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

1. Brief Previews for Select Games
2. Lightly Annotated Video: Matt Garza’s Slider
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Detroit Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are brief previews for three 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.)

Read the rest of this entry »

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

1. Important Item: Power Rankings at SI.com
2. Brief Previews for Select Games
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Houston Radio

Important Item: Power Rankings at SI.com
On Monday, totally influential internet presence SI.com published the first iteration of its weekly MLB power rankings. In a turn of events that has shocked mildly surprised the nation, said power rankings are now being provided by FanGraphs and are based on WAR.

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

1. St. Louis (.847)
2. Texas (.757)
3. Washington (.647)
4. Detroit (.636)
5. Los Angeles NL (.627)

And bottom five teams:

26. Miami (.347)
27. Cincinnati (.347)
28. Seattle (.338)
29. Pittsburgh (.336)
30. San Diego (.327)

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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. Lightly Annotated Video: Strasburg’s April 11th Start
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Kansas City Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are brief previews for five 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.)

Tampa Bay at Boston | 11:05 ET
Today is Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts (and Maine and, for some reason, Wisconsin) — a commemoration of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, according both to Wikipedia and almost definitely Mrs. White, my second and third grade teacher at Dame School. It’s also the day of the 116th Boston Marathon, the world’s longest-running marathon… Daniel Bard makes his second career start. Here’s the line from his first, at Toronto (box): 5.0 IP, 24 TBF, 6 K, 1 BB, 11 GB on 17 batted-balls (64.7%) — good for a single-game xFIP of 1.90. Fenway’s excellent center-field camera angle will provide an opportunity to observe Bard’s repertoire as a starter… James Shields starts for Tampa Bay.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Boston.

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

1. A Quick Word
2. Friday, April 13th
3. Saturday, April 14th
4. Sunday, April 15th

A Quick Word
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.

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

Information on probable pitchers from MLB.com.

Friday, April 13th
Chicago NL at St. Louis | 15:15 ET
Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija, owner of a 3.9 BB/9 rate in 485.1 minor-league innings and 5.3 BB/9 in 169.2 major-league innings (prior to last week), was excellent in his season debut, posting this line in 8.2 innings (box): 31 TBF, 8 K, 0 BB, 10 GB on 22 batted-balls (45.5% GB) — for a single-game 2.54 xFIP (70 xFIP-). Our Bradley Woodrum is optimistic about Samardzija for 2012, especially if he (i.e. Samardzija) continues to emphasize his mid-90s two-seamer and slider… Samardzija faces Adam Wainwright, who, despite allowing three runs, was excellent in his return from Tommy John surgery. Line (box): 5.2 IP, 6 K, 1 BB, 9 GB on 14 batted-balls (64.3% GB), 1.94 xFIP (53 xFIP-)… The Cardinals’ center-field camera angle — among the top five in the majors — provides an opportunity to see the repertoires of each pitcher… Through seven games — and as of Thursday afternoon — the Cardinals hitters lead the league with a 3.2 WAR.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Chicago NL.

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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. Three Scouting Reports on Drew Smyly
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Los Angeles (AL) Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are brief previews for three 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.)

Cincinnati at Washington | 13:05 ET ***MLB.TV Free Game***
Mat Latos and Gio Gonzalez each make their second starts, respectively, for their new clubs… Here are their respective Steamer projections. Latos: 163.0 IP, 8.29 K/9, 3.12 BB/9, 1.20 HR/9, 4.02 FIP. Gonzalez: 172.0 IP, 8.94 K/9, 4.07 BB/9, 0.78 HR/9, 3.63 FIP… Through Wednesday, here’s how Dusty Baker has split up playing time between his catchers. Ryan Hanigan: 4 GS, 15 PA. Devin Mesoraco: 2 GS, 6 PA.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cincinnati.

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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. Video: Verlander’s Curveball Against Boston
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Los Angeles (NL) 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 AL at Cleveland | 12:05 ET
Justin Masterson makes his second start for Cleveland. He was excellent on Opening Day. To wit: 8.0 IP, 27 TBF, 10 K, 1 BB, 10 GB on 16 batted-balls (62.5%). Also, from the box score: 2.19 FIP, 1.14 xFIP, 30 xFIP-, 86.9% fastballs (89.3 mph), 13.1% sliders (81.3 mph), .296 WPA.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Cleveland.

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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. Sweet Table: Matt Moore on Five Top-Prospect Lists
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Miami Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are very 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.)

Tampa Bay at Detroit | 13:10 ET
Left-handed wunderkind and New Mexican Matt Moore makes his first start of the season. At no point at any of his minor-league stops did Moore, who enters his age-23 season, strike out fewer than 30% of opposing batters. Here’s his Steamer projection: 149.0 IP, 9.60 K/9, 4.53 BB/9, 0.87 HR/9, 3.80 FIP… The Tiger offense has been potent — through three games, at least. As of Monday, they led the majors in wRC+ (176) and had the second-lowest strikeout rate (13.4%)… Right-hander Rick Porcello, 23, starts for Detroit.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Detroit, Barely.

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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. Lightly Annotated Video: Darvish’s Repertoire
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Milwaukee Radio

Brief Previews for Select Games
Here are very 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.)

Miami at Philadelphia | 13:05 ET
This is Monday’s lone early game (to be followed, at 16:10 ET, by C.J. Wilson’s Angels debut against Nick Blackburn and the Twins). Here’s an update on Phillies second baseman Freddy Galvis: he’s only struck out twice (in 12 plate appearances), but is 0-for-8 on batted balls, giving him a line of .000/.091/.000 (.000 BABIP), .061 wOBA, -67 wRC+. Starters: Anibal Sanchez and Cole Hamels.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Miami.

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

1. Unhelpful Previews for Select Games
2. Video: A Baltimore Oriole Eating an Orange
3. Crowdsourcing Broadcasters: Minnesota Radio

Unhelpful Previews for Select Games
Here are very brief, and largely unhelpful, previews for five of today’s game — each including the preferred television feed of FanGraphs readers, per the results of our offseason crowdsourcing project.

Chicago AL at Texas | 14:05 ET
White Sox DH Adam Dunn was worth almost three wins below replacement last year after averaging about three wins above replacement per season over his first 10 years in the majors. He was excellent this spring. “Will it carry over?” is the question you’ve maybe asked yourself, maybe once this spring. Starters: John Danks and Colby Lewis.

Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Texas.

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