The 2023 Running Baseball Thread

I actually like the more coaches; if that's available as a tool why not use them?

I'm not hanging the performance on Kapler, he only had spare parts to use while the Ferrari team is using custom made parts developed at the Ferrari factory.

Nevertheless, it was a dry boring team and someone was going to be the scapegoat. I'm thinking (okay hoping) that Melvin is about to get let go and the Giants snap up the SD scrap (again) and turn him into a HOF'er!

 

I don't know of any analysis that has shown any measurable benefit to having a stolen base threat on first.

 

Yep. He’s not the one that gave Mitch Haniger $43 million for three years.

 

I can’t think of a worse schedule than getting the Braves and a division rival motivated for their stadium to not be filled with Cub fans in a playoff series, but the Cubs are kinda this team. That stretch in the summer was a mirage.

They are an 82-win team and they may end up being an 82-win team.

 

Probably very few arguments over playing time since there’s just 10 of them and at least one of them would have been hungover each day after spending the night in the saloon with demon rum.

 

A Baseball Research Stathead search for aggregated data over the past 110 years or so:
Batting average when first and only first is occupied: .274
Batting average when bases are empty: .255

That discrepancy looks significant to me. Seems to strengthen the argument that pitchers are distracted by the presence of a runner on first.

Yet the walk rate with first base occupied is far lower (6.52%) than the walk rate with the bases empty (7.92%).

 

That squares with the idea that pitchers throw more strikes in that situation, leading to perhaps the higher BA. You definitely don't want to give a free pass and have two runners on, so you're willing to pitch in the zone, with the trade off being roughly three hits for eight outs over every 11 at-bats. In addition, balls in the strike zone are easier for catchers to handle if the guy at first takes off.

I don't know if the Braves have employed the hit-and-run with Acuna more often this season because he's probably getting to third on almost any base hit. But starting the runner with a contact hitter at the plate is a strategy that definitely deserves more study. I realize when everyone's playing Three True Outcomes, runners in scoring position aren't critical but more runners score from second than from first over the course of a season.

 

And the 4-hole is significantly larger when first base is occupied.

 

Miguel Cabrera is going out in style in front a sold-out Comerica National Park. Another double legged out today plus he took third on a long fly to right. He's 6 for his last 9 and just passed George Kell in all-time career batting average.

 

Orioles’ Bautista done for the year:

O's closer Bautista to undergo Tommy John surgery

 

Once again, I'm having this troubling vision of Kyle Gibson getting a postseason start and giving up seven runs and 12 hits in 4 1/3.