Episode 171
Each week, the British House of Commons engages in an activity known as Prime Minister’s Questions — or, simply “Question Time” — during which the Prime Minister answers questions posed by members of Parliament. In this episode of FanGraphs Audio, the self-appointed Prime Minister of NotGraphs, Dayn Perry, answers questions posed by the bespectacled readership.

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 49 min. play time.)

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Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.

1. Brief Previews of Select Games
2. Lightly Annotated Video: Jarrod Parker’s Repertoire
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Chicago (NL) Radio

Brief Previews of Select Games
Here are brief previews for four of today’s games — each including the preferred television feed of FanGraphs readers, per the results of our offseason crowdsourcing project. (Information on probable pitchers from MLB.com.)

Houston at Milwaukee | 13:10 ET
• The appeal of this game has less to do with the teams and/or pitchers involved and more to do with the fact that the present author will be in attendance.
• “But Carson,” perhaps a brazen reader is saying aloud, “I fail to see how your presence at the game makes it more appealing to me.”
• To which I respond: “I’m guessing you fail to do a lot of things.”
• And also: “Oh, snap.”
• Pitchers: J.A. Happ (18.0 IP, 102 xFIP-, 0.2 WAR) vs. Shaun Marcum (19.0, 106, 0.2).

MLB.TV Audio Feed: Houston.

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Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.

1. Item: More Power Rankings of Power
2. Brief Previews of Select Games
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Cincinnati Radio

Item: More Power Rankings of Power
On Monday, SI.com published the second iteration of its weekly MLB power rankings for 2012. As noted last week (and on Monday’s podcast), the SI power rankings are now arranged by expected winning percentage per FanGraphs WAR.

Here are your top five teams by that criteria (with WAR winning percentage in parentheses):

1. Texas (.838)
2. St. Louis (.782)
3. New York AL (.698)
4. Atlanta (.620)
5. Los Angeles NL (.601)

And bottom five teams:

26. Cincinnati (.382)
27. Minnesota (.370)
28. Chicago NL (.363)
29. Seattle (.351)
30. Pittsburgh (.331)

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Episode 170
Managing editor Dave Cameron makes his weekly appearance on FanGraphs Audio. Topics discussed: Philip Humber’s success, and Don Cooper’s role in it; the SI.com Power Rankings (fueled by FanGraphs WAR), the benefits and limitations of such an exercise; and the new site feature called FanGraphs Guts! and what it tells us about the majors’ current scoring levels.

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 30 min. play time.)

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UPDATE: With 314 ballots cast (see below), FanGraphs readers believe that the Rangers and Yankees will score a combined 10.46 runs in tonight’s game (7pm ET).

Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.

1. Brief Previews of Select Games
2. Shameless Polling Action: Over/Under on Yankees-Rangers
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Cleveland Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are brief previews for four of today’s games — each including the preferred television feed of FanGraphs readers, per the results of our offseason crowdsourcing project. (Information on probable pitchers from MLB.com.)

San Francisco at New York NL | 16:10 ET
• This is the closest thing to afternoon baseball today, and is the first game of a doubleheader between the Giants and Mets, following a rainout of yesterday’s scheduled game.
• Tim Lincecum, subject of much handwringing, starts for San Francisco against Miguel Batista.
• Regard, Lincecum’s defense-independent numbers: 13.2 IP, 23.2% K, 5.8% BB, 45.8% GB, 74 xFIP-.
• Regard, his actual overall numbers: 16 ER, 16 ER, 10.54 ERA, 303 ERA-.
• Regard, in case you haven’t previously regarded it, our most recent piece on Lincecum: History Suggests Tim Lincecum Might Be Just Fine. By Dave Cameron, duh.

MLB.TV Audio Feed: New York NL.

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Episode 169
It’s the Fantasy Friday edition of FanGraphs Audio. RotoGraphs contributor Michael Barr joins the podcast to discuss topics of interest to the nation’s fantasy owners. Items addressed: your weekly Hector Santiago Status Update; Lance Berkman, Chris Young, and their likely replacements; Justin Morneau going forward; and how to (not?) win an ottoneu auction.

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 37 min. play time.)

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Episode 168
David Laurila, curator of FanGraphs’ Q&A Series, joins the podcast from Fenway, with a report on the scene from the 100th anniversary celebration of the historic park. He also provides audio from a recent interview with Rays broadcaster and former Cleveland Indian Brian Anderson regarding the latter’s experience, as a Cleveland native, in the heartbreaking 1997 World Series.

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

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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 13 min. play time.)

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UPDATE: Toronto’s Drew Hutchison (the fourth-best prospect in the organization entering the season, according to Marc Hulet) will make his major-league debut against Kansas City (Luis Mendoza, 9.2 IP, 136 xFIP-) on Saturday at 19:10 ET. Hulet recently previewed Hutchison’s forthcoming start in more depth. Here’s what the right-hander did so far this year at three Double-A starts: 16.2 IP, 6.48 K/9, 1.62 BB/9, 0.54 HR/9, 3.08 FIP.

Below are brief previews for select weekend games — each including the preferred television feed of FanGraphs readers, per the results of our offseason crowdsourcing project.

Note: all stats are current as of Thursday.

Other note: for the benefit of those whose viewing options are limited, each day contains a preview for that day’s featured MLB.TV Free Game.

Friday, April 20th
Minnesota at Tampa Bay | 19:10 ET
Matt Moore makes his third start of the season. To the surprise of many — including the handsome author — he currently possesses the highest xFIP (6.09) of the league’s 105 qualified starters, with the fourth-lowest ground-ball rate (27.5%) and fifth-highest walk rate (15.5%) of that same sample… He faces Minnesota’s Liam Hendriks. The right-hander was pretty excellent in his season debut on April 15th. Line: 6.0 IP, 23 TBF, 4 K, 0 BB, 7 GB on 19 batted-balls (36.8% GB), 3.22 xFIP… After finishing last season with the league’s third-worst team wRC+ (84), the Twins are average through their first 12 games, having posted a collective 103 wRC+ (better than Detroit’s 102 wRC+, for example). Leaders: Josh Willingham, 225 wRC+ (.379 BABIP) and 0.7 WAR; Denard Span, 138 wRC+ (.400 BABIP) and 0.4 WAR; and Justin Morneau, 153 wRC+ (.286 BABIP) and 0.4 WAR… Tampa Bay features one of the league’s better center-field camera angles, although the pleasure provided by said camera is mitigated by the shadowy interior of Tropicana Field.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Tampa Bay.

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Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.

1. Brief Previews for Select Games
2. Unhelpful Video: Cleveland Hits Four Home Runs
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Colorado Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are brief previews for four of today’s games — each including the preferred television feed of FanGraphs readers, per the results of our offseason crowdsourcing project. (Information on probable pitchers from MLB.com.)

Chicago NL at Miami | 12:40 ET
Right-hander Jeff Samardzija makes his third start of the season for Chicago. Despite allowing five runs against St. Louis on Friday, his defense-independent numbers were still very good. Line: 5.0 IP, 26 TBF, 5 K, 1 BB, 8 GB on 20 batted-balls (40.0% GB), 2.90 xFIP… Ricky Nolasco (13.0 IP, 104 xFIP-) starts for Miami… Item: Giancarlo Stanton’s name is officially Giancarlo Stanton now on that player’s FanGraphs page.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Chicago NL.

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Episode 167
In a departure from his usual weekly appearances, veteran baseball writer and freedom-loving patriot Dayn Perry spends the greater part of this episode of FanGraphs Audio answering questions from the public. The results will shock and amaze!

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 49 min. play time.)

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