Daily Notes: Ft. A Javy Vazquez Status Update Update
Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.
1. Status Update: Javier Vazquez’s Status, Updated
2. Video: Javier Vazquez’s Most Recent Major League Start
3. SCOUT Leaderboards: Puerto Rican League
Status Update: Javier Vazquez’s Status, Updated
Right-hander Javier Vazquez, 36, has made four starts since joining Ponce of the Puerto Rican League at the beginning of the month — most recently on Dec. 19 at Mayaguez, when he posted this impressive line (box): 6.0 IP, 27 TBF, 11 K, 2 BB, 6:2 GO:AO.
Vazquez has now posted this other, more different line during those same four starts: 17.0 IP, 23 K, 3 BB, 1 HR. His performance has given him the league’s best regressed kwERA despite a relatively small sample — which, because of the way SCOUT- (discussed below) is calculated, it’s actually more difficult to produce excellent numbers in a small sample like that.
Apropos Vazquez, famous George Plimpton-impersonator Peter Gammons noted at the beginning of November that he (i.e. Vazquez) would use his experience in the Puerto Rican League as a means by which to assess the credibility of a major-league return. Given Vazquez’s performance hitherto, it doesn’t appear as though lack either of (a) interest or (b) ability will be what prevents him from pitching in 2013.
Video: Javier Vazquez’s Most Recent Major League Start
Here’s video from Javier Vazquez’s last and/or most recent major-league start, during which start he posted this line (box): 9.0 IP, 31 TBF, 9 K, 0 BB, 10 GB on 20 batted-balls (50.0% GB), 1.86 xFIP.
SCOUT Leaderboards: Puerto Rican Baseball League
Below are the current SCOUT leaderboards for the Puerto Rican League. (Ages as of July 1st, 2012. Players listed with most recent team. Click here for more on what is SCOUT.)
SCOUT Leaderboard: Puerto Rican League Hitters
Below is the current SCOUT batting leaderboard for the Puerto Rican League. SCOUT+ is calculated using regressed home-run, walk, and strikeout rates, where 100 is average and above 100 is above average.
| Player | Team | Age | Pos | PA | xHR% | xBB% | xK% | SCOUT+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Valdes | N/A | 39 | 1B | 131 | 1.6% | 16.1% | 12.4% | 133 |
| Carlos Rivera | MEX | 34 | 1B | 122 | 3.0% | 11.0% | 14.8% | 130 |
| Andy Gonzalez | Brewers | 30 | SS | 145 | 2.5% | 13.5% | 18.6% | 124 |
| Johnny Monell | Giants | 26 | C | 105 | 3.4% | 10.8% | 20.9% | 122 |
| Angel Sanchez | Astros | 28 | SS | 133 | 1.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% | 118 |
| Irving Falu | Royals | 29 | 2B | 136 | 1.2% | 9.4% | 8.4% | 117 |
| Ramon Vazquez | IND | 35 | 2B | 103 | 1.4% | 13.9% | 16.5% | 116 |
| Luis Matos | MEX | 33 | OF | 112 | 1.4% | 11.0% | 12.0% | 116 |
| Ruben Gotay | Braves | 29 | 2B | 139 | 0.9% | 12.2% | 11.4% | 115 |
| Jesus Feliciano | Rays | 33 | OF | 152 | 0.8% | 8.7% | 5.9% | 114 |
SCOUT Leaderboard: Puerto Rican League Hitters (Prospects)
Here is the SCOUT batting leaderboard for the Puerto Rican League, but only populated with players who are 25 or under — i.e. something more like “prospect” age relative to the league.
| Player | Team | Age | Pos | PA | xHR% | xBB% | xK% | SCOUT+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaime Ortiz | Marlins | 23 | 1B | 51 | 2.4% | 9.7% | 17.0% | 114 |
| Jeff Dominguez | Marlins | 25 | 3B | 116 | 1.7% | 12.8% | 18.9% | 111 |
| Enrique Hernandez | Astros | 20 | 2B | 142 | 1.5% | 7.6% | 10.3% | 111 |
| Juan Centeno | Mets | 22 | C | 90 | 1.5% | 9.4% | 14.1% | 108 |
| Brandon Snyder | Rangers | 25 | 1B | 12 | 1.9% | 9.9% | 17.8% | 108 |
| Michael Perez | D-backs | 19 | C | 15 | 2.2% | 9.3% | 19.4% | 106 |
| Martin Maldonado | Brewers | 25 | C | 93 | 1.8% | 10.3% | 19.1% | 105 |
| Jared Hoying | Rangers | 23 | OF | 49 | 1.4% | 9.3% | 15.2% | 105 |
| Sergio Miranda | Braves | 25 | 2B | 134 | 1.6% | 6.0% | 12.0% | 103 |
| Eddie Rosario | Twins | 20 | OF | 122 | 2.3% | 8.0% | 19.5% | 103 |
SCOUT Leaderboard: Puerto Rican League Pitchers
Below is the current SCOUT pitching leaderboard for the Puerto Rican League. SCOUT- is calculated using regressed strikeout and walk rates where 100 is average and below 100 is above average.
| Player | Team | Age | G | GS | IP | TBF | xK% | xBB% | SCOUT- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jose De La Torre | Red Sox | 26 | 17 | 0 | 21.0 | 81 | 26.2% | 8.1% | 76 |
| Javier Vazquez | N/A | 35 | 4 | 4 | 17.0 | 73 | 24.5% | 8.1% | 80 |
| Jason Urquidez | Red Sox | 29 | 15 | 0 | 22.0 | 86 | 23.6% | 7.5% | 81 |
| Scott Kazmir | N/A | 28 | 5 | 5 | 22.2 | 103 | 23.7% | 8.5% | 84 |
| Giovanni Soto | Indians | 21 | 11 | 0 | 15.1 | 57 | 23.7% | 9.2% | 86 |
| Rob Bryson | Indians | 24 | 14 | 0 | 14.2 | 54 | 23.5% | 9.1% | 86 |
| Randy Fontanez | Mets | 23 | 10 | 0 | 18.2 | 74 | 21.8% | 7.9% | 87 |
| Shoki Kasahara | NPB | 21 | 7 | 7 | 31.0 | 137 | 21.6% | 8.0% | 88 |
| Ricardo Gomez | Indians | 34 | 15 | 0 | 16.1 | 67 | 22.5% | 9.1% | 88 |
| Xavier Cedeno | Astros | 25 | 3 | 0 | 3.2 | 13 | 21.7% | 8.6% | 89 |
SCOUT Leaderboard: Puerto Rican League Pitchers (Starters)
Here is the SCOUT pitching leaderboard for the Puerto Rican League, but only populated with pitchers who’ve made at least half of their appearances as starts.
| Player | Team | Age | G | GS | IP | TBF | xK% | xBB% | SCOUT- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javier Vazquez | N/A | 35 | 4 | 4 | 17.0 | 73 | 24.5% | 8.1% | 80 |
| Scott Kazmir | N/A | 28 | 5 | 5 | 22.2 | 103 | 23.7% | 8.5% | 84 |
| Shoki Kasahara | NPB | 21 | 7 | 7 | 31.0 | 137 | 21.6% | 8.0% | 88 |
| Deinys Suarez | IND | 28 | 11 | 6 | 34.2 | 147 | 22.4% | 9.6% | 90 |
| Tomas Santiago | N/A | 30 | 9 | 5 | 40.2 | 167 | 21.6% | 9.3% | 92 |
| Kelvin Villa | IND | 26 | 8 | 7 | 37.0 | 162 | 20.4% | 8.1% | 92 |
| Josh Romanski | Yankees | 25 | 7 | 7 | 35.0 | 144 | 20.1% | 7.8% | 92 |
| Derek Blacksher | IND | 27 | 1 | 1 | 4.0 | 18 | 19.8% | 8.4% | 94 |
| Mark Cohoon | Mets | 24 | 7 | 7 | 31.1 | 140 | 18.5% | 7.2% | 94 |
| Shinya Kayama | NPB | 22 | 7 | 7 | 37.1 | 168 | 20.2% | 8.9% | 94 |
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Is there any real reason to believe that Ervin Santana will be a better pitcher in 2013 than Javier Vazquez? The Nats ought to go get him as insurance against Haren’s health and it would be cool to see another ex(po) back in the fold