Rubbing Mud

Rubbing Mud: Pirates Gobble Up Grounders$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/23

Image credit: USA Today Sports

The Pirates are turning ground balls into outs more efficiently than any other team in baseball.

Rubbing Mud: Framing J.T. Realmuto$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/22

Image credit: USA Today Sports

J.T. Realmuto has dramatically improved his pitch framing, turning a rare weakness into yet another strength.

Rubbing Mud: Trey Mancini Is Rising$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/18

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Mike Elias isn't going to let his J.D. Martinez walk.

Rubbing Mud: Full Counts and Deep Waters$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/16

Image credit: USA Today Sports

MLB's overall number of pitches seen per plate appearance has increased both dramatically and rapidly.

Rubbing Mud: Zach Eflin Lays in the Cutter$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/11

Image credit: USA Today Sports

By shunning conventional fastball-heavy approaches, pitchers like Zach Eflin are finding that they can keep hitters off balance.

Rubbing Mud: Nicholas Castellanos’ Walk Year$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/09

Image credit: USA Today Sports

One season from free agency, the Tigers slugger is taking his walk year literally.

Rubbing Mud: José Berríos Finds His Depth Without Sinking$

by Matthew Trueblood 4/04

Image credit: USA Today Sports

José Berríos and the Twins have realized that their greatest potential success lies in abandoning the sinker in favor of more fastballs and off-speed stuff.

Rubbing Mud: Victor Robles, NL East X-Factor$

by Matthew Trueblood 3/21

Image credit: USA Today Sports

With Bryce Harper having departed Washington's outfield for Philadelphia's, it's natural to look to the void he leaves.

Rubbing Mud: Martin Perez and Discontinuous Change$

by Matthew Trueblood 3/14

Image credit: USA Today Sports

The future is here (and Martin Perez is generating lots of spring training buzz).

Six of One, Half Dozen of Another: The Young Center Fielders (Part 2)$

by Matthew Trueblood 3/13

Image credit: USA Today Sports

There’s nothing as captivating at that great, young, well-rounded center fielder.

Six of One, Half Dozen of Another: The Young Center Fielders (Part 1)$

by Matthew Trueblood 3/12

Image credit: USA Today Sports

There’s nothing as captivating at that great, young, well-rounded center fielder.

Rubbing Mud: Imagining the Next MLB Expansion$

by Matthew Trueblood 3/05

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Rob Manfred said during a news conference that he sees MLB expanding to 32 teams in the not-so-distant future.

Rubbing Mud: Heads-Up Hacking — 1-1 is a Hitter’s Pitch but a Pitcher’s Count$

by Matthew Trueblood 2/26

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Greg Maddux knew better.

Rubbing Mud: PECOTA Solves Logjams Rob Manfred Won’t$

by Matthew Trueblood 2/14

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Without the DH to save them from their logjams, the Mets and Cardinals are going to have to take decisive action.

Rubbing Mud: The Tank-Free NL Central and the Quiet Cubs

by Matthew Trueblood 2/08

Image credit: USA Today Sports

Will the Cubs' inactivity cost them in a division PECOTA suddenly sees as very formidable?

Rubbing Mud: The Stakes of Philadelphia’s Star Search

by Matthew Trueblood 2/07

Image credit: USA Today Sports

PECOTA examines the Phillies' blockbuster options.