Baseball

Stat of the Week: Who were June’s top defensive players?

The race for Defensive Player of the Month was a tight battle and, in the end, a pair of players tied for the top spot in our voting. So let’s salute Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner and Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon as June’s top defenders. Turner is one of the most improved…

Mark Simon 07.02.2018
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Marco Gonzales seems to be figuring it out

By ANDREW ZENNER Before 2018, Marco Gonzales had never been able to experience sustained success in the major leagues. The former first-round pick had compiled a 5.47 ERA and 5.03 FIP in 77 1/3 innings from 2014 to 2017. That lack of success made it easier for the Cardinals to…

Mark Simon 06.19.2018
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Numbers show improvement in Eric Hosmer’s range

by ANDREW KYNE Evaluation of San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer’s defense has long differed between the eye test and metrics such as our Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Scouts and coaches have considered the Padres’ new first baseman to be among the league’s best at the position, while the…

Andrew Kyne 06.18.2018
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Alex Gordon had a great defensive week

By MARK SIMON The 22-49 Kansas City Royals don’t have much to be happy about these days, but the defensive play of Alex Gordon provided at least one positive this weekend. Gordon had four Good Fielding Plays in the three-game series against the Astros this weekend (Good Fielding Plays are…

Mark Simon 06.18.2018
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Stat of the Week: Evaluating the Phillies’ infield shifts

By ANDREW KYNE Jake Arrieta’s recent comments called attention to the Philadelphia Phillies’ infield shifts. The veteran right-hander complained that his team is “the worst in the league with shifts,” and by our Shift Runs Saved metric at Sports Info Solutions, he is indeed correct. The Phillies rank last in…

Mark Simon 06.13.2018
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Matthew Boyd turns back the clock

BY COREY FISHMAN In 2015, Matthew Boyd was acquired by the Detroit Tigers in a trade that ultimately sent David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays. That same season Boyd won the MiLB.com Fans’ Choice Award for best starting pitcher in the minor leagues and he was also selected to…

Mark Simon 06.13.2018
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