Most of our readers are probably familiar with PitchFX, the computerized measurement system used by MLB to track every pitch thrown in every major league game. The system provides a wealth of statistical data, ranging from type of pitch, pitch velocity and break (vertical and horizontal) as well as pitch location and resulting swing and contact rates.
Using PitchFX data available at FanGraphs.com, I’ve compiled a series of tables and charts highlighting the 2014 pitching leaders in a variety of statistical categories. Some of the results will make a lot of sense but others may be more surprising. Take a look after the jump.
Two years ago, Andy did a series on choosing the top 4 players representing each major league franchise. Andy finished the American League teams and had started with some of the National League expansion franchises. Those posts and the voting results can be found here.
Since we’ve now begun a long off-season, I thought it might be fun to finish that series by running through the original NL franchises.
To start, readers are asked to choose the 4 players that best represent the Philadelphia Phillies. No rules other than that. Have fun! Continue reading
Tonight, the Royals and Giants take the field for game 7, the 37th time the Fall Classic has had a winner-take-all final game. Home teams are riding a 9 game winning streak in game 7 that goes back to 1982. But, before that, it was a very different trend with the visitors posting a 13-3 game 7 record from 1952 to 1979. Overall, it’s a narrow 19-17 edge for home team in game 7.
More on game 7 after the jump. Continue reading
What do a few modern pitchers have in common with several old-time hurlers? That’s for you to consider in Quiz #1 on this World Series off day.
Quiz #2 is entirely frivolous and inspired by the Fox network when they made mention that Game #4 was the first ever in a World Series with both starters having a surname starting with the letter V. Thus, your job in Quiz #2 is to determine the starting pitchers in a World Series game whose first and last initials can combine to form the words shown. Bolded and underlined words have more than one solution. How many other words can you come up with?
| Rk | Quiz #1 | Quiz | #2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Lincecum | JABS | DARK | DEAD |
| 2 | Clay Buchholz | SEAS | CARE | PEAS |
| 3 | Dwight Gooden | CRAB | HEMP | BASE |
| 4 | Dutch Leonard | CLAN | CREW | DREW |
| 5 | Rube Foster | CADS | COPS | DARN |
| 6 | Iron Davis | REEK | SECT | LEND |
| 7 | Weldon Henley | SHOD | JELL | ARMS |
Congratulations to John Autin on solving Quiz #1 and to several of our readers (particularly Luis Gomez, Steve, Scary Tuna and Richard Chester) on having some fun with Quiz #2. The answer to Quiz #1 was that only the quiz players authored a no-hit game for a pennant-winning team but failed to start a game in that year’s World Series. More after the jump.
There have been many prolific power hitters in baseball history, but only these eight have a particular career accomplishment. What is it?
| Rk | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Albert Pujols |
| 2 | Lou Gehrig |
| 3 | David Ortiz |
| 4 | Todd Helton |
| 5 | Albert Belle |
| 6 | Hank Greenberg |
| 7 | Chuck Klein |
| 8 | Babe Ruth |
Hint: the active players shown here are not in danger of dropping off this list by the time they retire.
This one stumped everyone but Sir Richard who elected to let others have a go. The answer is that only these players have multiple seasons of 40 doubles and 40 home runs. Those seasons are after the jump.
On Wednesday’s NLCS game, Tom Verducci remarked on this factoid.
| Rk | Tm | Year | Games | W | L | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SFG | 2014 | 5 | 4 | 1 | Ind. Games | 189 | 169 | 15 | 41 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 13 | 18 | .243 | .301 | .284 | .585 | 2 | 2 |
Above is a list by team of the number of 2014 post-season games with 4 or fewer batting strikeouts. So, where is the rest of the list, you ask? Actually, that is the whole list. The Giants have had no more than 4 batting strikeouts in 5 of their 10 post-season games. The other 9 playoff teams – nada.
Verducci has expressed how impressed he is by the Giants’ ability to score without the need of a base hit, a knack he attributes to their low strikeout total. The rationale is that fewer strikeouts mean more balls in play, more pressure on the defense and, therefore, more runs scored. Is he right? Let’s find out.
The players in this quiz were all well traveled. But, what career accomplishment distinguishes them from all other players since 1901?
| Rk | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Frank O’Rourke |
| 2 | Denis Menke |
| 3 | Eric McNair |
| 4 | Barry McCormick |
| 5 | Buck Herzog |
| 6 | Tony Fernandez |
Congratulations to Richard Chester! He knew right away that only these players were regulars for three different franchises, and had a season playing 100 games at a different position with each of those teams. For the players in this group, those positions were 2B, 3B and SS, with Denis Menke adding in a season at 1B for good measure. More on these in-demand and versatile players after the jump.
One of the nice things about playoff baseball is the opportunity to watch teams that you don’t see that often and, in so doing, see some players that may have flown under your radar. One such player is the Angels’ Joe Smith, a pitcher with a profile as anonymous as his name, but with a very different pedigree.
More after the jump on an anything but ordinary Joe.
Kansas City’s 29-year absence from the post-season has ended with a bang. But, this is not your typical playoff team.
More after the jump.
