Category: Baseball
An Analysis of the Observations Made While Watching Baseball
We’re going to start with a little quiz. Here’s how it works. I’ll show you a short video clip. There’s something weird about the clip. Don’t make it full screen, at least on your first viewing. I just want you to see whether you can spot what exactly that weird thing is. Maybe you’ll catch…
Jackson Merrill is finding his power at the plate
Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports Jackson Merrill has been powering up for the Padres. Over his last 18 games, the 21-year-old rookie outfielder has homered nine times while slashing a robust .343/.371/.791 with a 228 wRC+. His seasonal numbers aren’t nearly as stellar — the second coming of Barry Bonds he’s not — but they are…
Reflecting on the Legacy of Orlando Cepeda: Baseball Legend and Trailblazer in the Majors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Willie Mays was already a superstar by the time the Giants moved across the country following the 1957 season, yet the denizens of San Francisco did not exactly embrace him. They took much more quickly to Orlando Cepeda, who homered against the Dodgers in his major league debut on April 15,…
Efficiently Wild: Episode 2185 Explores the Challenges of Rising in the System
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the one (and only one) case where the zombie runner was warranted, why pitchers throw strikes to Aaron Judge (10:00), and MLB’s new Home Run Derby rules (21:11), then answer listener emails about how different baseball would be if runners didn’t have to tag up (34:49), the best…
Pirates’ Rotation Stats Highlight Stellar Performance
Mandatory Credit: Aubrey Washington /Allsport For years, the Pittsburgh Pirates were drowning in mediocrity. Every season since 2018 has yielded a sub-.500 record. The team just wasn’t very talented, and the organization didn’t always make the best effort with winning in mind. Things are starting to change, though. We are finally starting to see a…
Marlins Shock Fans with Unexpected Roster Move Before All-Star Break
(Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) The Miami Marlins are having a brutal season and are undoubtedly going to be sellers before the upcoming trade deadline, as the team is 30-54 and has the fourth-worst record in all of baseball. With still plenty of time to go before the deadline, the Marlins have made a surprising…
Blake Treinen’s Polarity Reversed by Unidentified Individual
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports Blake Treinen has established himself as one of the premier sinker-heavy relievers in baseball throughout his career. Since his debut, he has consistently been among the top relievers in the game. From 2014 to 2022, he ranked ninth in FIP-based WAR and fourth in RA9-WAR among all relief pitchers. Additionally,…
Tim Herrin Excelling with Strong Command of Off-Speed Pitches in Cleveland
Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports Tim Herrin is quietly having one of this year’s best seasons among pitchers who are unlikely to be named to the American League All-Star team later this month. The 27-year-old left-hander has come out of the Cleveland Guardians bullpen 38 times and boasts a 1.07 ERA and 2.48 FIP over 33…
Will Royce Lewis Be Able to Maintain His Exceptional Contact Quality in Baseball?
Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Royce Lewis is one of the most intriguing hitters in the game right now. Despite his impressive performance on a rate basis, evaluating his overall value as a hitter is challenging due to his limited playing time. Lewis has accumulated 4.1 WAR and a 159 wRC+ in just 93 career games,…
Top 47 Prospects in the Boston Red Sox Organization
WooSox Photo/Ashley Green/USA TODAY NETWORK Below is an analysis of the prospects in the farm system of the Boston Red Sox. Scouting reports were compiled with information provided by industry sources as well as my own observations. This is the fourth year we’re delineating between two anticipated relief roles, the abbreviations for which you’ll see…