Last week, I discussed the hitters whose average batted ball distances suggest significant HR/FB rate upside. This time, I’ll share a list that is to be used for validation purposes. Is that batter currently enjoying a power spike hitting the ball much further than last year? Let’s find out.
It is important for this Roto Riteup author to clarify that sitting around in your sweats spitting sunflower seed shells into a cup isn’t at all depressing or a cause for concern.
On today’s agenda:
1. Mike Wright’s debut
2. Corey Dickerson may need the DL
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options
Episode 230
The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is live!
In this episode, Paul Sporer and Jason Collette discuss the injury news with Corey Dickerson, Jorge de la Rosa, Justin Morneau, Chris Tillman, and Mat Latos. Next they discuss Bryce Harper, Brandon Belt, Josh Harrison, Clay Buchholz, Anthony DeSclafani, Carlos Rodon, Noah Syndergaard, Michael Pineda, Maikel Franco, Mike Wright, Addison Reed, and the TB closer situation.
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Happy Victoria Day long weekend! Here’s the bullpen report for Sunday with some Saturday tidbits sprinkled in.
The Giants decided that they wanted pretty much everyone in the bullpen to get a hold today. After Chris Heston struggled against the Reds, Yusmiero Petit shut them down for three innings, and he ended up with the win after Javier Lopez, George Kontos, Jeremy Affeldt and Sergio Romo paraded in from the pen to each earn a hold. Santiago Casilla ended the game in delicious fashion, striking out the side on nine pitches. He’s not known as being a strikeout guy, as his 9.8% K%-BB% is exactly in line with his career mark. It was his ninth save on the season.
Today’s Roto Riteup author would like to inform you that non-crispy hash browns are an affront to Uncle Sam and everything he holds dear.
On today’s agenda:
1. Travis Wood to the bullpen
2. Fun with arbitrary endpoints
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options
Agenda
The Roto Riteup aims to educate, so did you know that like fingerprints, everyone’s toungeprint is unique? Please be sure not to lick anything during your next criminal activity.
On today’s agenda:
1. Doug Fister to the DL
2. Welcome to the bigs: Lance McCullers, Jr.
2. Various news and notes
3. Streaming Pitcher Options
• After some struggles this year, Addison Reed’s (7.20/3.64/4.43 ERA/FIP/xFIP) hold on the closer’s role has loosened. While Chip Hale thinks that Reed will get the job back, he will be used in earlier innings for now as he works through “mechanical changes.” Expect Brad Ziegler to get the first save opportunity that arises, so if he’s available on the wire be sure to get in your claims ASAP. Additionally, Dan Hudson could see some higher leverage work as well with Reed displaced and everyone moving up a step. Hudson is kind of toiling in between relieving and possibly starting but he struggled today, allowing two runs, ballooning his ERA to 6.00. Evan Marshall who figured to play a more prominent role in the pen is now pitching in AAA. Other intriguing names are Randall Delgado who looks a bit better out of the pen and Enrique Burgos, who’s control might prevent him from being trusted much but has massive swing and miss stuff, showing it off today with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Oliver Perez blew the lead and received the loss today, but with his 6.52 ERA he’s still likely more of a LOOGY long term.
I’m gonna be honest with you all: if you want to stop taking my advice for a bit, that might not be a bad idea. Run in the other direction. Use Paul Charchian’s “do the opposite” for I have led you all astray. We’ll get back on track, but holy smokes this has been ugly. Avert your eyes.
Here are the totals through half of week five:
4-17 record
6.34 ERA
6.7 K/9
2.1 K/BB
1.53 WHIP
I mean, at least we’re finally approaching the league-average strikeout rate, right?
Here’s a look at this week’s recs, with team wOBA in parentheses. Y! recs pulled courtesy of twitter pals @PandaPete21/@dontbeakedir, whom you should give a follow:
RHP Drew Hutchison – 26.9% ESPN/43% Y! – v. LAA (.282), v. SEA (.310)
It hasn’t been pretty on the whole for Hutchison, who currently sports a 6.17 ERA thanks to three starts (out of eight) in which he’s allowed at least six earned runs. On the bright side, we’re now two full starts without incident, in which he stymied the Astros and Orioles for a combined line of 11 innings, 15 strikeouts and two walks. He allowed just three earned runs in those starts, and I’m hoping like hell that’s a sign of things to come for the 24-year-old righty that people spent quite a bit on in auctions and in terms of draft value. Most encouraging for me was the 16 swinging strikes on 98 pitches last time out, too. Facing a pair of bottom-half offenses — including the Angels who are No. 29 by team wOBA — won’t hurt, either. Read the rest of this entry »
It started with Anthony Rizzo in March. While taking a close look, I noticed he has a rarish combination of low strikeout rate and high ISO. The basic logic on why that’s a rare combo makes sense. Batters who hit for a lot of power generally strike out a lot. But what we want is on the other side of that “generally.” The Rizzos, if you will.
To see who’s fitting the definition this season, I first settled on limits of an ISO of .200 or above and a strikeout rate of lower than 15. Why those rates? I looked at the top 50 in each stat and found the closest round number. For reference, Victor Martinez and Jose Bautista made the cut last season. Though Albert Pujols (short on power) and Edwin Encarnacion (short on strikeout rate) were both very close. In 2013, it was Encarnacion, Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera and David Ortiz. For even more reference, ISO stabilizes at 160 AB. Statistics are through May 13.