Author Archive

Minor League Hitters Struggling with Umpire Strike Zones

Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

In my latest Big Kids article, I noticed three rookie hitters (Tyler Black, Joey Loperfido, and Jordan Beck) are struggling with the major league strike zone. Here are their AAA and MLB strikeout and walk rates.

Strikeout & Walk Rate Changes for Beck, Loperfido, & Black
Name AAA K% MLB K% Diff AAA BB% MLB K% Diff
Jordan Beck 19.8% 45.8% 26.0% 14.9% 0.0% -14.9%
Joey Loperfido 30.3% 41.2% 10.9% 13.1% 5.9% -7.2%
Tyler Black 13.7% 34.8% 21.1% 11.0% 4.3% -6.7%
Average 21.3% 40.6% 19.3% 13.0% 3.4% -9.6%

With the trio seeing major differences, I compared all hitters transitioning from AAA and divided them into those making a debut and veterans. The results line up with what I’ve observed so far, hitters are struggling to adjust to the major leagues. Read the rest of this entry »


Big Kid Adds (Week 6)

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even a larger entry fee ($2.5K to $15K). They were originally named “High Stakes Leagues” and this year there are ten of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues. Read the rest of this entry »


Sunday Night Waiver Wire & FAAB Chat

7:27
Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome.

7:30
Jeff Zimmerman: Those are the winning bids from the three 15-team Tout Wars leagues. I just found out the league labeled “Tout-12” has 15 teams.

7:31
Steven: Better 3b fill in Josh Rojas or Rengifo? Thx

7:31
Jeff Zimmerman: Rengifo

7:31
Carl: Why do the Rockies hate Sean Bouchard?

7:31
Jeff Zimmerman: He’s young and good.

Read the rest of this entry »


FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 6)

In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters. Read the rest of this entry »


Mining the News (5/4/24)

American League

Astros

• Hunter Brown may only get one more start before getting demoted.

Brown may only be guaranteed at least one more turn in the Astros’ rotation, but the impending return of Cristian Javier could force the club into a difficult decision between him and top prospect Spencer Arrighetti. That Brown sat in the bullpen during both of the team’s games in Mexico City as a long-relief insurance policy may have signaled its intentions.

Read the rest of this entry »


Lineup Analysis (5/4/24)

American League

Angels

• Over the last three games, Nolan Schanuel has hit leadoff.

Luis Rengifo is consistently hitting in the top half of the lineup.

Ehire Adrianza has started at third base in three of the last four games. Read the rest of this entry »


Big Kid Adds (Week 5)

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even a larger entry fee ($2.5K to $15K). They were originally named “High Stakes Leagues” and this year there are ten of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues. Read the rest of this entry »


Sunday Night Waiver Wire & FAAB Chat

7:31
Jeff Zimmerman: Welcome.

7:31
Jeff Zimmerman: Here are the bids in the two 15-team Tout Wars leagues.

7:34
Jeff Zimmerman: The chat host is acting up. I’ll try to load the image for another minute or so

7:34
Jeff Zimmerman:

7:35
Injured: is Fairbanks and Gelof drops with their timelines?

7:35
Jeff Zimmerman: In a shallow enough league, yes.

Read the rest of this entry »


FAAB & Waiver Wire Report (Week 5)

In the article, I cover the players using CBS’s (about 40% or less initial roster rate) and Yahoo’s ADD/DROP rates. Both hosting sites have the option for daily and weekly waiver wire adds. CBS uses a weekly change while Yahoo looks at the last 24 hours. Yahoo is a great snapshot of right now while CBS ensures hot targets from early in the week aren’t missed. The players are ordered for redraft leagues by my rest-of-season preference grouped by starters, relievers, and hitters. Read the rest of this entry »


Lineup Analysis (4/26/24)

American League

Angels

• With Anthony Rendon back at his home on the IL, Mike Trout is leading off and Nolan Schanuel is hitting second.

Luis Rengifo (.692) has started in eight of the last nine games. Read the rest of this entry »