than in April and May. So maybe he just got off to a slow start. (Even though he was blistering hot in spring training - leading the Cactus League at one point.)
The Royals are currently 6.5 games back of Detroit in the AL Central, and if the season ended today, they'd be 2.5 games out of the wild card - the first runner up. They aren't out of it yet, for sure.
As expected, Paul Janish is a Storm Chaser. It appears he is their starting SS. He's wearing #21.
The Storm Chasers are a real old-timey team. The players all wear their socks high, with real stirrups. And they are all required to be clean-shaven. Janish no longer looks like a Geico caveman. (For some reason, the Sky Sox were all growing their beards out. To ZZ Top-like lengths.)
Janish got off to a decent start yesterday...against his previous team. The Storm Chasers are playing a series against the Sky Sox. Janish went 1 for 3 with a walk.
The announcers joked that Janish might have wanted to come to Omaha because that's where he won the College World Series with Rice. (Apparently, they asked him about it. He said he hadn't been back there since.) But the real reason, according to them, is that he's hoping he'll have a better chance of cracking the big league roster with the Royals.
Seems like he's pretty far down the Royals depth chart, but I guess anything's better than Colorado. They are out of contention and appear resigned to it. Which means they have no reason not to stick with Rutledge and Culberson, even if something happens to Tulowitzki.
