One Night Only: Hot Game Previews for June 9th
Who watches the Blackmon?
This edition of One Night Only contains:
1. An expanded preview of tonight’s Dodger-Rockies game.
2. An in-particular examination of Jhoulys Chacin’s increased ground-ball rate.*
*The same Jhoulys Chacin who, in turns out, isn’t pitching tonight. I give the reader my solemn vow that (a) he really was listed as the probable for Colorado when I ran the numbers last night and (b) there are still some interesting things about his ground-ball rate, even if they’re not relevant to the present game.
Also, Juan Nicasio — who is pitching — is also an interesting case and will suffice.
3. Brief previews of three more games: Boston at New York (AL), Arizona at Pittsburgh, and Oakland at Chicago (AL).
4. Pitcher and Team NERD scores for every one of tonight’s games.
5. Some total throw away-type lines.
Los Angeles Nationals (3) at Colorado (7) | 20:40 ET
Starting Pitchers
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (10)
85.2 IP, 10.09 K/9, 2.73 BB/9, 39.7% GB, 2.85 xFIP, 77 xFIP-
Rockies: Jhoulys Chacin (7)
79.0 IP, 7.41 K/9, 3.30 BB/9, 59.3% GB, 3.35 xFIP, 90 xFIP-
A Thing I’d Like to Hear Said About Jhoulys Chacin in a New York Accent
Whaddoo we got, Mr. Ground-ball Pants over here?
Why That Would Make Sense
Because Chacin has the third-highest ground-ball percentage among 114 qualified pitchers.
Why That’s Notable
That’s notable because, all things being equal, ground balls are better than balls in the air.
A Phrase I’ve Immediately Regretted Typing
Balls in the air.
Why That’s Notable, Part II
Chacin’s ground-ball rate entering the season was about 47% (through ca 150 IP, or over 600 batters-faced).
A Thing We Know About Ground-ball Rates
They generally become reliable after just 150 batters-faced.
A Possible Explanation for the Increase
Per Pitch F/x, Chacin appears to be throwing his two-seamer about twice as often this season than last — 21.9% after 13.4% last season.
A Further, Way More Developed Explanation
The internet (taking the shape of THT’s Josh Smolow) says that Chacin’s inducing more grounders per fastball pitched — at a possibly unsustainable level, even.
Charlie Blackmon Watch
Charlie Blackmon, last night (4 PA): 1 K, 2 GB, 1 BIA.
Charlie Blackmon, in the majors (7 PA): 1 K, 3 GB, 3 BIA.
Three Other Games
Boston (7) at New York Americans (7) | 19:05 ET
This game will track you, hunt you down, and force you to watch it.
Arizona (10) at Pittsburgh (4) | 19:05 ET
Josh Collmenter (6) pitches — unfortunately, in front of the league’s worst camera angle.
Oakland (1) at Chicago Americans (2) | 20:10 ET
“Sometimes I’ll throw a changeup…95 percent of my changeups will sink down and away, but every once in awhile it will cut. It will be like a cut changeup, and I wish I could throw it when I wanted to, but I can’t, because I don’t know what I do differently.” — Mark Buehrle to our man David Laurila.
Also Playing
These games are very likely playing at some kind of sporty channel near you.
pNERD = Pitcher NERD
tNERD = Team NERD
Game = Time and Average NERD for Game
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD of 5 (or 10 for debuts)
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
The Marlins games should rank higher, since they’re managing to play a doubleheader today, vs two different teams in two different stadiums several states apart. Also, they traded for Ricky Romero.
Okay, this is fixed.
But what you said is funny, so I’m glad I effed up.
Lemons. Lemonade.
What’s really funny is I didn’t even see the 3rd Marlins game down below, and mistakenly thought Doug Fister was actually pitching for the Marlins. In reality, I didn’t pay attention to Doug Fister.