The Roto Riteup would like to inform you that lending equipment to Rotographs writers is a mistake:
i don’t know if i had ever been aroused by seeing a catcher’s mitt not move before, but https://t.co/8l161eiQSb
— Alex Chamberlain (@DolphHauldhagen) May 2, 2017
• Even a 12.60 ERA and taking the day to become a U.S. citizen can’t keep Fernando Rodney from the ninth inning. J.J. Hoover pitched the seventh and Jorge de la Rosa pitched the eighth, with each allowing a hit and a walk but getting a scoreless inning nonetheless, setting the table for Rodney with a three-run lead.
Rodney, with citizenship in hand pitched a perfect inning for his seventh save. Archie Bradley’s previous usage was of the one inning variety so I thought he might be next in line in the desert, but it looks like Hoover and de la Rosa are setting up. This situation is still red as Rodney’s ERA/FIP/xFIP line still stands at 11.45/5.00/4.30 and if a change were to be made Bradley could still be in play but I’ve put de la Rosa back on the grid in his place. A small congrats to Rodney’s 268th career save and a bigger congrats on what probably was a very, very special day for him.
I'm officially a US citizen 🇺🇸 God bless America & Thank you for the opportunity.
Hijo de Republica Dominicana 🇩🇴 🏹 #Flecha pic.twitter.com/ZyF3xtpDH9— Fernando Rodney (@F_Rodney56) May 2, 2017
5/2/17
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Last year’s age 26 breakout power season from Brad Miller was one of the more surprising aspects of last season. Power was up across the board in 2016, but to go from a career high of 11 home runs to 30 while only adding 100 plate appearances against the year prior was far out of line with the norm. Entering this year, Miller was one of the more interesting players to follow for a few reasons.
Read the rest of this entry »
Below you will find the transcript from today’s chat. It was a weird one.
| 3:41 |
: So what shall we discuss today? There’s always a couple recurring questions. |
| 3:41 |
: I’m very bad at my job…. |
| 3:42 |
: As good a topic to start with as any. The Mets seemingly have no capacity for managing their medical issues |
| 3:42 |
: They have the same problems as every other team, but they always make themselves look so hapless |
| 3:43 |
: With Thames’ impending OF eligibility in Ottoneu, who are some good 1B/Util upside plays to replace him with? I have Reynolds & Carter rostered but they’re part-timers. I put in a bid for Valbueno. Any other suggestions? |
| 3:44 |
: You probably aren’t going to find instant gratification on the wire. You may even be better off leaving him at utility. So many interesting outfielders available. |
It’s time to understand how ownership trends are playing out this year. I will start by breaking down one of the most common fantasy sites, ESPN. I will go over the batter ownership rates for different league sizes so owners know which players are applicable to them. Additionally, I will find the current replacement level player for each position.
With fantasy experts using ownership rates to help find potential waiver targets, it is important to know each league’s ownership level. Historically, I know I should only worry about players owned in 10% of leagues or less but not everyone plays in 15-team or deeper leagues.
If you’re a nostalgic fantasy baseballer, you’ll remember that Patrick Corbin generated 3.5 wins above replacement (WAR) in his first full season of baseball before suffering the dreaded curse of Tommy John. (If you’re even more nostalgic, or more likely an Angels fan, you’ll remember he was traded alongside Tyler Skaggs for Dan Haren.) Corbin returned to baseball in 2015, and he shoved, seemingly indicating he suffered no ill effects of his surgery.
Yet 2016 was an unmitigated disaster, culminating in a midseason move to the bullpen and a full-season 5.15 ERA. A low strand rate (LOB%) is the blame — virtually no one suffers a 64.8% strand rate for a full season without some bad luck — but poor control and a home run problem complicated things. It appears to me Corbin ran afoul in two distinct ways in 2016.
It also appears to me he may have recalibrated himself. In his last three starts, he has struck out 23 and walked only four across 19.1 innings, good for a 1.86 ERA / 2.53 xFIP / 2.59 FIP.
It’s a well-established fact that AT&T Park is one of the worst ballparks in the major leagues for offense. That’s why, despite putting up a 132 wRC+ over his last 1,500 or so plate appearances, Brandon Belt is not a very valuable fantasy first baseman. It’s also why Buster Posey, a catcher with a career 136 wRC+, has never really been worthy of a top-10 pick on fantasy draft day.
In recent years, however, a new and troubling trend has emerged for the Giants offense. While the league has been on an historic home run tear the last year and a half or so, the Giants have not kept up. In fact, they’ve done the opposite: they’re hitting more ground balls (and fewer fly balls) than just about any other team in baseball.
Ground balls are almost always worse than fly balls, even for a team that plays in a cavernous ballpark like the Giants. Since 2014, Giants hitters have a .245 AVG, .263 SLG, .223 wOBA, and 45 wRC+ on ground balls at home. On their fly balls at home, however, they have a .226 AVG, .598 SLG, .332 wOBA, and 119 wRC+ since 2014.
While the team batting average is actually higher on ground balls, the slugging percentage, wOBA, and wRC+ are so, so much worse. This is strong evidence to the effect that even a team that plays in an extreme pitcher’s park is not better off hitting ground balls — flies seem to be indisputably better no matter what. Read the rest of this entry »
We had a good chat in the comments yesterday. What follows is somewhat of a continuation.
AGENDA
Yesterday, I discussed 10 hitters whose FB% has increased the most compared to last year. So now let’s check in on the other end of the list — the hitters whose FB% has declined the most versus last season. These hitters may be in danger of disappointing in the home run department.