Leadoff OBP and team success in 2013

Six out of eight playoff teams--Boston, Tampa Bay, Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles--all featured a top-10 OBP leadoff hitter and all made the playoffs. A 7th team represented on this list, Texas, missed the playoffs on game 163. The non-contending teams with strong leadoff hitters were Toronto, Milwaukee, and Colorado. The two teams [...]

Jenrry Mejia and the dominance of the extreme GB pitcher

In his short major league career, Jenrry Mejia has generated a 61.3% ground ball rate. With league average at 44.6%, Mejia’s ability to facilitate contact on the ground speaks to the movement he inflicts on a baseball. Very few pitchers have pitched seasons with a GB% at above Mejia’s 61.3% in the past 12 years, [...]

Win/Loss percentage with average team by Mets player

Despite an acronym that sounds like it fits more appropriately in a phonetic acting class warm up than a baseball discussion, baseball reference has given us a fascinating value for players if they played on a team with league average players all around him: waaWL%, or Win-Loss percentage with average team. Another way to look [...]

Introduction to the 2014 Draft and three players on the Mets’ radar

Introduction to the 2014 Amateur Player Draft and Three Players the Mets Might Look to Draft Relevant details: Date: June 5th-7th, 2014 Location: MLB Studio 42, Secaucus, New Jersey Media: MLB Network will cover the draft Mets select: #10, miss a second round pick for signing Curtis Granderson, pick regularly between the Blue Jays and [...]

Why do you want to sign Nelson Cruz?

Earlier this past week, I read an opinion piece suggesting the Mets signing free agent OF Nelson Cruz along with Stephen Drew in an effort, in this writer’s opinion, to have a formidable lineup. I dismissed this opinion as just that—an opinion—and possibly a way to fill the page. Despite the lack of any noticeable [...]