For a quick holiday diversion, consider what distinguishes these players from among all others who played their entire careers since 1901.

Congratulations to John Autin! He correctly solved this New Year’s puzzle by identifying these players as non-pitchers born on New Year’s Day (early) who compiled more strikeouts than walks (eager) over their careers. To limit the list, those careers must have been of at least 100 games since 1901.

The final week of the year is usually pretty quiet on the baseball transaction front. But there have been some significant deals that transpired in the final days of the year.

As the hours tick by to the end of 2014, here are a few notes on the more memorable baseball transactions that occurred in the final week of the year. Happy New Year to everyone!

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This Circle of Greats (COG) vote is not to induct anyone into the Circle, but only to select two players who will be restored back on to the main ballot after having been previously been dropped from eligibility.  This part two of our seventh “redemption round” (we’ve been holding such redemption rounds interspersed among the regular voting rounds every tenth voting round or so) gives voters a chance to reconsider past candidates who have previously fallen off the regular induction ballots. Continue reading →

This post is for voting and discussion in the 81st round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG).  This round completes the addition (begun in last week’s round) to the ballot of those players born in 1907. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

Even against a couple of popular birth-year classmates, Jimmie Foxx  dominated this week’s vote to easily win induction as the 80th member of the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. More on Foxx and the voting after the jump Continue reading →

The Rockies still want a bonanza in return for Troy Tulowitzki. Now 30, he’s under contract for six more years at $20 million per, and he had hip surgery in August. When healthy, Tulo is a premier talent, earning his salary and then some. But he’s been hurt a lot: In eight years since becoming a regular (age 22-29), Tulo averaged 117 games, missing 28% of the schedule to injury.

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What separates these two groups of hitters, besides their stats?

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This Circle of Greats (COG) vote is not to induct anyone into the Circle, but only to select two players who will be restored back on to the main ballot after having been previously been dropped from eligibility.  This seventh “redemption round” (we’ve been holding such redemption votes interspersed among the regular voting rounds every tenth voting round or so) gives voters a chance to reconsider past candidates who have previously fallen off the regular induction ballots. Continue reading →

‘Tis the season to be voting, this post being for voting and discussion in the 80th round of balloting for the Circle of Greats (COG).  This round begins to add to the ballot those players born in 1907. Rules and lists are after the jump. Continue reading →

The last time the Cleveland Indians won a World Series, their shortstop, Lou Boudreau, was both the indisputable MVP of the league as well as the team’s manager. Boudreau has come very close to COG induction in the past, and this vote was in doubt until the last day of balloting. But in the end it was indeed Boudreau who earned induction as the 79th member of the High Heat Stats Circle of Greats. More on Lou, and the voting, after the jump. Continue reading →