Reviewing the Rookie Pitchers — Through June 13, 2023
June 15, 2023
Let’s continue reviewing rookie starting pitchers with a dive into another group.
Author Archive
Reviewing the Rookie Pitchers — Through June 12, 2023
June 14, 2023
Let’s review some of the rookie pitchers, all of whom were top prospects heading into the season.
Reviewing the Rookie Hitters — Through June 11, 2023
June 13, 2023
Nearly a month ago, I reviewed four of the top rookie hitters. Let’s now revisit these hitters, how they have performed since, and how their overall season line looks.
Reviewing Three Recent Rookie Hitter Callups — Through June 10, 2023
June 12, 2023
It’s been quite a year for rookies, with a number of them becoming valuable fantasy assets. Today, let’s focus on three recent hitter callups and decide if any of them are going to move into that group as well.
Starting Pitcher SIERA Overperformers — Through June 6, 2023
June 8, 2023
Yesterday, I discussed six fantasy relevant starting pitchers who have most underperformed their SIERA marks. Now let’s flip over to the overperformers.
Starting Pitcher SIERA Underperformers — Through June 5, 2023
June 7, 2023
Two months into the season is a good time to evaluate your team, its strengths and weaknesses. You usually can never have enough pitching, as there’s always someone who gets injured, suddenly loses velocity or effectiveness, and then you’re scrambling. So let’s review the starting pitchers that have underperformed their SIERA marks the most so far. This could be a good target list to trade for that includes pitchers that shouldn’t cost much to acquire.
Starting Pitcher Avg EV Regressors — Through June 4, 2023
June 6, 2023
Yesterday, I shared and discussed six starting pitchers who have improved their average exit velocity (EV) against the most compared to 2022. While the correlation isn’t strong, there definitely is a positive correlation between EV and BABIP, whereby the higher the EV allowed, the higher the BABIP, and vice versa. Let’s now flip to the pitchers who have allowed a higher average EV this year.
Starting Pitcher Avg EV Improvers — Through June 3, 2023
June 5, 2023
Since 2015, there’s been a small, but positive correlation (about 0.19) between average exit velocity (EV) against and BABIP. In other words, the higher the EV allowed, the higher the BABIP. Of course, there are many other factors involved, as the correlation isn’t very high, but it’s there. And all else equal, a pitcher does desire to induce soft contact versus hard. So let’s find out which starting pitchers have reduced their average EV marks the most compared to last season.
Hitter Flyball Hard% Decliners — Through May 30, 2023
June 1, 2023
Yesterday, I reviewed the hitters whose fly ball Hard% has increased the most compared to last year. Now let’s check in on the decliners.
Hitter Flyball Hard% Gainers — Through May 29, 2023
May 31, 2023
Since 2012, there has been a strong correlation of 0.69 between a hitter’s HR/FB rate and their Hard%. That passes the sniff test because obviously if all else is equal, a harder hit ball is going to travel further. It’s not even higher because it’s missing both launch angle (that, combined with exit velocity, are the components of Statcast’s Barrel%, which also correlates strongly with HR/FB) and horizontal direction (pulled, straightaway, oppo). But it works as a quick shortcut to determine who might be deserving of big power and who isn’t. So let’s check in on the Hard% gainers compared to last season to find out whose power has truly increased.