We are entering the era of big data. Like it or not, it’s everywhere. There’s data for everything, and everyone is using it to be more efficient in whatever it is they’re doing. The same applies in baseball. While I don’t always agree with some of the advanced statistics out there, I find many of them quite useful. After playing/coaching/teaching the game for 30+ years, many of the...
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The MLB Network is almost done with their annual “Top Ten Right Now” series, having gone through every position aside from Right Field and Catcher. So far, the New York Mets have not been well represented—the “Shredder” has not been kind to the Metropolitans. We have had two players make the cut so far—Neil Walker was ranked No. 7 amongst second baseman, and Yoenis Cespedes, who will be the...
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“People have gotten away from that, people are getting soft these days. I don’t care, if somebody is showing me up or throwing at one of our guys, you are going to get something inside to let you know I noticed that.” – Zack Wheeler in his recent New York Post interview. Remember when the pitchers owned the inside of the plate? Hitters didn’t wear helmets, and it was much...
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Although it may sound like a M. Night Shyamalan movie, the sixth tool does exist in baseball, and is arguably the most important and yet overlooked tool a player can possess. We know the traditional five tools are hitting for average, hitting for power, base running (speed + skills), throwing ability and fielding ability. Players are generally rated on a scale which determines where on the...
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The temperature is in the mid-40s. It’s a dreary, early spring day on the east coast. It’s not exactly the type of day you would be running to the ballpark to watch a game. That is, unless, the pitching matchup features Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey. Below, you will find an actual text conversation that took place between Joe. D and myself at about 2:00 pm this afternoon: I said “he looks...
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