Category: MLB

  • 2019 Bill James Baseball Handbook: “Shift Update”

    2019 Bill James Baseball Handbook: “Shift Update”

    Defensive shifting rose 30% in 2018. We look at some notes and nuggets related to shift performance in 2018.

  • The many multi-position standouts of 2018

    The many multi-position standouts of 2018

    JaCoby Jones, Harrison Bader, Miguel Rojas and Joey Wendle weren’t quite Javier Baez, but they were good at double duty.

  • Which catchers are best at stealing strikes?

    Which catchers are best at stealing strikes?

    BY MARK SIMON With there being an off day in the World Series, let’s take a look at a leaderboard that stoked our interest this season –- which catchers did the best job of getting strikes on pitches that maybe he shouldn’t have gotten strikes on? Our definition for this was to look at the…

  • Stat of the Week: Fielding Bible Awards Preview Part II

    This is the second of a two-part series on the top candidates for The Fielding Bible Awards, which will be announced next week. Part I can be found here. The Fielding Bible Awards are voted on by a panel of 12 experts, who can vote based on visual observations and subjective judgement, as well as statistical…

  • World Series Defensive Preview

    The Red Sox were the most prolific offense in 2018, but who has the edge defensively between them and the Dodgers going into the World Series?

  • Stat of the Week: 2018 Fielding Bible Awards Preview

    For the next two weeks, this space will feature a multi-part series on the top candidates for The Fielding Bible Awards, which will be announced the week of October 29. The Fielding Bible Awards are voted on by a panel of 12 experts, who can vote based on visual observation and subjective judgement, as well…

  • Which pitchers topped the command rating leaderboard for 2018?

    Sports Info Solutions charts how good a pitcher was at hitting the catcher-pre-pitch target. Dallas Keuchel was atop the list.

  • Why does Xander Bogaerts have such a low Defensive Runs Saved total?

    By MARK SIMON With one out and nobody on in the second inning of Game 2 of the ALCS, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa hit a ground ball in the shortstop-third base hole. Xander Bogaerts got to the ball, but took his time in making a throw to first base. Correa beat it out for what…

  • Who made the biggest improvements vs. pitch types in 2018?

    Who made the biggest improvements vs. pitch types in 2018?

    By MARK SIMON Which hitter made the biggest improvement against a pitch type from 2017 to 2018? The answer should be no surprise – it’s Christian Yelich, though it wasn’t one pitch type, it was two. In 2017, Yelich hit .149 and slugged .194 against curveballs. He had 10 hits, three for extra-bases and recorded…

  • Stat of the Week: 2018 Defensive Runs Saved Leaders

    By Mark Simon With the 2018 regular season concluded, let’s look at the leaders in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman finished as the overall leader with 29. Chapman dominated all season, with his work being particularly outstanding on balls hit down the third base line. The next-closest third baseman in Runs Saved was…