baseball
Sabermetric analysis of all things baseball - on-and-off the field. Barry Bonds fan club.
Gary Sanchez and Mike Trout Are Comparably Dominant
Baseball has never been the same since 2012. That was when Angels center-fielder Mike Trout made his season debut after being recalled from AAA Salt Lake. If you like baseball, then you know what happened next. If you don’t, I’m happy to talk about it. Trout took the league by storm, finishing one of the finest seasons ever by a rookie. Since then, he’s been the best player in the game, and by margins unlike we've seen in awhile.
Matt MocarskyPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedDid the Dodgers Losing Streak Happen at the Right Time?
The LA Dodgers have done everything imaginable this year to build their roster to be the team in the National League. The team that will go all the way and plays for a World Series title. They have one of the best all around lineups in the entire game, and with the addition of Curtis Granderson in the outfield and Yu Darvish on the mound, they became that much better. They still boast the best record in all of baseball at 96 and 53, even though they're fresh off an 11-game losing streak.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedBreaking Down the AL MVP Race
Honestly, a year ago, this probably would have been a rather boring article. Ever since his first full season in 2012, Mike Trout has made the AL MVP race all about him, every single season. It hasn't even been close.
John EdwardsPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedTaijuan Walker Is Starting to Get It
It’s the middle of August, and the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in the thick of the National League Wild Card chase. As it stands today, the D-Backs are in control of the second Wild Card position behind the Colorado Rockies. Arizona’s success has come on the strength of their starting pitching, which has accumulated the third most Wins Above Replacement in Major League Baseball, according to FanGraphs. One of their best starters this year has been longtime object-of-attention Taijuan Walker, who is our topic of discussion today.
Matt MocarskyPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedThe Unsung Fantasy Baseball MVPs of 2017
There’s not a single fantasy expert who wouldn’t tell you to pick Mike Trout in the first round of a fantasy draft. Year after year, Trout consistently provides top-tier values in the relevant categories: Runs, RBIs, HRs, SB, and BA. He’s never injured. He’s not just the best player in baseball, he’s the best player in fantasy baseball as well.
John EdwardsPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedThere’s Finally Hope in Cincinnati
Tonight was the Reds tenth game of the season. They lost. It was only their third loss of the season. That’s insane. Going into the season, I was mentally prepared for a 100-loss team. That wasn’t the worst-case scenario, either. If you watched the Reds for one game last season, there was no sign of this type of start. Here’s the thing: it doesn’t really seem like a fluke.
Tony HeimPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedBrendan Mckay Could Excel as a Two-Way Player
It’s not too often you hear of a player being selected in the draft as a hitter and pitcher. Hunter Greene, the second overall pick by the Reds, was selected as a right handed pitcher thanks to a triple digit fastball. He could have also gone as a first round talent at shortstop, where he possesses a very strong arm and excellent bat speed at the plate.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedRafael Devers is the Future at Third Base for the Red Sox
Rafael Devers is young. Very young. But his age doesn’t reflect how great of a ballplayer he is. Signed out of the Dominican just three years ago at 17, it hasn’t taken long for Devers to reach the big leagues. Just three years later, he’s mashing baseballs at the major league level. In 2013, he was praised by scouts for his offensive ability. In fact, Devers was considered the best left handed bat in that international signing class of 2013.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedAre the Chicago Cubs Back on Track?
It’s been one of the main topics in baseball this year — the horrendous start the Chicago Cubs endured in the first half of 2017. The Cubs were the first team ever to win a World Series and then have zero players on the All-Star team the following year. Well, they did have one. Wade Davis, who was not a part of the World Series squad last year. Kris Bryant was almost voted in with the last fan vote, but was snubbed by Dodgers 3B Justin Turner. The Cubs hit a dismal .239 before the break, which ranked them 3rd to last in the entire big leagues. It was a downright miserable first half.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedDallas Keuchel Continues to Carve Up Hitters Despite Low Velocity
Watching Dallas Keuchel pitch is a treat. He’s a prime example of a control pitcher who relies on location and his off-speed pitches. This year he’s experiencing one of the best starts of his six-year big league career, leading the majors in both ERA and wins. According to statcast, Keuchel’s average fastball velocity this season is 88.6 mph. In an era where almost every pitcher in the big leagues throws 95 plus, how does the Astros ace endure so much success despite a lack of fastball velocity? Let’s examine.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedHow Will Bartolo Colon Do In 2017?
This offseason, the Atlanta Braves acquired 43-year-old veteran Bartolo Colon from the New York Mets. Although he’s definitely on his last legs in the big leagues, Colon still has an innate ability to get outs and give his team a chance to win. Let’s take a look at what he could bring to the table on the mound for the Braves.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in UnbalancedThe Dodgers Continue To Win Ball Games, Led by Stellar Pitching Staff
The Los Angeles Dodgers are clicking on all cylinders. From their starting pitching, to their bullpen, to their bats, they are getting the job done. When Andrew Toles went down just 31 games in with a season ending knee injury, their starting center field at the time, I’m sure there was some concern on who would replace Toles. Rookie Cody Bellinger was called up, unexpectedly. Well, the rest is history. Bellinger has put together a rookie campaign for the ages thus far, sitting second in the big leagues with 24 homers in just 58 games. Just like the Aaron Judge saga, no one could have predicted this type of performance from Bellinger. I’m sure no one could have guessed that two rookies would be leading the majors in home runs. Regardless, it’s been a treat to watch.
Quinn AllenPublished 7 years ago in Unbalanced