Author Archive

Nathan Eovaldi’s Bowl To Be Filled With Cowboy Soup Now, Instead of Clam Chowder

Last Tuesday, the Rangers signed Nathan Eovaldi to a two-year, $34 million contract. While I love New England Clam Chowder and assume Eovaldi enjoyed many bowls of the delicious soup during his four and a half seasons with the Red Sox, he might now be salivating at the prospect of filling his belly with Texas Cowboy soup, which sounds just delightful. Entering his age 33 season, how might the change in home venue affect his results? Let’s consult the park factors to find out.

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Carlos Rodón Heads to the Big Apple

Though it was reported that an agreement was reached a week ago, the Yankees have officially signed Carlos Rodón to a six-year, $162 million contract. The 30-year-old southpaw has revitalized his career the past two seasons after struggling with his control and injuries since his debut in 2015. He has morphed into one of the best pitchers in baseball, but will a move to Yankee Stadium impact his performance? Let’s consult the park factors.

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J.D. Martinez Switches Coasts

Last Saturday, the Dodgers reportedly agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with J.D. Martinez, to presumably act as their every day DH. The 35-year-old is coming off a disappointing season, posting his lowest wOBA over a full season since his debut years in Houston, before he transformed into an elite hitter. Will the move to Dodger Stadium fuel a rebound? Let’s check the park factors to find out if his new home park might boost his performance.

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Jameson Taillon To Soon Learn That Deep Dish <<< Thin Crust Pizza

Yesterday, the Cubs officially signed Jameson Taillon to a four-year, $68 million contract, after agreeing to such a deal earlier in the month. In the never-ending debate over which style of pizza is better, Taillon will now have the chance to become an expert in Chicago’s signature deep dish version, after spending two years noshing on New York’s thin crust pizza. We all know which style he’ll deem superior, right? RIGHT? So how might the switch in home park affect his results? Let’s consult the park factors and find out.

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Sean Manaea Heads North to San Francisco

On Friday, the Giants signed left-hander Sean Manaea to a two-year, $25 million contract. Luckily for Manaea, he didn’t have to travel too far to find his new home, as he’ll remain in California. Incredibly, he has now played for three teams, all of which call California home. Coming off a mightily disappointing season that saw him post a career worst 4.96 ERA, will the park switch help fuel a rebound in 2023? Let’s consult the park factors to find out.

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Cody Bellinger Trades in Dodger Dogs For Chicago Dogs

Yesterday, the Cubs signed 2019 National League MVP Cody Bellinger to a one-year, $17.5 million contract. On the one hand, who would have ever guessed that the former star would have to settle for a one-year deal in his age 27 season?! On the other hand, he still managed to receive a $17.5 million contract, despite posting an ugly .266 wOBA over the past two seasons. Clearly, teams aren’t ready to give up on him, but are hesitant enough that a multi-year deal wasn’t in the cards. So with the move to Chicago, will a fresh start turn around his career? Let’s consult the park factors to see if the park could help spark a rebound or if he’s on his own.

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Chris Bassitt Heads to Canada

On Monday, it was reported that the Blue Jays signed Chris Bassitt to a three-year, $36 million contract. After spending one season with the Mets after the majority of his career with the Athletics, let’s consult the park factors to find out how the park switch might affect his performance.

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Andrew Heaney Dons a Cowboy Hat

Last Friday, the Rangers signed Andrew Heaney to a two-year, $25 million contract. The oft-injured southpaw has called Los Angeles his home for the majority of his career, so how will the park switch affect his performance? Let’s consult the park factors.

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Xander Bogaerts Switches Coasts

Last Friday, the Padres signed Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year, $280 million contract, which gives them quite the middle of the order assuming a healthy Fernando Tatis Jr. Having spent his entire career in Boston, let’s consult the park factors to see how a move to a new home park for the first time might affect his results.

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Hitter xwOBA Underperformers — May 11, 2022, A Review

In mid-May, I reviewed a group of hitters who had most underperformed their Statcast calculated xwOBA marks. While we all acknowledge that xwOBA isn’t perfect, it’s the best all-encompassing estimator we have, so it’s a good star to identifying players who are underperforming and overperforming. Now, I want to find out how these xwOBA underperformers ended up doing over the rest of the season. Did their wOBA marks rebound close to their early season xwOBA marks? Did their skills improve or decline so their rest of season xwOBA marks varied, making the RoS and early season comparison apples to oranges? I’m always curious how my lists turn out, so let’s dive in.

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