FanGraphs Baseball | Page 25 | Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary

Tongmorrow Comes Today

September 12, 2025

PHILADELPHIA — Nostalgia for the 1990s is so back! The Mets are running back Generation K, and at an interesting time. As it stands, their playoff rotation could include three pitchers who were in the minors in mid-August: Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong. At least, all three should figure somewhere on the postseason roster, should the Mets stop playing with their food and sew up the playoff berth they’ve had a hand on all season.

I’m old enough to remember the 90s the first time around — an era of flared jeans and futurism, much of which was rebadged 1960s nostalgia. Not least in Mets pitching prospects, when Bill Pulsipher, Paul Wilson, and Jason Isringhausen were viewed as the second coming of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Gary Gentry and/or Nolan Ryan.

There is nothing new under the sun. Read the rest of this entry »

Five Things I Liked (Or Didn’t Like) This Week, September 12

by Ben Clemens

September 12, 2025

Welcome to another edition of Five Things I Liked (Or Didn’t Like) This Week. That title is quite a mouthful. Every time I submit it, our helpful back end interface informs me that it is “far too long.” You’re not wrong, WordPress. But I lifted the title and the inspiration for this column from Zach Lowe’s basketball feature of the same name, and every time I consider removing the parenthetical part of it, I remember that the frustrations and failures of the game are part of what makes baseball so compelling. If you never disliked anything about sports, they wouldn’t be so fun to follow. So while every item this week involves something I liked, they also all contain an element of something I didn’t care for. Missed plays, bobbled balls, artificially abbreviated outings, below-average defensive units, lengthy injury recoveries – there are things to dislike in each of these. They all brought me extreme joy anyway, though. Let’s get going.

1. Relatable Frustration
Mike Yastrzemski has been everything the Royals could have hoped for since he joined the team at the trade deadline. He leads off against righties, gets platooned against lefties, and plays his habitual right field. He’s been the team’s second-best hitter behind Bobby Witt Jr., a huge boon as they chase slim playoff odds. Also, when he goofs something up, his reactions are very relatable:

You can see what happened there right away. Yaz’s first step was in, but the ball was actually over his head, and tailing towards the foul line so strongly that he couldn’t reach it. Sure, it was only his second start of the year in left field. Sure, he hasn’t played left for more than a handful of games since 2019. And sure, the ball had plenty of slice on it. But he’d probably tell you the same thing you’re thinking: Major league outfielders, particularly solid ones like Yastrzemski, should make that play. Read the rest of this entry »

Job Posting: St. Louis Cardinals – Assistant, Baseball Operations

by David Appelman

September 12, 2025

Assistant, Baseball Operations

Location: St. Louis, MO, USA

Job Summary:
This position supports the Advisor to the President in preparation for, and then through, the upcoming transition to the President role at the end of the 2025 season. Prior to the transition, responsibilities may include research projects, presentation writing, meeting planning and summaries, note-taking and correspondence, and other tasks as assigned. Following Advisor’s transition to the President role, this Assistant will continue in a support role, working closely with the Sr. Executive Assistant to the President. The Assistant will have wide exposure to the baseball operations senior leadership team and all underlying sub-departments. The role will then help ensure top-notch communication and execution throughout baseball ops, provide strategic support for processes and decisions and for the President, and help with projects and research as appropriate.

Job Duties Beginning Immediately:

Design and produce complex documents, reports, and presentations, for a variety of internal audiences.
Conduct baseball research projects as directed by Advisor to the President.
Compose memos and correspondence and assist with other writing and communication projects.
Become a power user of internal systems and valuation materials. Assist in ongoing efforts to improve and streamline those systems and materials.
Work to stay current on industry best practices and developments relevant to Cardinals current and future initiatives. Regularly summarize and communicate findings of note.

Job Duties Following the 2025 Season:

Provide strategic support on various issues, including staffing and department administration, operational process improvements, and player personnel matters.
Attend various baseball operations staff meetings, take notes, and monitor action items for proactive follow-up as appropriate.
Work with Sr. Executive Assistant as appropriate to support President, including with scheduling and preparation for internal and external meetings and engagements. Anticipate needs in advance and attend meetings as requested, in a support/documentation role.
Serve as conduit between and among President and department leaders, to ensure ongoing communication and alignment, and to monitor execution of strategic decisions and planned initiatives.
Work to gain familiarity with all aspects of baseball operations, in particular to better support President’s oversight of those areas, to promote better communication across departments, and to improve efficiency and excellence of processes.
Travel to spring training, winter meetings, and occasional other trips as appropriate.

Experience/Qualifications Required:

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, and Word) is required.
Existing familiarity with data analysis and basic SQL knowledge is desirable, but candidates willing to learn are also encouraged to apply.
Prior baseball experience is a plus but not required. Experience in other private or public sector jobs (e.g. sports, politics, management consulting, investment banking, technology and/or startups) with fast-paced environments requiring strong communication, organization, writing, and presentation skills is also helpful.
Humility, curiosity, and ability to interact productively with others.
Ability to work effectively with various stakeholders in a fast-paced team environment.
Organized, detail-oriented, and observant.
Solution-oriented and team-focused, with great ability to build relationships and collaborate.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to create effective presentations.
Proactive in finding ways to improve existing processes and contribute to the organization’s success.
Trustworthy; can handle sensitive/confidential info and conversations well.
Great work ethic; available to work evening, weekend, and holiday hours.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the St. Louis Cardinals.

RosterResource Chat – 9/11/25

by Jason Martinez

September 11, 2025

Read the rest of this entry »

Let’s Imagine a Different Coby Mayo

by Ben Clemens

September 11, 2025

Every year, the Baltimore Orioles turn out a crop of strapping young hitters who just got done obliterating minor league pitching. You’ve probably heard of many of them. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, Samuel Basallo, the list goes on. All six of those guys will be everyday regulars next year; the only reason they aren’t now is because Rutschman and Westburg are on the IL. But lost in that percolation of prospects is Coby Mayo, whose early major league career hasn’t quite gone as expected. I wondered why – and what Mayo could do to capitalize on his promise.

A year ago, Mayo was comprehensively dominating pitchers meaningfully older than him. He posted a 139 wRC+ in Triple-A at age 22, following up on an equally scintillating 2023 season. He was a preseason Top 100 prospect. His raw power was immediately evident to all observers. He looked like he’d be a key piece of the 2025 Orioles’ playoff run. But that run never materialized, and neither did Mayo’s thumping, mid-lineup offense. Instead, he’s hitting .184/.259/.327 and batting ninth for the last-place Birds.

If you watch Mayo play, one thing jumps off the page: his unconventional uppercut swing. I’m not even quite sure how to describe it, but here’s a video of it at its best:

Swing mechanics aren’t my area of expertise, so I’ll just say it has a little funk to it and move on. The point is that he uses that swing to clobber the ball, and he really does accomplish what he sets out to, bad season notwithstanding. He has elite bat speed, and even in this miserable season, he’s posted good raw power indicators; his EV90, barrel rate, and launch angle suggest that he’s going to be elevating and celebrating plenty over the years to come. Read the rest of this entry »

Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 9/11/25

by Dan Szymborski

September 11, 2025