Is Fastball Velocity Predictive of Usage?
As its title indicates, this post aims to address whether or not a pitcher’s fastball velocity corresponds to, or is predictive of, how often he turns to that pitch. One would imagine that the...
Author: Ben
The Home Run Derby and Second Half Slumping
The Home Run Derby took place very recently. Pete Alonso won. But this post will not really be about this year’s Home Run Derby. Rather, it will be about the wake of the Home...
Madison Bumgarner, The Rental
There are a handful of different lenses through which we can perceive Madison Bumgarner’s career. What’s most typical is to picture him as Madison Bumgarner, the Playoff Hero. Dodger fans likely perceive him as...
Biases, Conflicting or Otherwise
People have an absurd amount in common with one another. Just one characteristic that humans share is our proclivity to be biased. That is what this post is about. Bias. One reason bias is...
Power, at a Cost
This post has three purposes. First, to examine a unique season from a singular player. Second, to briefly take stock of his unique status among the wider field of ballplayers. And third, to consider...
Who is On Pace to Throw 200 Innings?
Throwing 200 innings in this generation of baseball is an increasingly rare occurrence. Innings limits are imposed on young or injury-recovering pitchers with increasing regularity. Using “Openers” is a phenomenon that is gaining traction....
Keep It in the Ballpark, and Don’t Beat Yourself
In baseball circles today, FIP is a ubiquitous statistic, and for good reason. In a single stat, a pitcher’s ability to control his own destiny is captured, given that FIP in turn controls for...
The Cost of Uniqueness
Josh Tomlin was born in Tyler Texas in October of 1984. He was drafted twice: first by the San Diego Padres in the 11th round of the 2005 draft and one year later by...
Expectations, Setbacks, Progress, and Uncertainty
This post, contrary to what it’s title might suggest, isn’t just a list of buzzwords. It is about one player whose career has a tumultuous journey to this point. That player is Jurickson Profar....
Athletes of Burden
Baseball is often referred to as a game of failure. The irony in that phrase is that the MLB players we most closely follow, who we might see at a game or watch on...