tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38502002452437157232024-03-12T15:58:45.643-07:00From Chavez to FenwayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-43722867148210466152017-01-06T14:41:00.000-08:002017-01-06T14:41:31.761-08:00The Cubs and their prolific defenseby Daniel Conmy<br />
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As a front office there is a certain way you want to construct your team. The easiest way to benefit is to create a team that plays better at home. With half your games at home, you give yourself a decent advantage to win all those games depending on the pitchers and hitters drafted, signed, and traded to your team. Some of these philosophies are very easily recognizable; groundball pitchers, pull hitters, and defensive wizards.<br />
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We saw the Kansas City Royals constantly discussed as a contact heavy team against a strikeout heavy pitching staff in the 2015 World Series. Was this lineup composed in a certain way to give the Royals the best chance in the playoffs? Did it just so happen that this was the case? More and more front offices are leaving less to chance and improve their club with a certain philosophy. With all that stated, did any team in 2016 play towards their home ballpark better than the rest of the pack?<br />
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The team that did better than the rest was the Chicago Cubs, but it came from a defensive standpoint.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8ntkEj_m8N_V6zJ_ZEANC2LfcTXfnmlEQp4xmRZeDTdBRwGSPOVg9KfHxHa8N2dRQpwA6NxWj2eKelQN2ZjNVFZm5nA2mxVyYzlCcqSta2GFvpxctIDRZCQb8ovs50H5shcF7ASP0LY/s1600/defense.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8ntkEj_m8N_V6zJ_ZEANC2LfcTXfnmlEQp4xmRZeDTdBRwGSPOVg9KfHxHa8N2dRQpwA6NxWj2eKelQN2ZjNVFZm5nA2mxVyYzlCcqSta2GFvpxctIDRZCQb8ovs50H5shcF7ASP0LY/s320/defense.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above are three defensive values - UZR, UZR/150, and Def - that show the superiority of the Cubs defense. The San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals are second and third in this category. I do want to stress this is not really a specialty of a home ballpark, but the importance of good defense should be stressed at all times given the data that is now readily available to the public and privately to teams.</div>
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There were only a few defenders that graded out in the negative UZR category, which means that there were no real weak links on this team defensively. While the Cubs had and still have the starpower, we see a shift in the rising of the tides. Teams are more importantly filling the back end of their 25-man roster with guys who will at least grade out to be average. </div>
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If you are not at least a league average player on a team, you will soon find your way of a major league roster. It seems like the easiest way to add value to your team is with defensive values. Of course, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series and they were led by their stellar defense. Yes, the bats and pitching were great, but the pitching staff outperformed their FIP by .62. Some of that performance can be traced back to the weak contact given up by <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/weak-contact-and-the-national-league-cy-young-race/" target="_blank">Kyle Hendricks</a>, but the Cubs defense constantly, as a unit, performed as the best defense in the league.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-27801745223647359162016-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:002016-12-30T09:32:02.879-08:00Giancarlo Stanton's contract kerfuffleby Daniel Conmy<br />
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Listening to <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/blog/daily_podcast/" target="_blank">Effectively Wild</a> has become routine in many baseball fan's lives. Sam Miller and Ben Lindbergh banter back and forth about the hypothetical often and leave questions lingering during their show. In <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=30892" target="_blank">episode 998</a>, Miller brought up <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4949&position=OF" target="_blank">Giancarlo Stanton's</a> enormous contract <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span> a 13-year/$325 million pact between him and the Miami Marlins. The breakdown of the contract looks like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjClF-fyOsglDQW-tF9RCLLuE11nH5muEfei1PYdtTLtry6-34cuRs8S6yfxiq6T8Co67gDCjwcFGx3AEnucH4r6Cb5G4y4QujaN0VHt0uFu0f3bNV8QU45gT49FveN4JFPBx265PfQI/s1600/Stanton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjClF-fyOsglDQW-tF9RCLLuE11nH5muEfei1PYdtTLtry6-34cuRs8S6yfxiq6T8Co67gDCjwcFGx3AEnucH4r6Cb5G4y4QujaN0VHt0uFu0f3bNV8QU45gT49FveN4JFPBx265PfQI/s1600/Stanton.png" /></a></div>
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Thanks to <a href="http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/miami-marlins/giancarlo-stanton-6864/" target="_blank">Spotrac</a>, we see the breakdown in age, year, and salary. This contract does include and opt-out clause after the 2020 season. Per <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/" target="_blank">Fangraphs</a>, Stanton has accumulated $196.7 million of worth since he entered the league in 2010. $44.7 million of that worth has come during the current contract. That's quite a bargain when you look at the relative contract value for 2015 and 2016. In 2017 there is an uptick in salary, but Stanton, based on Steamer, is projected to amass a 4.6 WAR. Yes, projections are just that and the real world can vary much more than a prediction. If Stanton stays in good health, the contract looks like surplus value for the Miami Marlins.</div>
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This assumption relies on the lower annual value years from the contract. At $8 million per one WAR Stanton has time, while in his supposed prime, to gather surplus value that might be lost in the later years of his contract. But, this is the issue posed by Sam Miller. The projections expect a relative move back to all-star height, but will Stanton move his value you back up to previous marks?</div>
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A larger than life <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span> literally <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span> superstar struggled immensely at the plate last season and there aren't any statistics that are extremely different from Stanton's career averages. One discernible difference is the way pitchers have attacked Stanton. A rise in sliders and curveballs led to diminished value at the plate for Stanton. 23.7 percent of pitches thrown to Stanton were sliders, compared to 19.6 percent through all seven seasons. For curveballs, Stanton saw an increase from 7.5 percent in 2015 to 9.6 percent in 2016 <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">–</span> still below the average 10.4 percent in his career.</div>
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The difference in attack from pitchers is one that is backed by the numbers. Stanton's career runs above average per 100 pitches against sliders is -0.10. That means Stanton adds slightly below average value against sliders. Every other pitcher, except splitfingers, Stanton has positive value.</div>
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In baseball, pitchers and hitters are constantly adjusting to have a slight edge. Pitchers found a weakness in Stanton and exploited it by throwing more sliders. Stanton, if he wants to be revered in the city of Miami as the larger than life superstar, has to make the adjustments to either lay off the low and away slider or somehow do damage on that pitch. </div>
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It's always difficult to justify the large cost in years and dollar amount for a superstar and we already are questioning the likelihood that Stanton will make good on his side of the contract. The first step begins with a better approach on breaking balls.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-15273428481584363082016-12-12T16:20:00.003-08:002016-12-12T16:21:20.555-08:00Market explosion for relieversby Daniel Conmy<br />
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In the postseason, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6785&position=P" target="_blank">Andrew Miller</a> was used in a creative role by Terry Francona. Miller, closer by trade, was openly used in a variety of innings not named the ninth inning. The Cleveland Baseball Team eventually lost to the Chicago Cubs in the seventh game of the World Series, but the creativity of Miller's usage led to wonder if other relievers can hold the same role.<br />
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There are two things to look into before we dive into Miller and the eventual three free agent reliever signings.<br />
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First, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3240&position=P" target="_blank">Zach Britton</a> was not used in a one-game playoff by Buck Showalter. That led to an ungodly amount of criticism of not using your <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/zach-britton-watched-the-orioles-lose/" target="_blank">best reliever at the most important part of your season</a>. This trigger sent of the baseball community into an outrage. Meanwhile, Miller was being used in a role not in the ninth inning since the trade from the New York Yankees to Cleveland. Terry Francona molded Miller into this role, but Miller also bought into the idea. In a piece written by the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/29/sports/baseball/andrew-miller-is-called-upon-for-the-fifth-inning-rollie-fingers-can-relate.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> Miller stated his trust in his manager:<br />
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"The fact that I came in the fifth is not a big deal," Miller said. "We have a lot of trust in whoever's out there. Tito [Francona] puts guys in good situations. We trust the plan and it's gonna work out."</blockquote>
Miller already received his payday -- something many relievers never see -- and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=12183&position=P" target="_blank">Cody Allen</a> assumed the closer's role. Miller was used as a fireman -- coming in to douse an upcoming rally. This reasoning was critiqued by the baseball community, but the most important constituents are the relievers that just received their enormous paychecks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4264&position=P" target="_blank">Mark Melancon</a>, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10233&position=P" target="_blank">Aroldis Chapman</a>, and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3096&position=P" target="_blank">Kenley Jansen</a> all received four- or five-year contracts and below are the contract values:<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 431px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 3986; mso-width-source: userset; width: 82pt;" width="109"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 5120; mso-width-source: userset; width: 105pt;" width="140"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2048; mso-width-source: userset; width: 42pt;" width="56"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 4608; mso-width-source: userset; width: 95pt;" width="126"></col>
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<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(47, 117, 181); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-align: left; width: 82pt;" width="109">Name</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(47, 117, 181); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 105pt;" width="140">Team</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(47, 117, 181); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 42pt;" width="56">Years</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(47, 117, 181); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 95pt;" width="126">Contract (Millions)</td>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl68" height="20" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Mark Melancon</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">San Francisco Giants</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">4</td>
<td class="xl70" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">$62 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl68" height="20" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Aroldis Chapman</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">New York Yankees</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">5</td>
<td class="xl70" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">$86 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl68" height="20" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Kenley Jansen</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">Los Angeles Dodgers</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5</td>
<td class="xl70" style="background: rgb(189, 215, 238); border-bottom: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left: none; border-right: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top: 0.5pt solid rgb(155, 194, 230); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">$80 </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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Big pay days, right? No one can argue that this is the most a reliever has received as payment since <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5975&position=P" target="_blank">Jonathan Papelbon</a>. The first question that comes to my mind and the mind of many fans is -- will they be worth it?</div>
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Everyone speculates wildly about contracts and their worth before players play out their finals days in said deal, instead, let's look into why these players were given large sums of money for such a minuscule amount of time at their position. </div>
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Wins above replacement (WAR) discredits relievers and do not give them their due, therefore, we looked into win probability added (WPA). While WAR is an accumulation statistic, WPA takes context into consideration. This is vital when discussing relievers worth. Relievers are not used in non-consequential situations -- they are deployed when outs are critical. </div>
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Over a 162-game season the results are moot, but the reasoning for this outbreak in money for relievers comes from the postseason. 29 teams saw as Miller dazzled in multiple innings every outing and front offices took note of the competitive reliever market. </div>
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All teams that signed these relievers -- Giants, Yankees, Dodgers -- are likely playoff contenders for the years of each contract. They are not being paid for the saves they collect throughout the regular season, their worth lies solely on their ability to perform where the WPA is highest. Chapman and Jansen were used in that role shortly in their postseason stints, but will it last? How long can relievers go in the postseason before their arsenal is lackluster? We've yet to cross that threshold and it is likely differs from pitcher to pitcher and how each team deploys those pitchers.</div>
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Ironically, Chapman blew his opportunity in game seven of the World Series when he allowed a game-tying home run to <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3708&position=OF" target="_blank">Rajai Davis</a>. In such small samples -- like one or two innings performances -- pitchers will not deliver the results that are expected. We moved away from the fireman role that Miller is revitalizing, but where is the breaking point when pitchers are less than stellar? Will pitchers be used in more creative roles during the regular season?</div>
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These questions and more will be answered in the upcoming 2017 season. Front offices offered plenty of money for necessary arms, but we've seen a competitive Tampa Bay Rays teams in the late 2000's by having players on rookie contracts perform well. The signing of Melancon, Chapman, and Jansen brings less volatility into the back end of each bullpen, but relievers are generally unreliable. </div>
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All these players will bring a positive worth to their team, but the lack of innings needs to be made up in high WPA numbers throughout the length of these contracts.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-72262545311207327272016-09-21T11:06:00.001-07:002016-09-21T11:06:28.649-07:00Playoffs be damnedby Daniel Conmy<br />
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There is an unspoken irony in American sport that needs to
be changed. We wipe out the importance of the regular season in mostly every
sport for a wild, random setting called the playoffs. As the baseball playoffs
are approaching, it is important to remind everyone that five months of
baseball is being thrown out for randomization and for teams, who are not as
good as others, to have a chance at the only meaningful accolade in the sport.
Some of these teams include the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, and San
Francisco Giants.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Economically speaking, it would be idiotic to not have the
playoffs. Given the extra revenue from the home games in the playoffs, you
could not persuade owners to sign off on this idea. Instead, we are arguing
that the not playoff system finds the true champion of the sport. It is not
fair to the 2001 Seattle Mariners to say they were not a “playoff” team. They
won 116 games in the modern era (Even the 2016 Chicago Cubs, who are arguably a
better team, won’t be close to that mark) and were taken out by the New York
Yankees in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) in five games. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Shouldn’t the Mariners be celebrated for more than just a
team that had the most wins in a season and blew it in the playoffs? <o:p></o:p></div>
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We will return to that questions, but let’s go across the
pond and look at how English Premier League Soccer is run. In the Premier
League, you play 38 games, twice against every opponent. The winner of the
Premier League is based on whoever has the most points at the end of the
season. A win is worth three points and a tie is worth one point. Now, we don’t
have ties in baseball, we just play extra innings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are some complications to this idea and the first
being scheduling and set up of the leagues. First, the schedule would have to
reflect what is done in the premier league season: the same amount of games
against every team. By wiping out the playoffs, this would create the
opportunity to play more games in October. Every team would play six games
(three at home and three away) against every team. This would create a 174-game
schedule and six more home games for every team, which could possibly raise the
revenue league wide.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another obstacle to the Premier League model is the lack of
excitement. The Chicago Cubs are far and away the best team in baseball this
year. The mix of superb defense and young superstars has propelled them to
eight more wins than the next closest team. There will be years where the
excitement at the end of the year does not match the excitement that could be
created in the playoff atmosphere. I agree with that concern, but most years,
the races are a lot closer than the ones we are seeing in the present. In 2015
and 2014 the team with the most wins only had two more than the those chasing.
Also, in 2013 the Red Sox and Cardinals had identical records at 97-65. There
will be no co-champions in this model, either.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the case of a tie at the top of the league, there should
be a seven-game series. The reasoning for this is that the teams with the most
wins are equal opponents and the randomness and fluctuation should not matter
given their level of play. Wouldn’t that bring just as much excitement to the
season? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m sure many of you are cautious or downright disagree with
this stance, but it does not seem correct to state that the 2001 Mariners
needed an “ace” and that’s why they did poorly in the playoffs. The system I
have proposed, following the Premier League’s model, is a fairer system. Yes, there
is randomness that occurs throughout a season, but over the entire season you
have to sustain a high level of play and that high level of play should be
rewarded. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Last year in the Premier League, Leicester City, a
cinderella story, sustained the high level of play for all 38 matches and were
rewarded the Premier League Championship. If the Premier League followed the
example of Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs, there is no way to say they
would make it past the first round. Teams should not have to prove their worth
over again for the sake of the spectacle. It seems utterly ludicrous that we
wipe away important games because the playoffs are more meaningful. Instead,
put meaning back into the full, newly created, 174-game season and watch as the
drama will continue to unfold in a new, exciting way. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-33558365009358260792016-09-06T07:39:00.000-07:002016-09-06T07:47:36.929-07:00Brian Dozier has pull power<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Daniel Conmy</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-42704054-ffef-a7c6-ee9b-a9edfe1351e5" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are lucky enough to get the day off on Labor Day, but baseball players are hard at work attempting to push their teams into the playoffs. Other teams are not as fortunate to be in a playoff race. They still play baseball, though, and sometimes it is impressive. </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9810&position=2B" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brian Dozier</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is one of those people we don't pay enough attention to. Before play on Monday, Dozier accumulated 35 home runs and a 5.3 WAR. Those are incredible numbers, so let's look into how Dozier's accomplishments, which are rare for second basemen.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All Brian Dozier does is pull the baseball, but once in a blue moon, he hits one to right field. That one time, Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs wrote about </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/a-first-for-brian-doziers-career/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dozier's only opposite field home run</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last year. It was a look at a feat that hasn't been accomplished by the slugging second baseman. To give some perspective on how rare that is, here is a graph of Dozier's home runs this year:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="427" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/XT9ujPQN-R_nch96NJjvJ-LgG3SRMENid_YDQIcw37B3LG2UlGUv26LXONhYPn5NmPZncatHev7oiE_ocfLSqzjMezId9Ba1TdPeYzCqf2U-_JSegnfMHjpPwjhypqmj-2CSFd_1" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="427" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This graphic displays home runs before play on Monday afternoon, where Dozier deposited three more home runs to left and left-center field. There are only two balls right of center field this year. His total has climbed to 38 home runs on the year, a career high, and is approaching the highest amount ever by a second basemen. Davey Johnson in 1973 leads all second basemen with 43 home runs in a single season. With a little under a month left, it is not far-fetched to think that Dozier can make it to 43. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In August, Dozier led the league with 13 home runs and has continued his torrid pace with six home runs already in September. What does Dozier do so well or why do pitchers continue to throw pitches in a zone where Dozier can lift them over the fence? One thing that Dozier has done incredibly well is not miss his pitch. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking at his pull percentage on FanGraphs, Dozier has not done anything differently from 2014 on. In 2014, Dozier’s philosophy changed from hitting balls all around the field to hitting over 50 percent of the balls to the pull side. What is being done more successfully is how hard he is hitting the ball. Dozier’s hard hit percentage from 2014 to 2016 has risen by seven percentage points. Since there is a change in his hard hit balls, his home run total has increased as well. It may not be perfect correlation because there are always other factors, but you can assume that the harder you hit the ball, the farther it will go. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, Dozier battled against </span><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6986&position=P" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ian Kennedy</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in a 10 pitch at-bat, which ended with a home run. Here are the pitches from that at-bat:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="353" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5anUa9M-WRK7nRig0_tmKNgClrZ327GJducSRd1n8Ng13SUgE4RavSTD8aF1Y5j_WpsG5JMnRJkSg9TUcTDGTNwbg7y_G7AvUUKzrzmKOjBHqtTpatEtQmTplm3OZUS3AIs7-ZZj" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="533" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This graph, courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=3&sp_type=1&year=2016&month=9&day=5&pitchSel=453178&game=gid_2016_09_05_kcamlb_minmlb_1/&prevGame=gid_2016_09_05_kcamlb_minmlb_1/&pnf=&prevDate=95&batterX=23" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brooks Baseball</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, shows that Dozier battled off pitches that he was not able to do damage with. From the graph, you can look at how Dozier only swung at pitches in the zone and was able to lay off of pitches outside the zone, where he could do no damage. Then, Kennedy made a mistake over the middle of the plate:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="239" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/mrFZblUgF6qDYXp5Ivt3quXkUpTiUpEl2nhHOb9oTlGPMZR5In2mnYHheHNhedIF4Im_kn8y7w4vbuTp4WY2J_vDSRSkxPCTSxQpH9ye8ri2D_wKO9UVD4dI-LDEdoMR5POQz7wT" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="427" /></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What we see in the swing above is vintage Dozier -- a pitch middle or a little outside and the Minnesota Twins second basemen decides to be short and quick to the ball. Given Dozier's shorter stature, he does nothing more than barrel the ball. This year is shaping up to be a career year for the 29-year-old, who will likely enter a decline over the next couple years. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the Twins do not have much to play for in these days of September, Dozier has a legitimate chance to break the all-time home run record for second basemen. We've seen many players decide to only pull the ball this year and focus on hitting home runs. Brian Dozier is one player that has thrived on this type of style and he is continually reaping the rewards, including his first three home run game on Labor Day.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-88034557109938499752016-07-27T22:36:00.000-07:002016-07-27T22:36:47.161-07:00Domestic violence and the forgiveness of athletesby Daniel Conmy<br />
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This is a topic that does not get talked about often enough in sports circles. There's probably a rationalization by fans to not talk about domestic violence, but it needs to be in the forefront of conversation. Why? Because we are much more than just fans of a game that has a ball thrown around or hit out of a park. We, as consumer of sport, are much more than our fandom and the players are much more than entertainers.<br />
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I cannot stress enough that I have never been in a situation where domestic violence has directly affected me. These opinions are my own and they do not represent any one else's view. I do not have all the information on all the incidents I have or will preface, but what I will look into is the reaction from fans and teams. With that said, let's talk about the issues with athletes and domestic violence.<br />
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<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10233&position=P" target="_blank">Aroldis Chapman</a>, was accused of <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/aroldis-chapman-s-girlfriend-alleged-he--choked--her--according-to-police-report-023629095.html" target="_blank">choking his girlfriend and firing eight shots</a> in her general vicinity. Later, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/01/21/aroldis-chapman-no-charges-florida-domestic-violence/79122156/" target="_blank">no criminal charges were filed</a>. Chapman was <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14878838/aroldis-chapman-new-york-yankees-suspended-30-games" target="_blank">suspended by Major League Baseball for 30 games</a> for this incident. From the baseball side of things, Chapman's value was lowered given the suspension, but this is much more than a case of value being lower.<br />
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Chapman threw a scoreless, hitless inning for the Chicago Cubs in his first appearance for his new team. Everyone was standing and cheering as they saw the radar light up with numbers above 100. It was a spectacle for baseball fans. No one else consistently throws over 100 mph. Kids were locked in, the crowd reacted with a collective gasp when he hit over 100 on the radar gun. They cheered and the Cubs won the game after the 1-2-3 inning. The fans, who haven't seen a World Series since 1908, went into applause because their team won another game, putting them closer to a playoff spot. In the middle of that was a man who was recently accused of domestic violence.<br />
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While I've thought about this at length in discussions with friends, it was never something I thought I could speak on with fervor, but discussion, of any kind, is what is going to make this change. What sparked this internal, and now external, discussion of this topic was highlighted with a tweet by Katie Nolan:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz1aiS9AVgXbe7Y-Fh0qMP60qOGu2cX86oBkpAI6NwXB9lBkGr_iihAYz3VJbNRA-fPluQDyJbpDCbKJA4H9UoQGUI-0V1LsyTUWSanlTohchk60lqeq4lKWX7HFSbIjo1d5SLqymD90/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQz1aiS9AVgXbe7Y-Fh0qMP60qOGu2cX86oBkpAI6NwXB9lBkGr_iihAYz3VJbNRA-fPluQDyJbpDCbKJA4H9UoQGUI-0V1LsyTUWSanlTohchk60lqeq4lKWX7HFSbIjo1d5SLqymD90/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The response is not necessary to look into. What is important is what Nolan states. We look past domestic violence disputes. The amount of times I have seen people calling these females horrific names, stating that this is a "money grab" is atrocious. And we, as a society, have the audacity to put these figures back into the public eye without even bringing it up. Recently, more sports writers are tackling the issues of domestic violence, which is a long awaited step that needed to happen since the start of sports journalism. That's all well and good, but Chapman was suspended for 30 games and then he gets to be back on top of his world. That is not fair or correct. Some can make an argument where the legal system did its diligence and found that nothing happened. You can agree with that sentiment or you can look at the power dynamics in these cases.</div>
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It is well known that having a good lawyer or lawyers can get you a better deal or acquitted of any wrongdoing. They are powerful people because of their money and if they get in trouble, they have the financial capability to wiggle around any true punishment. What Chapman did was wrong there's no doubt, but some can argue that it never passed the "alleged" phase, so let's look at a more concrete case of domestic violence.</div>
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<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1736&position=SS" target="_blank">Jose Reyes</a>, once member of the Colorado Rockies, was <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/156911196/rockies-jose-reyes-arrested-charged/" target="_blank">arrested in the offseason</a> when Reyes had a physical altercation with his wife. Reyes was suspended until May 31, the equivalent of 52 games. The Rockies made a wise decision and designated him for assignment, although they are on the hook for his $40 million left on his contract. It was a tough pill to swallow, but Colorado was an upstanding organization in this aspect of not tolerating that behavior from its players. The issue? Reyes signed with the big league team he came up with, the New York Mets. Over time, Reyes was back into playing shape and up in the big leagues. This man received a standing ovation. Yes, the fans of the Metropolitans applauded a man who beat his wife in the offseason came back in a time where they "needed" a shortstop like him. That's not to say other fans were upset and booed him, but the fact is this man is playing baseball again with no repercussions other than a slightly damaged public image. </div>
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I hear often that these players "did their time" or they "deserve a second chance," but you can make the argument they do not deserve another chance. Depending on the severity of the violence, the accused can serve no jail time or up to four years of jail time. While I am not proposing that Chapman and Reyes deserved jail time, forfeiting of salary for the allotted amount of games suspended seems weak. </div>
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Unfortunately, as a society, we are not as strict on athletes as we should be. There is a superiority complex that we instill. These athletes are larger than life. Some, like members of the Baylor football team, get <a href="http://deadspin.com/baylor-wont-release-full-report-on-sexual-assault-scand-1780751325" target="_blank">help from those higher up to cover up</a> some behavior that could get members of their team jailed for a long time. This is a culture issue in the United States. We do not properly teach these people, who are obviously very talented in some aspect, how to respect another human being. We create monsters that do not think that they can be touched because of their fame and money. It runs rampant on college campuses and most most members of these institutions look the other way because the person being accused might be making that school millions upon millions of dollars. We must be better. We cannot stand for letting those people get off for crimes that severely damage another physically or emotionally or both.</div>
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Major League Baseball did what they could, giving Reyes the largest suspension possible given the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Major League Baseball Player's Association. The fact is, these organizations are a business and they see the valuable asset that performs on the field, but sometimes do not think about the off field issues. What can be done by Major League Baseball organizations is a collective effort to not sign these players. The issue in the present day is your competitor might not have the same morals as you, and they not get a small PR hit, but the benefit of an all-star closer by overlooking the domestic violence incident. Major League Baseball is ahead of the National Football League with their handling of domestic violence, but it is not enough.</div>
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Athletes are sometimes immune to the consequences of the dreadful acts they commit. Some get cheered for the rest of their life. The domestic violence gets wiped to the side, the rape accusation gets silenced because an institution pays off the accuser. People point that it is a money grab, but you or I can never project on these victims. It is not our place to say what a victim is feeling or thinking. Be respectful of those in that situation and think before you start cheering for someone with a cloudy past just because they are on your favorite team.</div>
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Please, let's change and uphold everyone to a higher standard. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-76272756963718816852016-07-25T09:31:00.002-07:002016-07-25T09:31:56.498-07:00Cubs acquire Chapman, future is still brightby Daniel Conmy<br />
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Chicago saw a World Series victory in 2005, but that was on the South Side. This time around, the Cubs are going all in for the World Series. Tonight, the Chicago Cubs acquired <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10233&position=P" target="_blank">Aroldis Chapman</a> in a blockbuster deal close to the deadline. Sure, the price was steep, but the Cubs are in a precarious position.<br />
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As everyone knows, the Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908. Some call it the curse of the Bill Goat. Others still blame Bartman for something that wasn't his fault. Nevertheless, the Cubs know sadness and they might be on the verge of ending that sadness with the fantastic team Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer put together.<br />
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The Cubs are trading off future value since <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa830372&position=SS" target="_blank">Gleyber Torres</a> is the marquee prospect in the trade, but the Cubs time to win is now. Torres, is playing high-A ball in the Carolina League and the major league club has a wealth of infield ability. Along with Torres, the Cubs departed with<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa737528&position=OF" target="_blank"> Billy McKinney</a>, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9029&position=P" target="_blank">Adam Warren</a>, and a fourth player to be named later. Chicago's <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-cubs-look-like-a-perfect-baseball-team/" target="_blank">one weakness could lie within the middle relief</a>, but they shifted that thinking after acquiring <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4869&position=P" target="_blank">Mike Montgomery</a> from the Seattle Mariners for <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa597778&position=1B" target="_blank">Dan Vogelbach</a>. To add to the bullpen depth, they have two shutdown closers with <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2391&position=P" target="_blank">Hector Rondon</a> and Chapman.<br />
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There's always been concern with the value from a midseason rental, but this move is not for the rest of the season. Given that the Cubs are likely going to keep pace to make it into the playoffs, this is for the playoffs where you can deploy your best relievers with more frequency, The extra days off for travel benefit the elite bullpens, just look at the Royals bullpen last year. The game is becoming an affair between bullpens and it's a wise decision to build up the best one for the playoffs. For example, Chapman threw 4.3 percent of the innings for the Cincinnati Reds in the 2013 season. That would be a foolish investment for the Cubs if he is only throwing that often in the postseason. Given Joe Maddon's forward thinking approach, that probably won't appear as an issue in the postseason.<br />
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Beyond Chapman's innings, this is a unique situation for a baseball team. If the Cubs won a World Series in the last few years, many would be calling this trade an overpay, and it still likely is. We have to throw all of that out the window when it comes to the Cubs. They are in a position to end the worst drought in all of American major sports. Taking a chance on one of the best, if not the best, reliever in the game is a no-brainer. Also, this one move does not damage the long term health of the major league roster.<br />
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Their farm system is a little weaker after the trade, but prospects have recently been overrated to an extreme. Everyone is looking for the next <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10155&position=OF" target="_blank">Mike Trout</a>, but that likely won't exist for a while. To add to that, Chicago has a young, cheap, and controllable core. Yes, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4153&position=P" target="_blank">Jake Arrieta</a> is up for arbitration starting next year and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4930&position=P" target="_blank">Jon Lester</a>, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1507&position=P" target="_blank">John Lackey</a>, and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=7435&position=2B/OF" target="_blank">Ben Zobrist</a> all signed healthy offseason contracts, not to mention <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4940&position=OF" target="_blank">Jason Heyward</a>. The point being is, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=15429&position=3B/OF" target="_blank">Kris Bryant</a> is a young superstar that is filled with other young talent up the middle of the field. No, I did not forget about the all-star at first base in <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3473&position=1B" target="_blank">Anthony Rizzo</a>. This is not an overpay for a longshot chance to make the playoffs and blow it up after this year. The Cubs have staying power for the next couple of years and management decided that most important value to receive is present value. <br />
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To add on, the price of relievers has gone up astronomically in the past seasons and it start with <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-cubs-chapman-and-the-new-price-for-an-elite-reliever/" target="_blank">Craig Kimbrel and Ken Giles this offseason</a>. Make no mistake, the price is steep, but the team to unload prospects is the Cubs.<br />
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People will always argue whether or not something is an overpayment, but if the Cubs win the World Series, no one can argue with the trading of future value.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-4605545850431931762016-07-23T05:00:00.000-07:002016-07-23T05:00:08.032-07:00We are watching vintage Vottoby Daniel Conmy<br />
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<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4314&position=1B" target="_blank">Joey Votto</a> is my favorite player. There's no way I can be impartial with that fact. I rave every day and night when he walks. Many roll their eyes when I say this, but <a href="http://chaveztofenway.blogspot.com/2015/09/thewalk.html" target="_blank">the walk</a> is something so fascinating to me. The value that it can add to the slash line is immense. Walks can only help you in the game of baseball and very few have mastered it like Joey Votto has. What makes Votto so special, though? It's his ability to control the strikezone and force pitchers to make his pitch. Last week, Corinne Landrey wrote at FanGraphs about <a href="http://chaveztofenway.blogspot.com/2015/09/thewalk.html" target="_blank">Joey Votto and the effect of a bad April</a>. Here, we will look at Votto's month to month differences and commentary from other media members.<br />
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Before we get into the more stark analysis, Votto is a character in the game of baseball. Some might remember this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UCQBm-SToRXYnWwUWJ8uZvyE0GB3KtjfIVx1Lx_PA1Rq5k1FR33MNjnRtNA5Obhwp8nkI0YLwrmaHOxJNN50i_fPFk0RbJY6ba5IV4lLHYuYWQUmzjBHSXm4NofvL9ZyyuQu3lG4i1o/s1600/wavI42R+-+Imgur.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0UCQBm-SToRXYnWwUWJ8uZvyE0GB3KtjfIVx1Lx_PA1Rq5k1FR33MNjnRtNA5Obhwp8nkI0YLwrmaHOxJNN50i_fPFk0RbJY6ba5IV4lLHYuYWQUmzjBHSXm4NofvL9ZyyuQu3lG4i1o/s400/wavI42R+-+Imgur.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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I apologize for the poor .gif quality, but this is Votto facing off against <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=199&position=P" target="_blank">Derek Lowe</a>. Votto through this whole at-bat did not move his feet. This was an incredible plate appearance, which, of course, ended in a walk. Lowe being the usual fast worker was perplexed by Votto's tactics, but later on in the full video, you can visibly see Lowe take his time on the mound. </div>
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We cannot forget the other side of Votto that can be a little angry:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZMmVJu6JziMaqOO0Jzn2TzDMfjrf41kjFHhsIj-oaynQOdV5hiqubnqyn_es78mQCFmzeb_nAD_6ry4Sc1WpBPlASIAkjvPRxGATjFofjuW1O7KLwtKJV-viZzkbEWLTQPGP4mgA-Jo/s1600/rgmHNEZ+-+Imgur.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZMmVJu6JziMaqOO0Jzn2TzDMfjrf41kjFHhsIj-oaynQOdV5hiqubnqyn_es78mQCFmzeb_nAD_6ry4Sc1WpBPlASIAkjvPRxGATjFofjuW1O7KLwtKJV-viZzkbEWLTQPGP4mgA-Jo/s400/rgmHNEZ+-+Imgur.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Votto did have a very good argument stemming from a <a href="http://chaveztofenway.blogspot.com/2015/09/joey-votto-and-lefty-strike.html" target="_blank">bad strike call</a>. Nonetheless, we have a fun Joey Votto and an angry Joey Votto above us. Some can question what that means, but no one can question Votto's unique ability in the game of baseball. The Cincinnati Reds first basemen can hit homeruns, choke up throughout whole at-bats, and seemingly create a walk out of thin air.</div>
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Votto is also a human who had some tough bouts with depression. Mark Sheldon of <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/5484002//" target="_blank">MLB.com</a> covered this story in 2009:</div>
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"The 25-year-old Votto revealed publicly that he was battling depression, anxiety attacks and issues that finally came to the surface several months after the sudden death of his 52-year-old father, Joseph, in August."</blockquote>
Death is something as humans we all have to deal with, but dealing with it on a very public stage is something that cannot be easy. Teammates are relying on you and you simply cannot be your best for those that are counting on you.<br />
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Votto obviously stuck around the game and is crushing it in this very season and it might be because of his idol, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1014040&position=OF" target="_blank">Ted Williams</a>. Joe Posnaski of <a href="http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/joey-votto-ted-williams-too-patient/" target="_blank">Sportsworld</a> caught up with Votto in more recent years to talk about his hitting approach. In a previous interview with Reds reporter, Hal McCoy, Votto was very excited to have Ted Williams brought up:<br />
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"Only then McCoy mentioned how Votto’s hitting approach reminded him of Ted Williams, and Votto’s face lit up. He reached into his bag and pulled out a dog-eared copy of Williams’ classic, “The Science of Hitting.” He carried the book with him wherever he went and memorized entire sections. Votto said that when he was growing up, he had a Ted Williams poster on his wall."</blockquote>
Now that's a fandom. Votto studied one of the best hitters in the game of baseball. He worshiped the Red Sox star and now he's turned himself into a star in Cincinanti, but some fans of the Reds do not appreciate the patient approach. Votto does not let those followers phase him:<br />
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"Votto has analyzed the numbers as thoroughly as any hitter in the game, focusing much of his attention on Weighted Runs Created. He has endured injuries and depression and boos and criticism of the very way he plays the game. Through it all, he has continued to work obsessively hard and hit his own way."</blockquote>
It's time to stop romanticizing Votto, but I think you get the point. Votto is a human, with human emotions, that is possibly the best student of hitting we've ever seen. The fascination he has about the game of baseball has rubbed off on plenty of people, including the author of this piece.<br />
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Given the long intro, lets now look at how Votto is currently running a 136 wRC+, including yesterday's performance.<br />
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In the month of April, Votto was bad. The type of bad where media members write you off and believe you are in your decline phase bad. Votto was running a 66 wRC+ in the month of April and was only walking in 12.2 percent of plate appearances (well below his average, but above league average) and striking out more often than his usual career 19 percent. Then, like most people that have a bad month of April, Votto got better.<br />
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In the month of May, Votto was already better than league average with a 113 wRC+. This is only in the month of May, so the sample size is small, but we saw remarkable improvement from the month of April. There was an issue with Votto in April. He was striking out in 29 percent of his plate appearances. To counteract that, Votto hit the ball out of the park nine times. This might please some of those who despise his patient approach, but Votto was still running a .200/.333/.484 slash line for the month of May.<br />
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In June, we already reached vintage Votto. Votto ran a 171 wRC+ due to his 20.7 percent walk rate. Yes, Votto did damage with his bat and not looking at pitches throughout the month, but Votto, with his ability to foul off close to every pitch was finally paying off in his season.<br />
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In the smallest sample size, July 1 to July 20, Votto posted a 207 wRC+. You guessed it, more walks and the occasional power that seeps into his game, but that is not his strength.<br />
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That brings us to July 22. On that day, Votto went 1-3 with a home run and two walks. The home run made it to the highlight reels, but what sticks out in my mind is his two walks.<br />
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His first walk of the night is a classic case where a pitcher not wanting any part of Votto:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQSAX7oLhEgquRYIuejAQrAJktxNss78HgIMpI_0NeC1wt8KRaPek0Fk0zsuWNzPAkkm6Nok0VBlLugBL2WzdQkoVDuOsUysCC6wSiJjNt6t2tKuhzSGAQ2wuYwau0co4I1FV7oHSC30/s1600/Vottowalk1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQSAX7oLhEgquRYIuejAQrAJktxNss78HgIMpI_0NeC1wt8KRaPek0Fk0zsuWNzPAkkm6Nok0VBlLugBL2WzdQkoVDuOsUysCC6wSiJjNt6t2tKuhzSGAQ2wuYwau0co4I1FV7oHSC30/s400/Vottowalk1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Four pitches, low and away, to a dangerous hitter. It should be noted that <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=16684&position=P" target="_blank">Zac Curtis</a>, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher, walked Jay Bruce after this, too. Curtis was probably hoping for Votto to chase one of those pitches and get a swinging strike to expand Votto's zone. This walk is probably not the expertise of Votto, but it is a walk nonetheless. And I hate to break it to the reader, but Votto was then intentionally walked in his next plate appearance. </div>
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One of the more impressive things that Votto does is the amount of pitches he sees per plate appearance.</div>
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Last night, Votto hit a home run on the second pitch he saw. He then worked an eight pitch line out and a seven pitch flyout. That's 17 pitches in three at bats, which averages out to 5.67 per plate appearance. In 2015, Votto was third best in <a href="http://www.sportingcharts.com/mlb/stats/player-pitches-per-plate-appearance-leaders/2015/" target="_blank">pitches per plate appearance</a>. </div>
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What I am getting to is that Votto is one of the more difficult outs in the game. Yes, he will strikeout once every five times he goes up to bat, but it is a grueling process most of the time. Votto has some incredible ability to frustrate opposing pitchers, opposing fans, and even Reds fans. This student of the game is finally back on top of his game and he continues to keep his amazing approach that he obtained from Teddy Ballgame.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-28550617183066077582016-07-19T05:00:00.000-07:002016-07-19T05:00:34.792-07:00Jarrod Dyson did itby Daniel Conmy<br />
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That's right. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dysonja01.shtml" target="_blank">Jarrod Dyson</a>, outfielder for the Kansas City Royals hit a home run. Not just any home run though. This one was of the four RBI category. Yes, we are talking about the grand slam or, if Papa Johns had it their way, the Papa Slam<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Playfair Display"; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;">®. The incessant advertising seen on MLB Network is not the prime focus. Instead we will focus the improbable, and almost impossible stroke from Dyson. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Playfair Display"; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;">Before we break down the grand slam in all of its glory, let's look at the Dyson. Dyson is one of very few players that was drafted in the 50th round and made it to the big leagues. In fact, he is the only player other than <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tartatr01.shtml" target="_blank">Travis Tartamella</a> to play in the big leagues from the 50th round of the 2006 draft. Tartamella only played in three games, so it's somewhat a wash to note he made it to the big leagues. What I am saying is that no one really comes out of the later rounds, except for Hall of Famer <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=1988&draft_round=62&draft_type=junreg" target="_blank">Mike Piazza</a> in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft among very few others. We are talking about people that do not have long storied careers, but Dyson has made it and continues to stick around in his seventh season. What's his trick? Well, Dyson is incredibly fast and was used as a fourth outfielder for most of his years in the Major Leagues. This year, Dyson has been employed in the outfield more often playing in 63 games. And yesterday we witnessed this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMKGxXQCyJWW76Lk55izwTQOeMs5bfG-S8BbMBGGkVLYMaImGyvPTk_o6aBK9zKleI21nyis4AZDd2B8zVTO8mk28wzKvVD7Q167d9O93Ho7Ep16kSmJco8tzLBmS2ySp6f-ypqDC_Ok/s1600/J7W1I5j+-+Imgur.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMKGxXQCyJWW76Lk55izwTQOeMs5bfG-S8BbMBGGkVLYMaImGyvPTk_o6aBK9zKleI21nyis4AZDd2B8zVTO8mk28wzKvVD7Q167d9O93Ho7Ep16kSmJco8tzLBmS2ySp6f-ypqDC_Ok/s320/J7W1I5j+-+Imgur.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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Your eyes are not deceiving you, that is five foot 10 inch 165 lbs Jarrod Dyson hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning in a one-run game. Yes, even your wildest fantasies cannot predict such an outcome, just look at <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perezsa02.shtml" target="_blank">Salvador Perez</a>. Perez cannot contain his excitement in full catcher gear. I don't blame him given the sheer improbability of this hit. This is something he will be telling his kids about. </div>
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Per <a href="http://m.mlb.com/statcast/leaderboard" target="_blank">Statcast</a>, Dyson hit that ball 100 mph at a launch angle of 30 degrees and it traveled a distance of 384 ft. The best launch angles to hit a home run are 25-30 degrees. The crazy thing? This is Dyson's seventh home run of his whole career. In 1388 plate appearances (PA), Dyson has muscled up seven times. That's roughly a home run every 198 PA. To give you some perspective, Barry Bonds hit a home run every 16.5 times he stepped up to the plate. </div>
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This also was in a game where <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/klubeco01.shtml" target="_blank">Corey Kluber</a> shut the Royals down for seven innings. Then the Royals jumped on the bullpen for a seven run eighth inning that was capped off by this rare launch off the bat from Dyson. While predicting baseball is becoming more precise, it is always enjoyable to see something unpredictable happen. I think we all look forward to Dyson stepping up to the plate 198 PA from now to give us another home run.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-19907265897372296192016-07-15T14:20:00.002-07:002016-07-15T14:20:43.223-07:00Houston pulls the ballby Daniel Conmy<br />
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A couple days ago, I looked into <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9893&position=OF" target="_blank">Colby Rasmus</a>, the <a href="http://chaveztofenway.blogspot.com/2016/07/colby-rasmus-is-extreme.html" target="_blank">league's most extreme hitter</a>. Rasmus is a member of the Houston Astros and they are a fascinating team. The Astros have stormed back into the AL West race and stormed into a playoff push for the second half. They were picked by many projection systems as the winners of the AL West and they possibly can do that after a very sluggish start to their season. So, what has led to their success? It's likely scoring more runs than the other teams more often than not, but that's not the type of analysis we are going to do today. Instead, we are just going to look at how much they pull the ball.<br />
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Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, is a very interesting park given they have a high wall in left field that is very close to the field, giving right-handed hitters who pull the ball a short porch. Balls go to die given that Tal's hill is a very long way from home plate. With that in mind, let's look at how much players pull the ball.<br />
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 311px;">
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</colgroup><tbody>
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<td class="xl63" height="20" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-align: left; width: 87pt;" width="116">Name</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">Pull%</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">Cent%</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 50pt;" width="67">Oppo%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Colby Rasmus</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">55.1%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">26.7%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">18.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Evan Gattis</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">50.6%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">32.4%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">17.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Marwin Gonzalez</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">48.5%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">30.0%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">21.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Luis Valbuena</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">48.4%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">27.7%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">23.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Carlos Gomez</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">47.0%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">29.3%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">23.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Jose Altuve</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">43.9%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">36.1%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">19.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Jake Marisnick</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">42.7%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">30.3%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">27.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Tyler White</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">41.8%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">35.3%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">23.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">George Springer</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">41.3%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">37.5%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">21.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Carlos Correa</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">38.5%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">33.2%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">28.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl64" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Jason Castro</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">38.3%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">37.4%</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">24.4%</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
These are batters on Houston with at least 100 plate appearances on the year. What we see is a lot of high pull rates. This is usually the norm when it comes to batters. It is easier to pull the ball, but the Astros lead the next team by 1.7 percent. As a team, the Astros pull the ball 44.7 percent of the time when they make contact in the field of play. That's great and all, but does this strategy work? You can argue any strategy works if you perfect it. Within this case and the case with the major leagues, pulling the ball is beneficial when those balls are in the the air. If they are in the air, then there is a chance that the ball goes over the fence. This is where the Astros struggle a little too much. Houston hits the ball in the air 34.4 percent of the time which is 13th best in the MLB. In the last 30 days, the Astros have pulled the ball 47.8 percent of the time, but even less in the air than the 2016 average.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is not to propose that if they continue to pull the ball even more, they will have more success. This is more a note about the aspects of their field and the players they've decided to scout and bring to their team. Also of note, not all of these hitters are right-handed and, therefore, do not get the same advantages of a short porch on pulled balls. Dustin Pedroia has made a living peppering balls off the Green Monster and Wade Boggs did before him (albeit Boggs was a Hall of Fame player and a left-hander) it would be foolish if the Astros did not take advantage of their home field. After all, they play 81 games a season there.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-29634189523314921702016-07-15T05:00:00.000-07:002016-07-15T05:00:14.204-07:00Dombrowski punts future value for necessary assetby Daniel Conmy<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=11426&position=P" target="_blank">Drew Pomeranz</a> was traded for minor leaguer <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa872856&position=P" target="_blank">Anderson Espinoza</a> in a one-for-one deal between the San Diego Padres and the Boston Red Sox. This deal essentially kicks off trade season, although Red Sox President of Baseball Operations, Dave Dombrowski, made two smaller deals prior to this huge deal.<br />
<br />
If this same trade happened before this year, then members of the Red Sox fanbase would be calling for Dombrowski's head, but Pomeranz is a new pitcher. He <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/drew-pomeranz-now-with-50-more-pitches/" target="_blank">added a new pitch</a> that essentially puts him back into the starter category. Pomeranz has flourished as a starter this year given his new arsenal, but is he worth a top 20 prospect?<br />
<br />
This is not a question that will get answered shortly because Espinoza is an 18-year old pitcher that was pitching for the Greenville Drive in A ball. This is a simple supply and demand function if we want to look at this economically.<br />
<br />
The Red Sox were in dire need, and quite possibly still are in dire need, of starting pitching, The market is very thin this year when it comes to quality starting pitching on the trade block. Dave Cameron even recommended that <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-case-for-trading-jonathan-lucroy/" target="_blank">Boston attempts to acquire</a> <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=7870&position=C" target="_blank">Jonathan Lucroy</a> to play in that offense where he would obviously flourish. The need was there for an offensive catcher given that the Red Sox catchers have been anemic up to this point. Anyway, since the market was not large, you have to give up more future value then you would like because the demand is high and the supply is sparse.<br />
<br />
Another interesting facet to this deal is Pomeranz is very cheap and controllable, thus giving A.J. Preller, San Diego Padres General Manager, more power within the discussion. This is not a rental player for half a season, this is a player that will be a part of the Red Sox until he becomes a free agent in 2019. That is beneficial for the Red Sox, but also a risk.<br />
<br />
So, Boston may not exactly be punting all future value because we have no idea what Espinoza will turn into, but Pomeranz has question marks even with his new repertoire. Pomeranz has already thrown more innings this year than he has in his past season in the Major Leagues. Dombrowski clearly is making a decision based on his ability to stay healthy, as well as his repertoire.<br />
<br />
As I write this I start to nod my head more and more about this deal. There is too much risk, right? Pomeranz can easily get hurt and break down? Is Dombrowski putting too much faith in just half a season of data? That last question is something we can dive into a little bit in a hypothetical sense.<br />
<br />
Let's say I am supposed to take the trash out to the curb every Sunday night, but I forget seven out of nine times. The next time I remember, my roommates are impressed that I remembered to do this chore. I tell them that I will remember from now on because my memory has increased and, therefore, I can remember more things, like taking out the trash. My roommates scoff at this idea and do not believe this change. Why do they not believe me? Well it's probably because they have seen the awful track record laid before them. One Sunday of remembering isn't going to change that.<br />
<br />
Dave Dombrowski is believing in that one Sunday and the change in memory. The example could always be better, but Dombrowski sees the benefit of half a season of new data. I definitely say new because Pomeranz did not have a cutter, which he is throwing now. The scouting report is thrown out and Pomeranz is mowing hitters down.<br />
<br />
This is not the first Dombrowski trade that has seen valuable minor leaguers traded for a very good major leaguer. In that case, Dombrowski, then General Manager of the Detroit Tigers, traded for <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3141703" target="_blank">Miguel Cabrera</a>. This is not the same type of magnitude obviously, but <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5223&position=OF" target="_blank">Cameron Maybin</a> did not pan out in that trade and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6785&position=P" target="_blank">Andrew Miller</a> reinvented himself into one of the best bullpen arms who might get traded this trade season. With that said, the Tigers 'won' that trade.<br />
<br />
Dave Dombrowski continues to show a willingness to do whatever it takes to stay competitive. While some analytics members of the baseball community might be critical of this decision, Dombrowski is betting on a half-season of great baseball and he could reap the benefits. Espinoza could never pan out into a good pitcher, we just do not know. It is not wise to pin someone as a 'winner' or 'loser' until seven years or so down the road. While we can speculate about the trade, we cannot make any conclusive decisions. The Red Sox are in win-now mode while A.J. Preller and the Padres can take their time to develop their players given their roster.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-61607028381435317512016-07-14T05:00:00.000-07:002016-07-14T23:52:43.731-07:00Colby Rasmus is extremeby Daniel Conmy<br />
<br />
When I think extreme, I think of those people jumping off of mountains in those flying suit things.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZRgNfW8VniwkIbp5-GL2kVV_eShJ3IX6wsEfs5g9LOhnaqXP5VBeuISfFPZ5QAmotPrYxDh9fqNOZH5BlPnz1mJX3kHb_oJRVTFtWCOcIWIrNPWYHavxESqpdDwT7bewyrIPE1Bk2ms/s1600/wing-suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZRgNfW8VniwkIbp5-GL2kVV_eShJ3IX6wsEfs5g9LOhnaqXP5VBeuISfFPZ5QAmotPrYxDh9fqNOZH5BlPnz1mJX3kHb_oJRVTFtWCOcIWIrNPWYHavxESqpdDwT7bewyrIPE1Bk2ms/s320/wing-suit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Courtesy of Industry Tap)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Yup, that's it. That is something that many people would label as an intense activity. Will I ever do it? Probably not because I don't have a desire to go very fast and possibly die by not properly flying this confusing invention of mankind. What I would do if I had the chance is be an extreme hitter in the Major Leagues.</div>
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Unfortunately for some, I will not be indulging into the extraordinary aspect of wing suit flight. For others, that's probably a good thing because I have no formal understanding of these suits. Instead, we will be talking about a Houston Astros outfielder and his extreme tendencies on the baseball field.</div>
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I'm sure you could have figured out the individual that this article is written about by simply reading the title line. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9893&position=OF" target="_blank">Colby Rasmus</a> is our subject and he does something more than any other baseball player this year. That is pulling the ball. </div>
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Rasmus pulls the ball 55.1 percent of the time he makes contact on a ball in play. That is an absurd amount of pulled balls. So, lets see his spray chart.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlwK9mDoFwy5OnqFXVs0pTkqXdr_4WdfmMTgsGp_wWVoRxztC0gpcTWSz27B7BniVexe85OoGZMC4X3toRrZEJEndzmpPoftdu7s7ky3Dp1VBDCEvBE7icnCzxwOhrmTXtQrHtp34yRk/s1600/chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlwK9mDoFwy5OnqFXVs0pTkqXdr_4WdfmMTgsGp_wWVoRxztC0gpcTWSz27B7BniVexe85OoGZMC4X3toRrZEJEndzmpPoftdu7s7ky3Dp1VBDCEvBE7icnCzxwOhrmTXtQrHtp34yRk/s400/chart.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Obviously a big thank you to the <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=9893&position=OF&type=battedball&pid2=9893&ss1=2016&se1=2016&ss2=2012&se2=2016&cht1=hittype&cht2=battedball&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL" target="_blank">FanGraphs spray chart</a>. Rasmus pulls the ball a lot and he makes a lot of outs on the ground and this is a huge problem given his past ability to put the ball in the air. Let's look at this years spray chart compared to what he has done in his past seasons.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 258px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 2413; mso-width-source: userset; width: 50pt;" width="66"></col>
<col span="3" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; width: 50pt;" width="66">Season</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 48pt;" width="64">LD%</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 48pt;" width="64">GB%</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 48pt;" width="64">FB%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2009</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">19.6%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">34.7%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">45.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2010</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">19.4%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">32.0%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">48.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2011</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">16.5%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">35.8%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">47.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2012</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">20.1%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">37.6%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">42.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2013</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">22.0%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">33.0%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">45.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2014</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">23.3%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">34.2%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">42.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2015</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">20.0%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">28.4%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">51.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">2016</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">24.4%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">36.7%</td>
<td class="xl69" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">38.9%</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
From the data, we see a considerable increase in groundballs from last year to this year. The grounball percentage is actually quite close to his averages in the six years prior, but Rasmus was able to pull the ball in the air last year more than he has ever done. Since that was the case, Rasmus hit 25 home runs, a career high, and was worth a modest 2.5 WAR given his ability to launch the ball into the seats and play good defense. This year, we are seeing Rasmus' worst season in terms of putting the ball in the air, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
While Rasmus is not a liability and is a very short investment given that he <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/157183486/colby-rasmus-accepts-qualifying-offer/" target="_blank">accepted the qualifying offer</a>, there is always the reason to want more. It might be that 2015 was more of an anomaly and not something that can be replicated. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Houston Astros have a positive asset in Rasmus who is pulling the ball more than ever, but he is doing it on the ground at the highest rate in his career. If Rasmus can put some air under the ball again, like in 2015, he can set himself up for a modest payday on the open market next year.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-47690214642999480862016-07-13T05:00:00.000-07:002016-07-14T23:54:22.335-07:00The Replacement Teamsby Daniel Conmy<br />
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<div>
Last night, the American League (AL) All-Stars defeated the National League (NL) All-Stars, 4-2. The American League representative will receive home-field advantage in the World Series happening in October. That's all well and good, but let's get to the real game: The Replacement Game.</div>
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<div>
The Replacement Game is comprised of 32 players that have accumulated negative <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/war/" target="_blank">WAR</a> values halfway through the season. There is only one participant that does not have a negative value to their team and we will get to him shortly, but first, a primer.</div>
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<div>
These two teams, National League and American League, are comprised of at least one member from each organization, like the All-Star game that takes place every summer. There will always be snubs, so feel free to discuss my mistakes and make a point to add your own players. I used the <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0" target="_blank">FanGraphs player leaderboard</a> to field two of the worst teams that we could possibly see this season. Some members were past All-Stars, but now they are a part of a truly woeful group. Each representative will have a fun fact (or not so fun for some) about their uninspiring play of the first half. </div>
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Before we get to the names, I must note that this is all for fun. These players are professional athletes and, therefore, have much more talent on a baseball field than yours truly. This is a fun exercise to see who has truly been pitiful for half a season. Some might continue that trend in the second half and some might be able to turn it around. Now, let's look at the American League batters.</div>
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American League Batters<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; width: 529px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6070; mso-width-source: userset; width: 125pt;" width="166"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 5924; mso-width-source: userset; width: 122pt;" width="162"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2669; mso-width-source: userset; width: 55pt;" width="73"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; text-align: left; width: 125pt;" width="166">Name</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; width: 122pt;" width="162">Team</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 55pt;" width="73">Position</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 48pt;" width="64">wRC+</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; width: 48pt;" width="64">WAR</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Chris Coghlan</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Oakland Athletics</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">3B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">29</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Yan Gomes</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Cleveland Indians</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">C</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">31</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Ryan Goins</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Toronto Blue Jays</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">2B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">32</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Jake Marisnick</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Houston Astros</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">36</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.8</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Mark Teixeira</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">New York Yankees</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">1B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">57</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Alcides Escobar</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Kansas City Royals</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">SS</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">60</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.5</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Prince Fielder</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Texas Rangers</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">DH</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">65</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Avisail Garcia</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Chicago White Sox</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">70</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt; text-align: left;">Justin Upton</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Detroit Tigers</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">75</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.6</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6878&position=OF" target="_blank">Chris Coghlan</a>, former NL rookie of the year, already is an interesting name because he is now on the Chicago Cubs. I am going to stick with him on the Athletics because that is where most of his negative value comes from. This season is quite a shock because Coghlan posted a combined 5.7 WAR in the past two seasons. This season, Coghlan has walked a little less, but his strikeout rate has skyrocketed to 28.6 percent from 18.7 percent in 2015. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9627&position=C" target="_blank">Yan Gomes</a> is one of very few members of the MLB to come from Brazil. Unfortunately for this Brazilian star, the success did not come after signing a six-year/$23 million deal to stay with the Cleveland Indians. Gomes was a <a href="http://www.statcorner.com/CatcherReport.php" target="_blank">fantastic pitch framer in 2014</a>, but even that part of his game has deteriorated over the last two seasons. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9807&position=2B/SS" target="_blank">Ryan Goins</a> is a perfect defensive replacement, but he joins this illustrious lineup as a regular. Goins has increased his fly ball percentage, which usually means more success, but he's punted his line drives for the added air under the ball. It certainly doesn't help that his average fly ball only travels 196 feet, which is below the league average of 213 feet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=11339&position=OF" target="_blank">Jake Marisnick</a> has a wonderful arm and is part of a Houston Astros outfield that throws the ball historically hard. Sadly, that's the only thing that is going well for the outfielder. Marisnick is hitting more fly balls which usually leads to more home runs, but only 2.7 percent of his fly balls have made it over the fence this year. Marisnick is a potential candidate for a better second half if he gets the playing time on the playoff hopeful Astros.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1281&position=1B" target="_blank">Mark Teixeria</a> is broken. That certainly isn't his fault given his amazing career as a wonderful defender at first base and one of the best switch hitters in baseball history. This next statement is truly the first fun fact of this whole thing. Teixeria is the<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/watch-mark-teixeira-becomes-fifth-switch-hitter-to-hit-400-career-home-runs/" target="_blank"> fifth switch hitter in history to hit at least 400 home runs</a>. That is a truly incredible accolade when you realize who comprises that group.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6310&position=SS" target="_blank">Alcides Escobar</a> swings at the first pitch often. We are talking an obscene amount of times. Despite his historic playoff run last year, this shortstop only holds values with his glove. Escobar was a part of the package that sent <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1943&position=P" target="_blank">Zack Greinke</a> to the Milwaukee Brewers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4613&position=1B" target="_blank">Prince Fielder</a> is certainly the largest man on this list and he comes in sporting diminished numbers. We are talking about a player that once hit 50 home runs, but with his unfortunate neck injuries he has not returned to form that we so often saw on the Brewers.</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5760&position=OF" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5760&position=OF" target="_blank">Avisail Garcia</a> was constantly referred to as the "mini-Miguel Cabrera" earlier in his career. What similarities they may have in their swings, it absolutely ends there. Garcia hits more than half of the balls on the ground. For a power hitter, he certainly needs to reverse this trend this year if he wants to be a productive member of a fading Chicago White Sox.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5222&position=OF" target="_blank">Justin Upton</a> signed a six-year/$132.8 million in the offseason and is easily the worst performer on this list given his contract. In what world would <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5015&position=OF" target="_blank">Melvin Upton Jr.</a> be the better of the brothers? I certainly didn't believe that would be the case, but here we are. Justin Upton is striking out at the highest rate of his career and is making soft contact more often than in years past.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That ends the Replacement Game batters for the AL. Now, let's move onto the pitchers for this team.<br />
<br />
American League Pitchers<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 566px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6070; mso-width-source: userset; width: 125pt;" width="166"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 7277; mso-width-source: userset; width: 149pt;" width="199"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2669; mso-width-source: userset; width: 55pt;" width="73"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; width: 125pt;" width="166">Name</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; width: 149pt;" width="199">Team</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 55pt;" width="73">ERA</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">FIP</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">xFIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Chris Young</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kansas City Royals</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">6.79</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">7.98</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.19</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Steve Geltz</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tampa Bay Rays</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">6.75</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">9.03</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.55</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Clay Bucholz</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Boston Red Sox</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.91</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">6.05</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.54</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Kevin Jepsen</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Minnesota Twins</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">6.16</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.88</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.33</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Darren O'Day</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Baltimore Orioles</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">3.15</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.43</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">3.86</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Joel Peralta</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Seattle Mariners</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.40</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.58</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">4.20</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Jered Weaver</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.27</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.61</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.62</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3196&position=P" target="_blank">Chris Young</a> is a special player because of his height and the <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/155963566/chris-young-has-high-fastballs-with-good-spin/" target="_blank">spin rate on his fastball</a>. He does not overpower hitters with a fastball in the high 90's, rather he enjoys pitching in the mid 80's high in the zone. While in past years we saw success that bewildered many, we are finally seeing him come back down to earth. 26 percent of the fly balls that Young gives up leave the park. That is just incredible given that he is a fly ball pitcher. 2006 was the only year that Young gave up more home runs with 28, but he already has given up 26 (!) home runs this year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8402&position=P" target="_blank">Steve Geltz</a> is certainly a relief pitcher and that's the most of my knowledge about him. The unfortunate part about these teams is you will find the occasional reliever you've never heard of and I think we are at that point. Geltz was optioned to Durham, the Rays AAA affiliate on June 24. Geltz is small in stature at 5'10" and was signed as an amateur free agent by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/shoemma01.shtml" target="_blank">Matt Shoemaker</a>, member of the Angels, also signed an amateur free agent deal and he has gone on to become one of the more intriguing pitchers with his <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/matt-shoemaker-borrows-from-the-tanaka-playbook/" target="_blank">extreme use of his splitter</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3543&position=P" target="_blank">Clay Bucholz</a> has been given plenty of opportunities in a disappointing Red Sox starting rotation. Bucholz holds a 5.91 K/9 and a 4.13 BB/9. You would love to see the K/9 right around nine and the BB/9 statistic under two, but if he had those numbers, he would have no place on the replacement team being sculpted before your very eyes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6475&position=P" target="_blank">Kevin Jepsen</a> was released right before the All-Star break and he epitomizes what it's like for most relievers. A couple good years, a bad year here and there, then released. Jepsen was victim to a .350 BABIP this year, which is .039 points from his average of .311. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3321&position=P" target="_blank">Darren O'Day</a> is the person I had to pick from the Orioles. Realistically, Baltimore was the hardest team to pick a player from given their lack of awfulness. Joey Rickard could be chosen after cooling down from a torrid start. Alas, O'Day was chosen as tribute from a highly competitive Orioles club. The ERA isn't awful, but FIP, which focuses on what the pitcher can control does not like the submarine pitcher. This is a case where O'Day constantly outperforms his peripherals given his distinct pitcher style. Nonetheless, O'Day is worth -0.2 WAR to the Orioles. Not bad for a first-place team.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2332&position=P" target="_blank">Joel Peralta</a>, like Chris Coghlan, is now a member of the Chicago Cubs. In this exercise, he is representing the Pacific Northwest and the Seattle Mariners. At 40 years old, Peralta is the oldest member of the Replacement Team.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4235&position=P" target="_blank">Jered Weaver</a> threw a Maddux this year. A Maddux is a complete game shutout where the pitcher throws less than 100 pitches. This is incredible given the fact that Jered Weaver literally has a lower velocity on his fastball than some players have on their curveball. Weaver is certainly one of the most ridiculous pitchers of the year and yet he is still pitching innings, albeit on a team that is wasting the best years of Mike Trout's career.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whew, that's done with. What a ride looking at some of the worst players in the American League. Shall we do it again for the National League? Let's.<br />
<br />
National League Batters</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 482px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5010; mso-width-source: userset; width: 103pt;" width="137"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 5266; mso-width-source: userset; width: 108pt;" width="144"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2669; mso-width-source: userset; width: 55pt;" width="73"></col>
<col span="2" style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; width: 103pt;" width="137">Name</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; width: 108pt;" width="144">Team</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 55pt;" width="73">Position</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">wRC+</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">WAR</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Jordan Pacheco</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cincinnati Reds</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">3B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-9</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">A.J. Pierzynski</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Atlanta Braves</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">C</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">22</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.2</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Carl Crawford</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Los Angeles Dodgers</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">25</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.8</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Erick Aybar</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Atlanta Braves</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">2B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">37</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Ryan Howard</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Philadelphia Phillies</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">DH</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">43</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Ramon Flores</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Milwaukee Brewers</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">50</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.7</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Alexei Ramirez</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">San Diego Padres</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">SS</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">59</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-1.9</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Chris Johnson</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Miami Marlins</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">1B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">59</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Gerardo Parra</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Colorado Rockies</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">OF</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">62</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Ryan Zimmerman</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Washington Nationals</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">1B</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">78</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">-0.5</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I must confess that this list was more difficult than the American League list because of the lack of parity in the National League. By many metrics that you sort by, you usually see the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at the bottom. Many more members of those teams could be on this team, but we had to cut most of them out because of the restraints for this hypothetical team. Onto the members of this team.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2677&position=1B/3B" target="_blank">Jordan Pacheco</a> is a baseball player for the Reds that are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pacheco has only appeared in 31 games this year, but has managed a negative value at the plate. That's certainly newsworthy. Pacheco is the third-worst batter with at least 50 plate appearances, ahead of Erik Kratz and Johnny Cueto.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=746&position=C" target="_blank">A.J. Pierzynski</a> is a journeyman catcher that will likely be calling it quits after this abysmal campaign. That's not to say he did not have success in his long career starting in 1998. Pierzynski is a World Series champion and that's more than I can say about my baseball career. A third place medal would have been a success for me, but I digress.</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1201&position=OF" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1201&position=OF" target="_blank">Carl Crawford</a> is always a player I feel bad for. I know he's made more money than I will ever see in my life, but you have to feel for a guy that possibly can get injured by just getting out of bed for the day. Crawford was a superstar in 2010 where he posted a 7.7 WAR, which I'm sure he longs for everyday as he rides the pine on the most expensive team in baseball.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4082&position=SS" target="_blank">Erick Aybar</a> is the second Atlanta player on this list. I tried to keep it to one per team, but Atlanta is just that bad this year. Just two years ago, Aybar put up a 4.3 WAR. Now, with moot defensive value and negative offensive ability, the Braves can deploy him as the "veteran" on a dumpster fire that will be moved to Cobb County next year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2154&position=1B" target="_blank">Ryan Howard</a> should be released. I know this is getting harsher and harsher as this moves on, but Howard had his run. A player who hit 58 home runs in his first full season absolutely has value, but once those home runs dip under 30, then the value dwindles until the immobile first basemen is being platooned. Howard always had strikeout issues and his player profile is certainly getting washed out of the game quickly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=11165&position=OF" target="_blank">Ramon Flores</a> is 24 years old playing in his first full season of the big leagues. Sometimes we expect negative value from a player who is getting a chance for experience. The Brewers brought in David Stearns in the offseason as their General Manager and enacted a rebuilding of the team. When that is the case, younger players get a chance to perform and seize a spot moving forward. For Flores, that spot is slipping away from him in his future.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=5133&position=SS" target="_blank">Alexei Ramirez</a> has played in way too many games this year. Appearing in all but one of the Padres 89 games, Ramirez accrued the most negative WAR on the team. In past years, Ramirez was an asset defensively, but given his age, shortstop is certainly not for him anymore. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1191&position=3B" target="_blank">Chris Johnson</a> is that one-hit wonder band. You always think back to other songs (seasons) and really remember why they were a one-hit wonder. In this case, it was 165 hits in 2013 that was the wonder. Johnson strikes out 30 percent of the time and only walks five percent of the time, which is not a good combination when you do not hit over 30 home runs.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8553&position=OF" target="_blank">Gerardo Parra</a> has walked four times in 249 plate appearances. If I never swung the bat in 249 plate appearances, I guarantee that I would get more than four walks. You have to try to not walk and Parra has almost perfected this ability, which is one I do not recommend. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4220&position=3B" target="_blank">Ryan Zimmerman</a> was in the news after being awful after Bryce Harper was walked. Not much has changed in the scope of his whole season, which has seen him be 22 percent worse than the average hitter this year. Zimmerman was a part of a <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/44509920/former-tidewater-mets-bj-upton-justin-upton-david-wright-and-ryan-zimmerman-reunited-in-nl-east/" target="_blank">travelball team</a> that consisted of himself, Melvin Upton Jr., Justin Upton, and David Wright. Quite the lineup to work against.</div>
<div>
<br />
National League Pitchers</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 488px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4827; mso-width-source: userset; width: 99pt;" width="132"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 5668; mso-width-source: userset; width: 116pt;" width="155"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2669; mso-width-source: userset; width: 55pt;" width="73"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
<col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl66" height="20" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; height: 15pt; width: 99pt;" width="132">Name</td>
<td class="xl66" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: left; width: 116pt;" width="155">Team</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 55pt;" width="73">ERA</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">FIP</td>
<td class="xl67" style="background: rgb(31, 78, 120); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; width: 48pt;" width="64">xFIP</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Josh Osich</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">San Francisco Giants</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">4.15</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.91</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">4.51</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Adam Warren</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Chicago Cubs</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.79</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.93</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.26</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Trevor Rosenthal</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">St. Louis Cardinals</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.40</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">4.18</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">3.94</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Shelby Miller</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Arizona Diamondbacks</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">7.14</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.69</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.19</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Logan Verrett</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">New York Mets</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">4.34</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.44</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.07</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-left-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-left-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; height: 15pt;">Jon Niese</td>
<td class="xl65" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pittsburgh Pirates</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.13</td>
<td class="xl68" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">5.49</td>
<td class="xl70" style="background: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-bottom-width: 0.5pt; border-right-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-right-width: 0.5pt; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-top-color: rgb(155, 194, 230); border-top-width: 0.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">4.39</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Home stretch. I may get nasty when it comes to Shelby Miller, but if you've gotten this far then I must applaud you reading this questionable list from an author that is just trying to have some fun. Anyway, let us finish up with the National League pitching staff.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=11528&position=P" target="_blank">Josh Osich</a> is the unfortunate member from a very good San Francisco Giants team. Osich, a left-handed specialist, is not a very good member from the previously mentioned good team. With this only being his second year in the big leagues, we are seeing the volatility of relievers. Osich was very good last year, posting an ERA- of 61. With decreased control, Osich has become a member that is a LOOGY. We can confirm that's the case because Osich has 43 appearances and has only pitched 26 innings.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9029&position=P" target="_blank">Adam Warren</a> was very good as a reliever on the New York Yankees. Now, Warren is giving up more fly balls which has led to seven home runs in 32.2 innings pitched. The Cubs haven't been great this past month, but they have very little to worry about as Warren will likely regress to the mean. To argue against the previous point, relievers are random and Warren could very easily be past his prime. I am very indecisive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10745&position=P" target="_blank">Trevor Rosenthal</a> is fascinating. He is the only member that is not worth negative WAR on this list. He comes in with a perfect zero in the WAR category. What else is fascinating with Rosenthal is his ability to walk batters and strike batters out. Rosenthal strikes out 28.4 percent of the batters he faces, but he walks 15.5 percent of the batters he faces. Cardinals Manager, Mike Matheny, recently took away the closer role from the flamethrower. I fear for Rosenthal given his absurd walk rate. It only reminds me of once dominant reliever, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=7115&position=P" target="_blank">Daniel Bard</a>, who could never make it back from his battle with walks. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=10197&position=P" target="_blank">Shelby Miller</a> is not worth <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4922&position=OF" target="_blank">Ender Inciarte</a>, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa659260&position=SS" target="_blank">Dansby Swanson</a>, and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=14934&position=P" target="_blank">Aaron Blair</a>. This is not Miller's fault. This is the work of the Arizona Diamondback General Manager, Dave Stewart. Once a great pitcher of the Oakland Athletics, Stewart continues to make a mockery of the General Manager position. Selling off assets that could arguably help you win now for an 'ace' is mind-boggling. And what did Stewart receive? Stewart received a laughably bad pitcher in Shelby Miller who is trying to right the ship to an atrocious first half of the season. The ERA is worse than the FIP, so you can argue that he will regress, but the FIP is still above five. One of the untapped aspects of baseball is the psychological side and Miller is possibly feeling the affects of what we call pressure. The Diamondbacks literally sold the farm for a bonafide ace and, instead, they received a pitcher who was never considered a bonafide ace.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=12905&position=P" target="_blank">Logan Verrett</a> is a spot starter for the New York Mets. He certainly isn't the worst pitcher on this list and he has a role that no one envies. Verrett's hard contact rate has gone up by 8.9 percent from 2015. Along with that stat, Verrett has missed less bats. When you adds those together, you get a higher ERA and FIP. Verrett is a long reliever and he's making the league minimum on a fun, young Mets team that has a chance to make the playoffs. Not a bad experience to tell your kids.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4424&position=P" target="_blank">Jon Niese</a> was a good fifth starter option for four or five years, but those years are over. There is some unlucky aspects to Niese's game, like his home run rate. Niese is giving up a home run on 22.7 percent of fly balls, which is far above his average of 12.1 percent in his career. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That wraps a rather long experiment looking at the worst baseball players in the game in the first half. Would you like to watch this game if it did take place? Would this game be offensive? Defensive? Would we see more balls drop because of the poor defense at premier positions? These are all wonderful questions that I will not explore at this time, but thank you for you patience on a rather dreadful subject, the Replacement Teams. </div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-76108633271250568612016-06-27T13:11:00.000-07:002016-07-14T23:54:36.035-07:00Matt Carpenter is something elseby Daniel Conmy<br />
<br />
While the Cardinals are nine games out of first place, they are still four games over .500. The Cardinals ability to remain relevant is impressive to say the least. We've seen <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=9399&position=OF" target="_blank">Jeremy Hazelbaker</a> provide positive value before flaming out and being optioned to Triple-A. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=15937&position=SS" target="_blank">Aledmys Diaz</a>, although atrocious defense at short, continues to fire on all cylinders at the plate. These are players that have performed above expectations, but there is one Cardinals player that is seemingly getting better each year and that is <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=c,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,31,48,33,49,-1,206,207,208,-1,209,210,211&season=2016&month=0&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=8090" target="_blank">Matt Carpenter</a>.<br />
<br />
The left-handed hitting infielder has 54 walks to 53 strikeouts and has continued to raise his ISO every year since 2014. What does that tell us? Carpenter has elite control of the strikezone, but now he is damaging pitches farther and at a much higher rate than in years past. Carpenter has a 167 wRC+, which is better than his best mark in 2013 when he posted a 146 wRC+. We cannot assume that Carpenter will keep up his blistering pace, but we can dig into the numbers to see if there is some sustainability to the numbers put forth.<br />
<br />
We already noted that Carpenter has elite ability with his understanding of the strikezone. To add to that Carpenter has raised his contact rate inside the zone. Last year, Carpenter hit 87 percent of the balls pitched inside the zone and this year he's raised that number to 92.8 percent. That's quite an uptick within the zone. Outside the zone, he's lowered his rate by a measly 1.5 percent, but every percentage point makes a significant difference over a 162-game season.<br />
<br />
Another piece of information to look at before believing the numbers put forth are his splits. It's been noted that there are usually splits between same handedness batter and pitcher. And, yes, Carpenter faces that issue, but he is still 43 percent better than league average when facing a left-handed pitcher.<br />
<br />
Now, for my favorite Matt Carpenter piece of information. Carpenter's hard hit percentage has risen while his soft hit percentage has fallen below ten percent. Carpenter now makes hard hit contact on 43.9 percent of the balls he puts in play. While his ground ball, fly ball, and line drive rates have remained seemingly constant over the past couple years, Carpenter is<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard" target="_blank"> in the top ten in average distance on every batted ball</a>. This is can begin to explain why Carpenter has seen his isolated power improve from .103 in 2014 to .285 in 2016.<br />
<br />
While these numbers show extreme improvement from the infielder, this is half a seasons worth of data and plenty of things can change from here until the rest of the season. This is a cautionary note, but with Carpenter's elite contact skills, I see no reason from him slowing down his torrid pace. While all credit should be placed on Carpenter's ability, you have to wonder how the St. Louis Cardinals continue to develop great players deep in their draft classes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-83872665614692645162016-06-21T06:49:00.000-07:002016-07-14T23:54:56.860-07:00Midseason-ish report on Clayton Kershawby Daniel Conmy<br />
<br />
I must admit that I overvalue the walk a lot, but there is an extreme fascination when it comes to batters walking often or pitchers not walking batters at a high rate. Last season, I talked about some batters and <a href="http://chaveztofenway.blogspot.com/2015/09/thewalk.html" target="_blank">their ability to walk</a>. Today, I will talk about the amazing <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=2036&position=P#advanced" target="_blank">Clayton Kershaw</a> who really can do no wrong.<br />
<br />
Before getting into why Clayton Kershaw is becoming one of the most prolific pitchers in all of history, let's chit chat about a story about how I came to realize my weird obsession with four pitches outside the zone.<br />
<br />
Recently at a bar with my friends, I noted that Kershaw walked his seventh batter of the year. One friend, with a lengthy background in baseball understood my reasoning behind such a discussion topic. The other just asked, "Why? It's just a walk." Just a walk? No, this is not just a walk. This is a walk from a pitcher that is on pace for the best WHIP in a single season and the best strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) in history. As I was frantically stating the significance of walking another batter it came to fruition that maybe people just don't care about walks as much as I do. And that's a fair level-headed assumption. I take walks as my holy grail. You cannot give up free passes as a pitcher and as a hitter you should take as many as you can get.<br />
<br />
Now, let's jump into the mind-boggling ability of Clayton Kershaw. Before we get too far, let's note that last night was Kershaw's 15th start of the season. That is less than halfway for a pitcher, as aces usually get 33 starts. Barring any injury, we can call this a midseason-ish report because this is clearly going to be very cut and dry as to what to expect for the rest of the season and what he has already done. No, of course not. That is what make projections fun. They are hypothetical marks that a player can get to if they continue on the current trend of the season or can exceed said marks if they continue to get better. Let's get to some number, shall we?<br />
<br />
Kershaw is on pace to strikeout 310 batters this year after taking into account his 15th start of the season. Last year Kershaw amassed 301 strikeouts, the first time someone did that since 2002 when <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_leagues.shtml" target="_blank">Randy Johnson struck out 334</a>. To go along with that, Kershaw is on pace to have the second best field-independent pitching (FIP) numbers since Pedro Martinez's historic 1999 season. After giving up six hits in seven innings against the Washington Nationals, Kershaw raised his walks/hits per inning (WHIP) to .67, which is still better than the best mark by Pedro Martinez. Although these are all incredible numbers, we haven't even begun to discuss my favorite fun fact with this superstar from the Los Angeles Dodgers.<br />
<br />
Clayton Kershaw has walked seven people all year in 115 innings pitched. That's unimaginable. Even the best pitchers walk people, right? Well Clayton Kershaw did not get the memo. His walk rate is down to 1.7 percent. It is improbable that Kershaw continues to get better, yet nothing should amaze us at this point.<br />
<br />
To go along with the amazing walk rate, Kershaw also is absolutely shattering the strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB) single-season record with a mark of 20.14 strikeouts to one walk. The next closest pitcher was <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/strikeouts_per_base_on_balls_season.shtml" target="_blank">Phil Hughes who recently broke the record with a 11.63 clip.</a> Kershaw would have to walk the next five batters without recording a strikeout to get to an 11.75 mark.<br />
<br />
These are numbers that have conceivably been the result of a change in Kershaw's pitching style. So, did Kershaw change anything this year from his last historic season that can make sense of these jumps to even higher praise? Well, Kershaw is using his slider more often. The Dodger ace is throwing his slider a third of the time. Every year we've seen a slight increase in Kershaw's sliders except for a small dip in 2015. Obviously this trend will not continue and will plateau eventually, but the slider has been such a weapon, that if it is used more, it can lead to more and more strikeouts. We recently saw <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/matt-shoemaker-borrows-from-the-tanaka-playbook/" target="_blank">Matt Shoemaker throw his splitter more frequently</a>, which led to incredible results. Could Kershaw be doing that same incremental increase with his slider? Possibly, but one thing Kershaw can keep constant is the armslot where he delivers his pitches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7soccTDs-HPS9Pa8lfkl7Yiw2qUSZuJ-CmqB2WFnojtHjGnFwzFLeQt6vbgnZ3ZpW9dCbQnNjsm2A9V9xCUkLZkYO_9OZGjJGA0uXvbsZxKH8JMy_fiPMQonj-LaK4QHOoMBxTeyZLo8/s1600/Brooksbaseball-Chart.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7soccTDs-HPS9Pa8lfkl7Yiw2qUSZuJ-CmqB2WFnojtHjGnFwzFLeQt6vbgnZ3ZpW9dCbQnNjsm2A9V9xCUkLZkYO_9OZGjJGA0uXvbsZxKH8JMy_fiPMQonj-LaK4QHOoMBxTeyZLo8/s400/Brooksbaseball-Chart.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
From this chart, <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/velo.php?player=477132&b_hand=-1&gFilt=&pFilt=FA|SI|FC|CU|SL|CS|KN|CH|FS|SB&time=month&minmax=ci&var=z0&s_type=16&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=06/21/2016" target="_blank">courtesy of Brooks Baseball</a>, we see very small variations in Kershaw's vertical release point for every pitch from 2007 to 2016. While his horizontal release point has changed a significant amount, all pitches - fastball, slider, curveball - come from the same location no matter the horizontal change. Of course, you have to give or take a few inches with each of these numbers, but can a major league player adjust that quickly and spot the error when Kershaw throws a fastball or when he throws a slider? No player has consistently figured out Clayton Kershaw and that's why is brilliance still remains.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-65150493683327557822016-06-18T12:50:00.000-07:002016-07-14T23:55:10.855-07:00Max Scherzer and Home Runs<div class="MsoNormal">
by Daniel Conmy<br />
<br />
On my trip across the country to Illinois, I
discovered something that I wish came into my life sooner. I found
podcasts. Yes, podcasts. Podcasts are where two people talk about a certain topic that
varies from 30 minutes to multiple hours. My topics of choice are baseball and baseball.
Surprise, right? Well if you are a fanatic like I am, then I recommend
<a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/blog/daily_podcast/" target="_blank">Effectively Wild with Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller</a>, <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/fan_forum/podcasts/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&podcast=statcast_podcast" target="_blank">Statcast Podcast with Mike Petriello</a>, and<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/category/podcast/" target="_blank"> Fangraphs podcast with Carson Cistulli</a> and a plethora of guests.
Now, you might not understand how this piece is about<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=3137&position=P" target="_blank"> Max Scherzer</a> just yet,
and really I don’t know either. All I know is Scherzer has given up plenty of
home runs this year. We will look at his career numbers and his season numbers
if we can see any discernible change from past years.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
First off, Scherzer has given up 17 home runs before play on
June 18. He gave up 27 home runs all last year. So is we extrapolate those
numbers for a full season, Scherzer would give up 40 (!) home runs. That would
place him <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_p_season.shtml" target="_blank">tied for 13<sup>th</sup> most</a> in all of Major League Baseball (MLB)
history. That is an absurd amount of home runs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scherzer absolutely loves his
fastball. I don’t blame him. With an average velocity of 94.2 mph, he is
able to challenge plenty of hitters and beat him on that pitch. Although he challenges and wins often, Scherzer is on pace to give up 21 home runs on fastballs, most since 2011. This is definitely a concern, but when looking at heat maps from <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/zonegrid.aspx?playerid=3137&position=P&ss=&se=&type=0&hand=all&count=all&blur=1&grid=10&view=bat&pitch=FA&season=2014" target="_blank">2014</a>, where Scherzer only gave up nine home runs, and <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/zonegrid.aspx?playerid=3137&position=P&ss=2016-01-01&se=2016-12-01&type=0&hand=all&count=all&blur=1&grid=10&view=bat&pitch=FA&season=2016" target="_blank">2016</a>, there is no noticeable difference between where Scherzer throws his fastball. Arguably, Scherzer was better in 2014 with throwing inside off the plate than he is this year. Maybe that is where Scherzer needs to adjust. If fastballs leak over the middle of the plate, big league hitters are more than capable hitting them over the fence. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's not the only place where the Nationals ace has struggled. Scherzer tied his career-high of home runs given up on sliders through 14 starts, tying his total in 2011. There are plenty of reasons for this, one easily could be that Scherzer is not locating his slider. In 2016, Scherzer is <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/zonegrid.aspx?playerid=3137&position=P&ss=2016-04-04&se=2016-06-13&type=0&hand=all&count=all&blur=1&grid=10&view=bat&pitch=SL&season=all" target="_blank">throwing many of his sliders over the outside corner to right handed batters</a>. This would be fine, but the majority of his sliders are leaking up in the zone and over the middle of the plate. This is a very similar situation to what we saw on his fastballs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Overall, Scherzer is still striking out the opposition at a rate higher than 30 percent, which is definitely elite. There is a slight uptick of home runs per fly ball compared to last year (10.5 percent in 2015 and 16.5 percent in 2016). Also, the Nationals star is walking batters at a 6.7 percent clip compared to a 3.8 percent clip last year. With all those numbers, Scherzer can easily make a small change and continue to be one of the most successful pitchers in the game. He can start this change by facing off against a light hitting Padres team tonight at Petco Park.</div>
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There is no real reason to be concerned with Scherzer when looking at his underlying numbers, but it is interesting note that a lack of fastball and slider command has led to a higher walk rate and home run rate. Scherzer will continue to strike out batter after batter, but can he sustain being elite with less control?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-23766432095760911782016-06-10T12:22:00.001-07:002016-07-14T23:55:26.026-07:00Cody Allen vs. The Mariners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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by Daniel Conmy<br />
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Last night, the Mariners had the chance for a walk-off home run against Cody Allen, the Cleveland Indians closer. While the term "closer" is not necessary, we signify Allen as the best reliever on the Indians at this time, or at least that is what Terry Francona thinks. We should not be arguing whether or not Allen is an elite reliever, but more of his ability in the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners. To set the stage, Cody Allen came in with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and induced a weak ground ball to the second basemen. That concluded the eighth inning.<br />
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In the ninth inning, Allen started the inning against Chris Iannetta, Dae Ho Lee, and Nori Aoki. The first at-bat will help set the stage for the rest the inning. Iannetta recently clobbered two home runs in yesterday's game. While recent success is not proven to breed further success, Allen came in with a two-run lead, which gave him the ability to take a chance against Iannetta.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrjeF2LB8n60zeyP4zzZqP-_-Ko0S4fHlvaUlQGv6HX6iAXI2YfDFTm5Dcx4Iu7bag14ooJt25wiiIYkCqKk8-6J2vBUwZyktFZGmVb1bYFA4l-fXoVFAQxeljlBX94zzbxAlm76_2e0/s1600/Iannetta+Strikezone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrjeF2LB8n60zeyP4zzZqP-_-Ko0S4fHlvaUlQGv6HX6iAXI2YfDFTm5Dcx4Iu7bag14ooJt25wiiIYkCqKk8-6J2vBUwZyktFZGmVb1bYFA4l-fXoVFAQxeljlBX94zzbxAlm76_2e0/s400/Iannetta+Strikezone.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you seen in the strikezone plot, supplied by <a href="http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=3&sp_type=1&year=2016&month=6&day=9&pitchSel=592102&game=gid_2016_06_09_clemlb_seamlb_1/&prevGame=gid_2016_06_09_clemlb_seamlb_1/&pnf=&prevDate=69&batterX=77" target="_blank">Brooks Baseball</a>, Cody Allen tried to work away and down, but his first and fifth pitched leaked over the middle of the plate. Iannetta took the 3-1 offering and scorched a ball to the hole between the third basemen and shortstop. The ball was hit at 97 mph, which usually becomes a hit, but Jose Ramirez, the Indians third basemen made a fine play on the ball. </div>
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That is not an easy play to make and with the slower runner in Iannetta, Ramirez took his time and threw him out with time to spare. The Indians fan appreciated the effort put forth by Ramirez, and I am sure Allen did as well. One out.</div>
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Now, Dae Ho Lee is facing off against Allen. Allen starts Lee off with a curveball in the dirt, not the best pitch as you want to obviously start ahead in the count. Allen then proceeds to throw five fastballs in a row, most on the outside corner, but one leaking on the inside half for a ball. Lee struck out on the high fastball. Two out.</div>
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Up next, Nori Aoki. Aoki saw two fastballs and smacked the second one up the middle at 97 mph for a single. Two outs, one on. </div>
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Seth Smith stood in the left-handed batters box to face off against Allen. Surprisingly, Cody Allen has reverse splits throughout his career. That means right-handed hitters (.297 wOBA) hit Allen harder than left-handed hitters (.261 wOBA). Aoki does not have significant splits when facing a right handed batter or left handed batter, but Seth Smith has immense splits (63 wRC+ vs. LH and 123 wRC+ against RH). With that noted, Allen starts off Smith with two fastballs on the outside corner, which Smith fouls back. Then Allen comes back with a curveball not placed where he would like for an 0-2 count. Allen throws the curveball over the middle of the plate and Smith hits a line drive into center field. Two out, men at the corners.</div>
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Robinson Cano earlier in the game hit two home runs, one coming just the inning before. There is one open base at second and the hitter on-deck is Nelson Cruz. Now as a closer, you trust that your best stuff can beat the opposing teams best stuff, and here we find if that's the case.</div>
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We've noted that Allen does not have significant splits when pitching to a right-handed hitter or a left-handed hitter, but Robinson Cano does (137 wRC+ vs. RH and 109 wRC+ vs. LH). He is above league average against both lefties and righties, but certainly hits better against right-handed pitchers. Also, we've seen Allen throw a 12-6 curveball, which helps neutralize any splits when facing a different handed batter. Cano takes the first pitch for a ball high and away. Allen proceeds to throw three more fastballs, one which hits the outside corner, 3-1. This is where Allen does not want to challenge. This is often called a "hitters count" because the hitter can zone in on one certain pitch. What does Allen do? Below, we can see he throws a perfect curveball on the outside corner of the plate for strike two, 3-2.</div>
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This chance, this is what you dream about as a kid. Being in a spot where you can hit the game-winning walk-off home run. The Mariners are down by two runs and Robinson Cano, arguably the best batter in their lineup is ready for a 3-2 delivery from Allen. What does Allen do? </div>
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Allen throws the pitch exactly where he should; in the dirt. Three outs, game over.</div>
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It is the perfect pitch location for an aggressive hitter who has the ability to hit the ball out of the ball park. Allen was not perfect in this inning by any means, but the last two pitches thrown show his ability to come up in a big spot. Earlier in the inning the same two-strike curveball was left over the middle of the plate. Allen was inconsistent with his placement of the curveball throughout the inning, but he threw the last pitch exactly where no damage could be done. For the Mariners it was a difficult loss, as they see the Rangers lengthened their lead and for the Indians it is a win that keeps them in a four-team race in the AL Central. While this game is only a blip in all 162 games, all of them matter.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-83572538597167691532015-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:002015-09-10T06:00:02.013-07:00Joey Votto and the lefty strikeby Daniel Conmy<br />
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<a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4314&position=1B" target="_blank">Joey Votto</a> threw a tantrum yesterday. Not only did he get ejected, but the Reds superstar needed to be restrained by a good chunk of teammates and coaches so he didn't go after the umpire and take some swings. If you have not seen the call that made this tirade happen, <a href="http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2015/09/10/mlbtv_pitcin_467648383_1800K.mp4" target="_blank">feast your eyes on this</a>.<br />
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Now, you can look at Votto and say that he overreacted to a call that has always been called a strike to lefties. Or you can challenge how umpires call the game.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMwdrDIkxOLcx6KDwU7I0BqdkG9BC2dQ0-ElNvbuvWiOliIaVBxCzrYgejgqpGQYKmh1XmRYZqzv9o7QjBaf6qZ8nKGKdXEn2p_KDllWZV8csQDVzUwXKQ22AehZ0A-enJk3mgRsXa3c/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-09-09+at+10.47.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMwdrDIkxOLcx6KDwU7I0BqdkG9BC2dQ0-ElNvbuvWiOliIaVBxCzrYgejgqpGQYKmh1XmRYZqzv9o7QjBaf6qZ8nKGKdXEn2p_KDllWZV8csQDVzUwXKQ22AehZ0A-enJk3mgRsXa3c/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-09-09+at+10.47.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's the call in question if you want a freeze frame. That is Francisco Cervelli catching that ball on the outer half or into the right handed batter's box. He brings an interesting angle to this story that we will get to in a little bit, but back to Votto.<br />
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Joey Votto is known for his patience at the plate and his ability to <a href="http://chaveztofenway.blogspot.com/2015/09/thewalk.html" target="_blank">take a walk</a>. Votto knows the strike zone very well, but Bill Welke thought he knew it a little better last night. While Votto seemed upset about not be awarded time in the video, the pent up rage began because of this borderline call.<br />
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Alright, let's break down the other pieces of this picture. Bill Welke has his head over the middle of the plate. That changes his perception on the outer half for lefties. <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/want-to-slow-down-pitchers-call-the-strike-zone-correctly-042314" target="_blank">Umpire positioning is key</a> to whether or not a pitch will be called a ball or strike. It has been documented that lefties have an unfair advantage at the plate and their counterparts do not need to even come close to the strike zone to get the batter out during lefty-lefty matchups. There is one other piece that we have not discussed in depth yet, and that is Francisco Cervelli.<br />
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Cervelli is one of the best pitch framers in the game. Don't take my word for it, look at this data taken from StatCorner.<br />
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I'll get to what all those sections mean in a second, but the focus should be on calls. Those are the extra calls that Cervelli is able to get based on his pitch framing ability, which is good for 1.86 per game. His oStr% is the percentage of calls his able to get called strikes that would be balls if a perfect zone was in place. That is the largest percentage with catchers who have a large sample size for the 2015 season.<br />
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Was Votto right to erupt? Probably based off of his perception of the strike zone. Bill Welke was not the only reason this pitch was called a strike. Welke's positioning in regards to the outside corner and the framing abilities of Francisco Cervelli were the most important factors.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-91624288958579600382015-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:002015-09-07T09:25:15.721-07:00Jackie Bradley Jr. is a baseball player againby Daniel Conmy<br />
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Bradley was a prized pick when he dropped out of the first round and into compensation picks. The Boston Red Sox snagged him and Bradley Jr. started developing into a prized talent that could eventually impact the outfield in Boston. For the past three years, Bradley couldn't figured it out at the plate. The defense has always been stellar, but the bat was so nonexistent, so it wasn't worth the defensive upside to put him in the lineup. Then, in the middle of the 2015 season, something clicked.<br />
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In no way do I condone the use of small sample size, but Bradley turned his season around with one fateful day. At the plate, Bradley Jr. went 5 for 6 with two home runs and three doubles. There were signs in early August, but this explosion on the scene cemented a transformation. In July, Bradley <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=12984&position=OF&season=0&split=2.4" target="_blank">posted a negative wRC+</a>, but he quickly turned it around in August, posting a wRC+ of 210. Yes, that means he was 110 percent better than the average ballplayer in August. Why the sudden change of course?<br />
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Bradley changed <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-currently-exploding-jackie-bradley-jr/" target="_blank">his timing mechanism</a>. Before, he did not lift up his leg, but simply shifted weight. The medium leg lift, which helps some batters time pitches, created a better version of Jackie Bradley Jr. Now, Bradley is in the middle of the Red Sox plans for upcoming seasons. A defensive wizard suddenly found a new ability.<br />
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Do not throw caution to the wind and believe that Jackie Bradley has turned it around though. Eluded to earlier, this is a small sample. In the month of August, he was one of the <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2015&month=8&season1=2015&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=21,d" target="_blank">best players in terms of WAR</a>. Players have good months. They have good first halves. Remember <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=5462&position=1B/OF&season=0&split=2.7" target="_blank">Bryan LaHair</a>?<br />
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While being cautiously optimistic, Bradley Jr. needs to play at this level for the length of a season before trusting the numbers he's putting up. The physical change to his swing might be the only thing holding him back, but time will tell if that's the only speed bump in his game. Pitchers will soon adjust and then we will see if Bradley can easily adjust over the next challenge he faces at the plate.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-28999099862020470112015-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:002015-09-04T06:49:52.893-07:00The walkby Daniel Conmy<br />
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As I yell at my friend continually over a text about the importance of a walk, I realize that I have an outlet where I can express this fascination with four pitches outside the strike zone. It is nothing more than a free trip on base that raises your on base percentage by mere points. There are harsh critics to what the walk can do, but what the walk doesn't do is give an out to the other team. Those are precious commodities.<br />
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This enthrallment was recently revamped when I read an article about <a href="http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/joey-votto-ted-williams-too-patient/" target="_blank">Joey Votto</a> and his patience at the plate. And the next day, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=11579&position=OF" target="_blank">Bryce Harper</a> decided to walk four times in one game. Votto is on another planet at the moment, walking 39 times since August 1 and posting a 220 wRC+ in that span. Harper, on the other hand, has walked 26 times in that same period. Both puzzling numbers for great professional hitters, but let's take a look at their season statistics.<br />
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Not bad, right? These two players are walking about as often as they strike out and they both hit for power when they aren't walking. So why is it that Joey Votto continually gets blasted by his own play-by-play announcer, Marty Brennaman, when he walks too much? It seems that Brennaman does not understand the beauty of the walk.<br />
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These two players understand, probably better than anybody in the game, what opposing pitchers want to do to beat them. Yes, you can beat them, but when either hitter puts a good swing on the ball, it goes a long way more often than not. These players make the pitchers come to them. And if they decide to stay outside the zone? They gladly take the walk, which noted before, does not give the other team an out.<br />
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While Votto has a track record with this high walk rate, Bryce Harper is finally turning into that perennial MVP candidate that many thought was possible when he broke into the MLB at 19 years of age. The patience executed by Harper turned him into a player feared by most opposing pitchers. On September 3, Harper walked four times in four plate appearances, resulting in four runs scored and one RBI. <a href="https://twitter.com/ZuckermanCSN/status/639607810880315392" target="_blank">Truly a historic day.</a> A walk in this instance, led straight to an RBI, but the most important thing is Bryce Harper was put on the bases and let his teammates execute, which can't be said for the rest of the Nationals season.<br />
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Based off of his swing rate outside the strike zone (O-Swing%), Harper has laid off more offerings outside the zone, which has allowed him to reach base at a higher rate. With every other category seemingly stable, Harper bettered himself by understanding that pitchers might not challenge as often and it continues to benefit him.<br />
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I will continue to yell in my friends ear about how walks are crucial and those four pitches outside can just <a href="http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2015/08/18/mlbtv_seatex_381114983_1800K.mp4" target="_blank">win a game for your team.</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-85163296508300271122012-10-31T11:07:00.001-07:002012-10-31T11:08:59.554-07:00Biggest Free Agents to WatchThe season is over and and the San Francisco Giants are the champions. That's all well and good for all of the Bay Area baseball fans, but for the fans of the other 31 teams in the league, the time has come for off-season contract talks and Free Agency. All fans will be following intently to see if their team's GM makes the right moves to take their team deep into the playoffs. All that being said, here are some of the biggest Free Agents available, and some of the rumors swirling around them currently.<br />
<br />
<b>Josh Hamilton (OF)</b>- I was going to save Hamilton for last, but his case is too interesting to ignore. His season ended in a chorus of boo's as he watched the Rangers crash and burn at the end of the season, ultimately being eliminated by the Orioles in the AL Wild Card Game. With such an acrimonious end to his season, and the problems Hamilton has had with coaching already, It would surprise me to see the <u>Rangers</u> hold onto him. If the <u>Brewers</u> are willing to ignore their pitching problems, they could definitely make a play for the Outfielder. The <u>Red Sox</u> might want to avoid the off-the-field problems that Hamilton comes with, but they certainly have the money for him. Both the <u>Dodgers</u> and the <u>Yankees</u> were considered suitors at one time, but with the <u>Dodgers</u> getting Crawford (to go along with Kemp and Ethier) and the <u>Yankees</u> already stretched thin, contract wise, I doubt either team will make a big play, although the <u>Yankees</u> always seem to end up finding some money for the big name players (i.e. A-Rod)<br />
<br />
<i>My Prediction</i>- I think Hamilton will go to Milwaukee, to give Braun more protection in the lineup<br />
<br />
<b>Mike Napoli (C)</b>- There are not too many concrete rumors surrounding the slugging Catcher just yet, but <u>Tamp Bay</u> has emerged as an early favorite.Although if the <u>Yankees</u> lose Russell Martin, don't be surprised to see Cashman make a play for Napoli.<br />
<br />
<i>My Prediction</i>- Like I said, nothing has really materialized yet, but Tampa Bay does make sense, seeing as Napoli is a Florida native.<br />
<br />
<b>Zack Greinke (SP)-</b> Let's get real, folks. This is a pitching league. GMs have started to notice this and have been signing their top tier pitchers to long term deals (Cole Hamels, Matt Cain), a guy like Greinke quickly rises to the top of the list of available pitchers. The <u>Twins</u> have already stated that they will commit all their off-season spending to Starting Pitching. Whether they have enough money to pay a top Free Agent like Greinke is yet to be determined. The <u>Angels</u> still hope to retain Greinke and have a definite shot at it. The team that will be interested in just about all Starting Pitchers on the market is the <u>Dodgers</u>. Stan Kasten, the one with all the money in the ownership group, has already stated that money is not an option this winter. No one should be surprised if the Dodgers are very involved in Greinke.<br />
<br />
<i>My Prediction- </i>I can't see the Twins winning a bidding war with the Angels or the Dodgers. I see the Angels landing Greinke for a second year, unless the Dodgers lose out on this next player...<br />
<br />
<b>James Shields (SP)-</b> Shields is technically not a free agents. The <u>Rays</u> have picked up their contract option on the right-hander for 2013. That being said, the <u>Rays</u> have been very candid about their willingness to trade Shields to free up some money for other needs (See: Mike Napoli). The <u>Dodgers</u> have come out as the main suitor for Shields and have the money for him.<br />
<br />
<i>My Prediction</i>- I would not be shocked to see the Dodgers pull this move off, but it might be too complicated. I expect Shields will stay put in Tampa.<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>Other Notable Free Agents:</u> BJ Upton (OF), Michael Bourne (OF), Nick Swisher (OF), Edwin Jackson (SP), Hiroki Kuroda (SP), Jake Peavy (SP), Anibal Sanchez (SP), David Ortiz (DH/1B).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02828794785527102048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-88283469463134523912012-10-03T10:31:00.004-07:002012-10-03T10:33:39.490-07:00Game 162<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">If Texas beats Oakland, Oakland will
likely travel to the East to play either the Orioles or the Yankees. If the
Orioles win tonight, the Yankees win, and Oakland loses, the A’s will play the
Orioles at Camden Yards Friday.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">If the Yankees lose and the Orioles
win, they will play a one-game playoff at Camden Yards to determine the AL East
winner. The loser of that game will play either the A’s or the Rangers in the
wild card game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Essentially, there will be a series
of one-game playoffs. Today’s game between the Rangers and A’s is a one-game
playoff and the loser will go on to play another one-game playoff. If the
Yankees lose and the Orioles win, they will play a one-game playoff and the
loser of that game will play another one-game playoff.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">As a fan of the Orioles, a one-game
playoff scares me and I am sure it would scare any fan of any team. For people
who love football because there are fewer games therefore every game matters, a
one-game playoff is ideal. Every pitch matters and it makes for amazing
television. For baseball traditionalist the one-game playoff is terrible. They say
your whole season ends up coming down to just one game and that is a bad thing.
I understand both arguments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Now, just a disclaimer, what I think
will happen is probably way different than what will actually happen. I think
Oakland wins today’s game against Texas which will put the cap on a dream
season for A’s fans. A.J. Griffin is just plain better than Ryan Dempster right
now. I predict both the Yankees and the Orioles win today which would make the
Yankees the Al East Champions. This would cause a one-game playoff between the
Orioles and the Rangers. The probable starters for that game would be Yu
Darvish and Joe Saunders. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">Whether you are for or against the
second wild card team, nobody can deny that this has been one of the most
exciting seasons in recent memory. I was skeptical about adding a wild card
team but now I am grateful because it has helped keep baseball relevant during
football season. Usually when football season starts baseball kind of dies out.
This season, baseball will be on everybody’s TV Friday and I expect those wild
card games to have outrageous ratings. </span></div>
Michael Huntleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06339870183764686453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-68189655346392766322012-09-05T11:00:00.001-07:002012-09-06T14:27:29.061-07:00Orioles Magic <br />
It is September 5th and the Baltimore Orioles are tied with the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East. If I had told you this in April you would laugh in my face and think I have no business writing an article on baseball. Despite my Oriole fanhood, I would have thought it was ridiculous too.<br />
Typically going into the season I am optimistic about the Orioles. I typically say to myself, “This is the year our young players develop and we put together a winning season.” They always make a couple of moves in the winter that I think are just enough to put the team over 80 wins. In 2004 the Orioles acquired Javy Lopez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Miguel Tejada. I was unbelievably excited because Tejada was a former MVP and Lopez was coming off a good season. Of course some of the younger players took a step back and the Orioles finished below 80 wins again. In 2011 they had a few good pitching prospects come up to start the season. Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, and Chris Tillman were all supposed to be 15 game winners. With those guys coming up and the offseason acquisitions of Mark Reynolds, Derek Lee, and Vlad Guerrero I thought 2011 was going to be the year. Unfortunately, Arrieta got hurt, Matusz and Tillman took steps back, and Lee and Guerrero vastly underachieved.<br />
That brings me to 2012. This was the first season in a few years that I did not feel good about the O’s. Their big offseason move was trading Jeremy Guthrie to the Rockies for Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom. Our rotation was once again relying on young pitchers like Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, Tommy Hunter and Wei-Yin Chen. We had holes at second base and left field and a young bullpen. I was expecting a 60 win season at best.<br />
Since April the Orioles have completely proved me wrong. Jason Hammel was one of the top ten pitchers in the American League in the first half and Chen was right behind him. Adam Jones came out playing like a MVP candidate and our bullpen was unhittable. I was excited but remembered that the Orioles started out similar last season.<br />
Then things went south. Matusz, Arrieta, and Hunter got shelled every start and were all sent down to the minor leagues. Nolan Reimold and Nick Markakis got injured leaving major holes in the outfield. At the All Star break, sports analyst like Michael Wilbon and Dan LeBetard said that the Orioles would come back to reality and quite frankly I agreed with them.<br />
Once August came around the Orioles flipped a switch. The Orioles we see now are a totally different team than the Orioles even in June. They made a few small moves such as signing Nate McLouth, trading for Omar Quintanilla, and picking up a pair of lefty pitchers Joe Saunders and Randy Wolf. Also made moves like Mark Reynolds to first base instead of third where he had the worst fielding percentage in baseball in 2011. Moves like moving Brian Matusz to the bullpen because he pitches significantly better against lefties.<br />
The reason the Orioles are winning is because they are one of the most balanced teams in baseball. The O’s don’t really have any stars, but instead have a bunch of good players who all contribute. Nick Markakis is not a star, but has the highest OBP in baseball since returning from injury in July. Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez are not stars but reliable starters with low ERA’s. They have the best bullpen in baseball led by Pedro Strop and Jim Johnson. And finally they have Manager of the Year favorite Buck Showalter who has turned this team around in an incredibly short period of time.<br />
The Orioles have not made the playoffs or had a winning season since 1997. This looks like the year that they finally do it. The Orioles have finally earned the respect of baseball analysts, opposing teams and most importantly their fans. If things continue the way they are going, expect to see the black and orange contending for years to come.<br />
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Michael HuntleyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02828794785527102048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-42102148412375205962012-07-13T18:17:00.000-07:002012-11-08T18:20:12.551-08:00Is Defense Really as Important as People Say?<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Defense, to me, is the key to playing baseball" -Willie Mays</blockquote>
Now I am in no position to argue with Willie Mays, but I must respectfully disagree. Everyone talks about the importance of defense in every sport, but is it really as important as the analysts will lead you to believe?<br />
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To preface this, I must say that all my information is strictly stat based and, as we all know, the game is not played on paper. That being said, I think some of the information I found to be shocking.<br />
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Starting off, I will talking a lot about the Defensive Wins Above Replacement stat (The estimated amount of wins a player adds to a team, using his defensive numbers, compared to a AAA player replacement). The higher a players Defensive Wins Above Replacement (dWAR) is, the more valuable his defense is to his club. The players with the best dWAR in the NL is Darwin Barney, Second Baseman for the Chicago Cubs, with a 2.9. Second to Barney is his double play partner Starlin Castro with a 2.1. Now when we take a look at the Cubs overall, we can see that they are sitting at 33-52 at the All-Star break, a mere 0.5 games above the Houston Astros for the worst record in all of baseball. Turn to the AL, you will find Brett Lawrie, Third Baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays, edging out Brendan Ryan of the Seattle Mariners, 3.6 - 2.7, for the highest dWAR. The Blue Jays are playing pretty well with a 43-43 record, while the Mariners wallow at the bottom of the American League at 36-51.<br />
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Understandably, some people will criticize the fact that I am picking out a few players out of the nine men that take the field each game, so let me show those critics some team stats. The top team in dWAR in the league is the Toronto Blue Jays. As mentioned earlier, they have a .500 record, but they are 14 games behind the MLB leading New York Yankees. The Blue Jays have a 6.8 team dWAR so you would assume the Yankees must be close behind, but when you look at the numbers, the Yankees are a poor defensive team with a -2.1 dWAR. To simplify that a bit, that means if you made the two teams equal in the defense department, the Yankee's lead would really be close to 23 games. In fact, looking at all the Division leaders (LAD, PIT, WAS, TEX, CWS, NYY), the only team with a positive dWAR are the Pittsburgh Pirates at a 0.7. Meanwhile, looking at the teams at the bottom of each division, only two of the six have a negative dWAR, Philadelphia (-0.3) and Houston (-2.1).<br />
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Alright, you are all probably sick of me spitting numbers, but it all makes sense. Defense, while being very important, is completely reliant on the other facets of the game. In the case of the Blue Jays, they might have solid defense, but their pitching is a gaping hole in their team. Sitting in last in BBs and home runs allowed is basically a giant sign that their defense does not have a chance to help them out, seeing as those are two plays where defense is completely uninvolved.<br />
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In the end, good defense is just the icing on the cake. While it is nice to have a center fielder who can make an over-the-shoulder basket catch (i.e. Willie Mays), or a second baseman who never makes a mistake, if that player cannot hit, he is hurting the team more than he is helping.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02828794785527102048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3850200245243715723.post-42864573984014278782012-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:002012-07-07T13:40:59.640-07:00MLB Playing Field. Is Everyone Getting Better/Worse?I know some people will look at the title of this article and yell that the Yankees or Rangers are the greatest thing ever since Jeans were made. Yes, there are some teams that are just better than everyone else and are on the on top of their division but, most teams have improved and there are some division where all the teams are above .500.<br />
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As of July 6th, the whole AL East is above .500 or at .500. We are basically at the half way point of the season and the whole division is above .500? That is saying something about the talent level in that division and how it is now spread between most teams and not just a select few.<br />
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The Royals, who are still under .500, have become a better team each and every year. Why? It is called scouting and their farm system. The Royals are finally becoming a good team with fantastic young talent with Moustakas, Hosmer, and Myers (still in minors).<br />
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Also, the addition of the second wild card team levels the playing field. I know you are asking, Daniel, how does adding a team to the playoffs level the playing field? With that addition of the new team, many teams feel like they are now in the race. With that said, instead of dealing players away, teams would rather go out and buy players. With those trades, those teams out of contention then get prospects. These prospects are a chance but, if they pan out, it was well worth the trade. A historic one-sided trade with these implications was made with the Red Sox and Mariners in 1997. The Red Sox dealt reliever Heathcliff Slocumb to the Mariners for Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe. The Mariners got what they wanted at the time but, Slocumb then only pitched 96 innings during the '97 season and the years after. What did the Red Sox get? The Red Sox got over 5,000 at bats with Jason Varitek and over 1,000 innings pitched out of Derek Lowe.<br />
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Recently, there was a trade made which explains exactly what I am talking about. Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros got traded to the Miami Marlins who are 4 games back of the second wild card seed. The Astros, in return, received two good prospects. Those prospects were Matt Dominguez and Rob Rasmussen. Dominguez was the #2 rated prospect and Rob Rasmussen was the #9 rated prospect in the Marlins farm system, according to MLB.com. The Marlins traded these two prospects because they needed a "now" guy. I do not have a crystal ball and cannot tell you that those two guys will pan out and the deal will then be one-sided but, there is a possibility.<br />
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If the MLB playing field is level and most teams are competing in their division and the wild card races, then baseball becomes exciting again. Now, we will not have another end to the season like we did in 2011 for a while but, more teams will be in the races and more fans will want to go out to games.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854034334092247061noreply@blogger.com0