SCOUT Leaderboards for Double-A A Brief Introduction
Featured in this edition of the Notes are the SCOUT leaderboards for Double-A. Briefly stated, SCOUT represents an attempt to use our knowledge of certain metrics, and at what sample sizes they become reliable, to measure run production/prevention in instances where small samples are all that’s available. Stated less briefly, is the explanation available here.
Episode 353
On August 19, 1999, the author went to Fenway Park expecting to see Pedro Martinez beat the Oakland A’s handily. Instead, Martinez was outdueled by then-rookie right-hander Tim Hudson. Hudson discusses that start and other relevant matters on this edition of FanGraphs Audio.
Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.
SCOUT Leaderboards for Triple-A A Brief Introduction
Featured in this edition of the Notes are the SCOUT leaderboards for Triple-A. Briefly stated, SCOUT represents an attempt to use our knowledge of certain metrics, and at what sample sizes they become reliable, to measure run production/prevention in instances where small samples are all that’s available. Stated less briefly, is the explanation available here.
A Leaderboard of 2013’s First-Rounders, Already The Purpose of This Post
The purpose of this post, mostly, is to alert the readership to how — with the recent commencement of certain Low-A and Rookie-level leagues — how a small collection of 2013 first-round picks have begun their professional baseball careers.
Episode 352
John Sickels is a former research assistant to the actual Bill James, the author of a notable annual prospect book, and the proprietor of SB Nation site Minor League Ball. He’s also the guest on this edition of FanGraphs Audio.
Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.
Featured Game: Colorado at Washington, 19:05 ET The Purpose of This Post
The purpose of this post is to alert the reader to how veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt is making his debut tonight (Thursday) for the Colorado Rockies against Washington.
Episode 351
Playing for the Madison Mallards, third baseman Eric Cheray has posted the most impressive walk-to-strikeout mark (17:4 BB:K in ca. 70 PA) among all batters in the summer collegiate Northwoods League so far — this after finishing his sophomore campaign at Missouri State with better than a 2:1 ratio and the second-highest on-base percentage in the Missouri Valley Conference. Cheray is also the guest on this edition of FanGraphs Audio.
Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.
The Fringe Five is a weekly exercise (introduced in April) wherein the author utilizes regressed stats, scouting reports, and also his own heart to identify and/or continue monitoring the most compelling fringe prospects in all of baseball.
Central to this exercise, of course, is a working definition of fringe. Currently, for the purposes of this column, it’s any prospect who was absent from all of three notable preseason top-100 prospect lists. (A slightly more robust meditation on the idea of fringe can be found here.)
Two players retain their place this week among the Five: young Philadelphia third-base prospect Maikel Franco and Cardinals Double-A outfielder Mike O’Neill.
Departing from the Five proper — mostly for reasons that concern the author’s Whim — are Cubs shortstop prospect Arismendy Alcantara, Mets right-hander (the recently promoted) Rafael Montero, and Washington left-hander Robbie Ray.
Replacing that triumvirate are well-educated Mets pitching prospect Matthew Bowman, Pirates right-hander (and also recently promoted) Nick Kingham, and Athletics first-base prospect Max Muncy — about all of whom one can learn more via technicolor prose in this week’s installment of the Fringe Five, below.
Matthew Bowman, RHP, New York NL (Profile)
Because, for the purposes of compiling the Five, the author typically limits his attention to the three highest levels of minor-league ball, the 22-year-old Bowman has only recently become “eligible” for this column, as it were. After recording a 26:4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30.2 innings in the Class-A Sally League, Bowman has now pitched 44.0 innings in the High-A Florida State League and posted strikeout and walk figures (47:9 K:BB) among the league’s best. Nor do Bowman’s excellent numbers represent all that is Rich and Compelling so far as his CV is concerned. Bowman is also an alumnus (or, at least, near-alumnus) of shockingly prestigious Princeton University. Furthermore, he’s found considerable success by utilizing mechanics which resemble those belonging to a certain undersized Giants right-hander.
Featured Game: New York NL at Atlanta, 19:10 ET The Purpose of This Post, Predominantly
The purpose of this post predominantly is to prolong the author’s employment with FanGraphs, Inc., by another day.
