The independence with which this column grinds is unsurpassed. More, it’s unsurpassable.
AGENDA
Episode 277 – That is Chacin-esque
The latest episode of “Field of Streams” is live!
In this episode, Dylan Higgins and Matthew Dewoskin discuss All-Star selections, the stolen base race, Andrew Moore, Jeff Hoffman’s home/road splits (and how they compare Jhoulys Chacin’s), liking Sean Newcomb but not his matchup, Jose Urena being a stronger pitcher during the day, how boring Ben Lively is, Matt loving Ian Happ, picking on Tom Koehler with anybody, and missing fat pitchers.
Podcast (field-of-streams): Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
On Thursday for my American League starting pitching slot, I used my expected strikeout rate metric to determine which starters have the most strikeout rate upside given the components of the equation (strike percentage, along with swinging, looking, and foul strike rates). Today, I’ll look at the starters with strikeout rate downside hinted at by xK%, but expand my group of pitchers to both leagues.
All-Star rosters were announced yesterday and people are mad…
When that Miller Park ice cream is just too tempting:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWBRzFWhM8P/
Orlando Arcia helped himself in a move reminiscent of Prince Fielder and Don Mattingly:
Prince Fielder finesses a nacho after a foul ball 👀💯 pic.twitter.com/h6IthHtCmn
— Athlete Action™ (@AthleteAction) August 20, 2016
Arcia is feeling great at the dish, too, with a .369/.407/.560 line, 3 HR, and 4 SB over his last 28 days.
On the Agenda:
7/1/17
The latest episode of “The Sleeper and the Bust” is brought to you by Out of the Park Baseball 18, the best baseball strategy game ever made – available NOW on PC, Mac, and Linux platforms! Go to ootpdevelopments.com to order now and save 10% with the code SLEEPER18!
Follow us on Twitter
Watch Ian on AMC’s Turn, the first three seasons are on Netflix, too!
Notable Transactions/Rumors/Articles/Game Play
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Justin Smoak’s first inning oppo taco broke the record for most homers in a month!
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/880939832821895169
On the Agenda:
There wasn’t a lot of activity in bullpens on Friday night with seven of the 14 games (CLE-DET ppd because of rain) having a differential of at least five runs, but some of the more volatile bullpens were further shaken this past evening.
Matt Bush was pummeled for three runs on four hits in just a third of an inning, his third blown save in his last five outings and fifth overall. Bush allowed 10 runs in 9.3 innings (9.67 ERA) during June, boosting his ERA from 1.37 to 4.03 and putting his job at risk as Keone Kela continues to excel. Bush and Kela might’ve had an open competition this spring had Kela not wound up in the doghouse due to an attitude issue during Spring Training. Kela allowed just two runs in 10.7 IP (1.69 ERA) with 16 strikeouts in June.
Saturday morning edit: The Rangers are going to a committee and it could be at least in part because Kela’s shoulder is an issue. Jose LeClerc is an interesting add for sure.
Well, we’re moving ever so slightly back in the right direction as we sliced nearly two-tenths of a run off the ERA — nearly under 5.00! — and are at least trending in the right way rates-wise. As reminder, there’ll be no column next week due to the All-Star Game festivities. Enjoy!
Here’s how we’re doing so far this season (through half of Week 12)
20-21 record
5.04 ERA
7.5 K/9
2.1 K/BB
1.52 WHIP
22 quality starts
Here are this week’s recs (with team wRC+ for this season in parentheses):
RHP Aaron Nola – 43.9% ESPN – v. PIT (89), v. SD (81)
I’m just licking my chops over these matchups for Nola, an immensely talented righty who I think is criminally under owned at this point. Sure, his ERA isn’t great (4.13), but his FIP is pretty solid (3.82), he’s fanning nearly a batter per inning and isn’t giving up a ton of homers (1.1 per nine) despite the league having gone crazy in that respect. He was really, really good in June, too: 3.24 ERA, 35-11 K/BB ratio in 33.1 innings and .633 OPS against. Read the rest of this entry »