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

1. Programming Note: Mystery Guests
2. Select Televised Games
3. SCOUT Leaderboards: Spring Training Pitchers
4. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Philadelphia Radio

Programming Note: Mystery Guests
The present author will be spending the week in and around Jupiter, Florida, spring home of the Cardinals, Marlins, and the author’s grandfather.

As a result, the next three editions of Daily Notes will be authored by three Mystery Guests. Their identities willn’t be revealed now — with a view, that is, towards preserving the mystery part of their name — but the reader can rest assured that each edition of Daily Notes between Tuesday and Thursday will be full of Heartpounding Excitement and Bone-Chilling Suspense.

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Episode 158
At the beginning of March, RotoGraphs contributor Jason Catania released his list of baseball’s top-100 fantasy prospects. It’s with a discussion of that list that this edition of FanGraphs Audio begins. Also discussed: prospects whose outlooks have changed in spring training, unlisted prospects who might be playing their way into opportunities for 2012.

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

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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 37 min. play time.)

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

1. Select Televised Games
2. Five Scouting Reports on Brian Dozier
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Pittsburgh Radio

Select Televised Games
Notable games available on MLB.TV.

Minnesota at New York AL | 13:05 ET
Left-hander Francisco Liriano makes the start for the Twins today. Liriano was at the top of the most recent SCOUT leaderboard for spring pitchers. Also, another thing about this game: it could very well feature prospect Brian Dozier — and not Jamey Carroll, nor Alexi Casilla — playing shortstop. Dozier, who enters his age-25 season, is likely the best defensive shortstop of the triumvirate. ZiPS projects him for a .295 wOBA; Casilla, .307; and Carroll, .302.

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Episode 157
Mike Newman — of FanGraphs, of Scouting the Sally, and (more recently) of Atlanta, Georgia — discusses the importance for a prospect analyst to continue seeing major-league quality players, with a view to “recalibrating” his prospect compass. Also discussed: having patience with teenage Latin American signings and which players Newman will be seeing in 2012 — including one for whom he’s willing to drive 240 miles.

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

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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 49 min. play time.)

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It is to say nothing new or bold to note that spring-training stats and performances are to be regarded as one might regard a neighborchild holding a pair of tweezers for no discernible reason — which is to say, with suspicion.

There is, first of all, the issue of limited sample size (which leaves authors like the present one performing regression gymnastics). Beyond that, spring training offers a wider variation in the level of competition. One could, for example, face Roy Halladay and then both Austin Hyatt and B.J. Rosenberg in the same game, producing a 2-for-3 effort even after a three-pitch strikeout against the major leaguer of that group. Finally, there is also the question of player intent. As was noted on Twitter recently (by whom, I’ve unfortunately forgotten), Barry Bonds posted a 2:13 BB:K in 45 at-bats during the 2007 edition of spring baseball — before producing a 89:54 UIBB:K ratio that season. There’s reason to believe that Bonds, as many veterans are likely to do, was experimenting with this or that part of his game.

Now, with all of those reasonable statements stated, allow me to submit one that is slightly less so (although only by a little) — namely that, for players who are competing for their baseballing lives, spring-training performances are a relevant piece of the overall information puzzle.

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

1. Select Televised Games
2. SCOUT Leaderboards: Spring Training Batters
3. Crowdsourcing Radio Broadcasters: Ballot Totals by Team

Select Televised Games
Some notable games available on MLB.TV.

Chicago NL at Texas | 16:05 ET
Prospective Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair has a 0:14 BB:K in 37 at-bats this spring. What will he do today?!? It’s a mystery. Like a John le Carré novel. Which is to say, a lesser John le Carré novel.

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

1. Select Televised Games
2. Lightly Annotated Video: Liam Hendriks Throws a Pitch
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: St. Louis Radio

Select Televised Games
Atlanta at Washington | 13:05 ET
This is MLB.TV’s free game for the day. The starting pitchers (Tommy Hanson and John Lannan) are known quantities — which, for the fan thirsting for knowledge, won’t provide much, uh, knowledge. That said, this game does present an opportunity both (a) to watch Braves right-hander Jairo Asencio pitch and (b) to gather more information regarding who might end up in the Nationals middle infield on Opening Day. Asencio, scheduled to pitch in relief, posted a 36:9 K:BB in 28.1 innings in the Dominican Winter League this offseason and has recorded similar numbers in the minors. Meanwhile, last year’s starting shortstop for Washington, Ian Desmond, has looked vulnerable this spring (1:11 BB:K in 37 AB) following a pair of seasons in which he’s recorded less than three wins total. Steve Lombardozzi is the leading candidate to replace him — likely, with Danny Espinosa moving over to shortstop.

MLB.TV Feed: Washington Television.

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Episode 156
Which episode is reduced almost to nothing by Dayn Perry’s inconsolable ennui.

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

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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 3 min. play time.)

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

1. Select Televised Games
2. Experiment: SCOUT- Pitching Leaderboards
3. SCOUT- Leaderboard: Spring Training Pitchers

Select Televised Games
Washington at New York NL | 18:10 ET
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his fourth start of the spring. Here’s his line so far: 9.2 IP, ca. 42 TBF, 6 K (14.4%), 3 BB (7.2%), 3 HR.

MLB.TV Audio Feed: New York NL Television.

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Episode 155
Having recently returned from a week-plus in the American Desert, managing editor Dave Cameron joins this edition of FanGraphs Audio for his usual Monday appearance. Topics discussed: Alcides Escobar, Andrelton Simmons, and defensive aging curves; the SABR Analytics Conference, what happened there; and assorted current baseballing events (including Yoenis Cespedes, Bryce Harper, and Andy Pettitte).

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 45 min. play time.)

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