Episode 782
“The Good Face” isn’t necessarily a concept that required further examination. That hasn’t stopped guest Kate Preusser of Lookout Landing from providing it, anyway.

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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 1 hr 6 min play time.)

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Episode 781
Charlie Morton finished the World Series for the Astros by hitting 99 mph with frequency and throwing a nearly unhittable curve. It was a departure from the pitcher he’d been for most of his career. If one player can transform so completely, what’s to prevent anyone from become an elite ballplayer? Managing editor Dave Cameron attempts to answer this and other haphazardly phrased questions.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or other feeder things.

Audio after the jump. (Approximately 44 min play time.)

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Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, all of them relievers.

Other Players: Matt Albers / Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Steve Cishek / Alex Cobb / Bartolo Colon / Zack Cozart / Johnny Cueto / Yu Darvish / Wade Davis / Lucas Duda / Jarrod Dyson / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Doug Fister / Todd Frazier / Jaime Garcia / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Miguel Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Luke Gregerson / Jeremy Hellickson / David Hernandez / Greg Holland / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Tommy Hunter / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Brandon Kintzler / Francisco Liriano / Jonathan Lucroy / Lance Lynn / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Jake McGee / Mike Minor / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Brandon Morrow / Mike Moustakas / Pat Neshek / Juan Nicasio / Ricky Nolasco / Eduardo Nunez / Seung Hwan Oh / Brandon Phillips / Michael Pineda / Addison Reed / Jose Reyes / CC Sabathia / Carlos Santana / Masahiro Tanaka / Chris Tillman / Justin Upton / Jason Vargas / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Sergio Romo (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Romo:

• Has averaged 48 IP and 0.8 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 1.0 WAR per 65 IP* over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 0.3 WAR in 55.2 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 0.2 WAR per 65 IP**.
• Is entering his age-35 season.
• Made $3.0M in 2017 as part of deal signed in February.

*That is, a roughly average number of innings for a reliever.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Romo.

Read the rest of this entry »

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the giant and large 2016-17 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, all of them relievers.

Other Players: Matt Albers / Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Steve Cishek / Alex Cobb / Bartolo Colon / Zack Cozart / Johnny Cueto / Yu Darvish / Wade Davis / Lucas Duda / Jarrod Dyson / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Doug Fister / Todd Frazier / Jaime Garcia / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Miguel Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Luke Gregerson / Jeremy Hellickson / David Hernandez / Greg Holland / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Tommy Hunter / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Brandon Kintzler / Francisco Liriano / Jonathan Lucroy / Lance Lynn / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Jake McGee / Mike Minor / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Mike Moustakas / Ricky Nolasco / Eduardo Nunez / Brandon Phillips / Michael Pineda / Jose Reyes / CC Sabathia / Carlos Santana / Masahiro Tanaka / Chris Tillman / Justin Upton / Jason Vargas / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Brandon Morrow (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Morrow:

• Has averaged 31 IP and 0.7 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 1.5 WAR per 65 IP* over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 1.6 WAR in 43.2 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 1.2 WAR per 65 IP**.
• Is entering his age-33 season.
• Made $1.3M in 2017 as part of deal signed in January.

*That is, a roughly average number of innings for a reliever.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Morrow.

Read the rest of this entry »

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, all of them relievers.

Other Players: Matt Albers / Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Steve Cishek / Alex Cobb / Bartolo Colon / Zack Cozart / Johnny Cueto / Yu Darvish / Wade Davis / Lucas Duda / Jarrod Dyson / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Doug Fister / Todd Frazier / Jaime Garcia / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Miguel Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Luke Gregerson / Jeremy Hellickson / David Hernandez / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Francisco Liriano / Jonathan Lucroy / Lance Lynn / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Mike Moustakas / Ricky Nolasco / Eduardo Nunez / Brandon Phillips / Michael Pineda / Jose Reyes / CC Sabathia / Carlos Santana / Masahiro Tanaka / Chris Tillman / Justin Upton / Jason Vargas / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Greg Holland (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Holland:

• Has averaged 51 IP and 0.9 WAR over last three seasons*.
• Has averaged 1.2 WAR per 65 IP** over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 1.1 WAR in 57.1 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 1.4 WAR per 65 IP***.
• Is entering his age-32 season.
• Made $7.0M in 2017 as part of deal signed in January.

*Excludes 2016 season, which Holland missed.
**That is, a roughly average number of innings for a reliever.
***Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Holland.

Read the rest of this entry »

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, all of them relief types.

Other Players: Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Alex Cobb / Bartolo Colon / Zack Cozart / Johnny Cueto / Yu Darvish / Lucas Duda / Jarrod Dyson / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Doug Fister / Todd Frazier / Jaime Garcia / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Miguel Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Jeremy Hellickson / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Francisco Liriano / Jonathan Lucroy / Lance Lynn / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Mike Moustakas / Ricky Nolasco / Eduardo Nunez / Brandon Phillips / Michael Pineda / Jose Reyes / CC Sabathia / Carlos Santana / Masahiro Tanaka / Chris Tillman / Justin Upton / Jason Vargas / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Matt Albers (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Albers:

• Has averaged 50 IP and 0.1 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 0.1 WAR per 65 IP* over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 0.8 WAR in 61.0 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 0.5 WAR per 65 IP**.
• Is entering his age-35 season.
• Made $1.2M in 2017 as part of deal signed in March.

*That is, a roughly average number of innings for a reliever.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Albers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, all of them starting pitchers.

Other Players: Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Alex Cobb / Bartolo Colon / Zack Cozart / Johnny Cueto / Yu Darvish / Lucas Duda / Jarrod Dyson / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Doug Fister / Todd Frazier / Jaime Garcia / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Miguel Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Jeremy Hellickson / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Francisco Liriano / Jonathan Lucroy / Lance Lynn / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Mike Moustakas / Ricky Nolasco / Eduardo Nunez / Brandon Phillips / Jose Reyes / Carlos Santana / Justin Upton / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Michael Pineda (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Pineda:

• Has averaged 144 IP and 2.6 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 3.3 WAR per 180 IP over last three seasons*.
• Recorded a 1.1 WAR in 96.1 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 0.0 WAR per 180 IP**.
• Is entering his age-29 season.
• Made $7.4M in 2017 after avoiding arbitration in January.

*That is, a roughly average number of innings for a starting pitcher.
**That is, because he’s unlikely to pitch after undergoing Tommy John surgery this year.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Pineda.

Read the rest of this entry »

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents — once again, most all of them starting pitchers.

Other Players: Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Alex Cobb / Bartolo Colon / Zack Cozart / Johnny Cueto / Yu Darvish / Lucas Duda / Jarrod Dyson / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Doug Fister / Todd Frazier / Jaime Garcia / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Jonathan Lucroy / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Mike Moustakas / Eduardo Nunez / Brandon Phillips / Jose Reyes / Carlos Santana / Justin Upton / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Miguel Gonzalez (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Gonzalez:

• Has averaged 145 IP and 1.5 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 1.9 WAR per 180 IP over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 1.4 WAR in 156.0 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 1.1 WAR per 180 IP**.
• Is entering his age-34 season.
• Made $5.9M in 2017 after avoiding arbitration in January.

*That is, a roughly average number of innings for a starting pitcher.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Gonzalez.

Read the rest of this entry »

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2017-18 free-agent market.

Below are links to ballots for five of this year’s free agents, all of them starting pitchers, probably.

Other Players: Yonder Alonso / Jake Arrieta / Alex Avila / Jose Bautista / Carlos Beltran / Jay Bruce / Melky Cabrera / Trevor Cahill / Welington Castillo / Lorenzo Cain / Andrew Cashner / Jhoulys Chacin / Alex Cobb / Zack Cozart / Jarrod Dyson / Lucas Duda / Alcides Escobar / Yunel Escobar / Todd Frazier / Carlos Gomez / Carlos Gonzalez / Curtis Granderson / Matt Holliday / Eric Hosmer / Chris Iannetta / Jon Jay / Howie Kendrick / Jonathan Lucroy / J.D. Martinez / Cameron Maybin / Mitch Moreland / Logan Morrison / Mike Moustakas / Eduardo Nunez / Brandon Phillips / Jose Reyes / Carlos Santana / Justin Upton / Neil Walker / Jayson Werth.

Bartolo Colon (Profile)
Some relevant information regarding Colon:

• Has averaged 176 IP and 2.0 WAR over last three seasons.
• Has averaged 2.0 WAR per 180 IP over last three seasons.
• Recorded a 0.6 WAR in 143.0 IP in 2017.
• Is projected to record 1.5 WAR per 180 IP**.
• Is entering his age-∞ season.
• Made ca. $12.5M in 2017 as part of deal signed in November 2016.

*That is, a roughly average number of innings for a starting pitcher.
**Prorated version of final 2017 depth-chart projections available here.

Click here to estimate years and dollars for Colon.

Read the rest of this entry »

Episode 780
Like any pair of clubs, the pair of clubs currently participating in the World Series features certain players who’ve achieved major-league relevance by atypical means. Lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen discusses that topic and also not that topic.

Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or other feeder things.

Audio after the jump. (Approximately 1 hr 2 min play time.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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