Readers critique BP’s Tout Wars team, go below the belt for an injury question, and challenge the notion of set rotation roles.
The American League East is moving slowly from a 2-3 configuration to a 2-1-2,
as the Toronto Blue Jays put together not just a good team, but an
organization that will sustain success. The division will be 3-2 by 2005, but
for now, it’s the same rivals dueling for supremacy.
Outfield defense is, at first glance, one of the easier things to measure. If there’s a fly ball and an outfielder catches it, they get at least one out, which is recorded statistically as a putout. But outfielders will almost never get a putout on a ground ball–the best they can do is pick it up and throw it to someone who will touch the base, or tag the runner. Can something that easy provide useful information?
The Red Sox have 682 first basemen, the Reds revamp half their bullpen a week before Opening Day, the Rockies’ three non-Helton infield spots could be the best collective bargain in baseball, and the Pirates choose one set of jounreymen over another for the back end of the pitching staff.
Are the Twins standing too pat? Are the White Sox finally ready to fulfill
expectations? Are there really five teams in the AL Central? Joe Sheehan comes
back from vacation to answer these questions and more.
Over the past month or so, Baseball Prospectus staffers from around the country have had the unique opportunity to host Pizza Feeds in seven different states, celebrating the coming of a new season. And what a celebration it’s been. At these Feeds, we’ve met some of the most loud, opinionated, knowledgable, and entertaining baseball fanatics in all the land–(lots of) men and (a few) women who share the same passion and exuberence for the greatest game in the world that we do. I think I speak for the entire BP crew when I say that it’s been a legitimate pleasure to convene on a few random, lonely Wednesdays and talk baseball with a group of people who are as obsessive as I am, and we thank those who attended for their support and participation. BP is nothing without its readers, and we remember that.
Troy Glaus and Jarrod Washburn causing hand-wringing in Angel Nation, injuries to Mariano Rivera and Steve Karsay have Brian Cashman frantically searching for Alejandro Pena’s phone number, and Will’s readers weigh in on Eli Marrero’s stomach ailment and a name for the labrally-impaired.
The nerdiest part of our preseason blitzkrieg, this is the second of two articles describing the final standings in each league as compiled based on our PECOTA forecasts.
After more than nine years as manager of the Montreal Expos and a short stint as bench coach for the Detroit Tigers, the San Francisco Giants hired Felipe Alou as their new manager this off-season. The architect of the strong, young Expos teams of the mid-90s faces a different challenge in San Francisco, managing a veteran club led by Barry Bonds. Continuing his series of articles from spring training in Arizona, BP correspondent Craig Elsten sat down with Alou recently, and asked him about job battles among some of the team’s weaker veterans, the challenge of nurturing pitching prospects like Kurt Ainsworth and Jesse Foppert, and building an optimal lineup around Bonds.
Well, it’s that time of year again–the time for Baseball Prospectus authors to emerge from out of their respective caves, and provide readers with further evidence that they know absolutely nothing about this game they call “base ball.” In other words, it’s time for the annual set of Preseason Predictions.
For this survey, 13 members of the Baseball Prospectus staff submitted their predictions in time for publication, covering–among other things–divisional standings, postseason standings, and end-of-season awards. Later this week, a Roundtable discussion will run in this space, discussing the predictions seen below, and probably a bunch of other topics as well. Enjoy.
First, I want to apologize for the long absence of AFTH from the web site. In addition to the usual off-season book-writing duties, I spent the winter relocating to the east coast from California as well as welcoming a new baby to the family. But I’m getting settled now, and hope to be writing AFTH and doing other research again in between feedings and diaper changes.
Will Carroll covers Eli Marrero’s suspicious acid indigestion diagnosis, Scott Elarton’s long road back, and enough Angels bumps and bruises to worry even the most rabid Rally Monkey fans (look for the bite marks).
People sometimes ask Prospectus writers what we’d do if we had $500 million, and they’re surprised when we say we wouldn’t buy a baseball team. Gary would become a scratch golfer. Jonah would build his dream house, with a gigantic rotating wheel he could run in that would power the neighborhood. I may be one of only a few who’d actually try and buy a baseball team.
Continuing his series of articles from Spring Training in Arizona, BP correspondent Craig Elsten sat down recently with Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Brooks Kieschnick. There they discussed the frustration of being sent down to the minors, the transition from college, and what it takes to be successful on both sides of the ball.
As we get closer to Opening Day, injuries are starting to take on more importance. Missing one or two games in Spring Training might mean nothing or it might mean a lost opportunity to win a job. It could mean that a retro trip to the List is about to happen or it could be the start of a cursed season. Each day, each injury is just part of the amazing journey that is any baseball season. If this spring is any indication, we’re in for one heck of a journey.
The Snakes throw excessive money at a good citizen–again. The Orioles use an injury as the latest excuse to screw with John Stephens. The Tigers’ pitching staff could be scary bad. And the Jays need health on their side if they’re to benefit from the Wells and Hinske signings.