During the coverage of the World Series, there’s been much discussion of contact rate.  As in, it’s bad to strike out and you’re better off putting the ball in play.  Normally I ignore straw men such as these. Nobody, and I mean nobody – argues that a strikeout is superior to a ball in play.  … Continue reading This is why the Red Sox win:

I will not rest until David Cone is calling Post Season games for FOX and John Smoltz is a former broadcaster, banished to the golf course forever.  To that end, I’ve prepared some information for you, so you’re aware of the extent to which Smoltz is a fraud tonight when he speaks about…well, when he … Continue reading We want Cone!

World Series Preview It’s already been discussed in this space that the Red Sox are good.  Very, very good.  Even better than most people realized if we’re being candid.  If you want to eye roll and groan some more, consider that the 2018 Astros can make a legitimate claim to have had the best pitching … Continue reading Hate Boston? Good news for you:

If you didn’t, it was a fun one that had some great teaching moments for both hardcore and casual fans. In no particular order: Here’s a quick recap:  The team that hit two home runs (one a three-run shot, one a two-run shot) beat the team that had one solo home run, 5 to 1.  … Continue reading See NLCS game 7 last night!?!

Bad news Yankee fans: This Red Sox team is no joke. I know, I know, not a news flash.  But I also know that there’s a good chance that like me, you were hoping something would be exposed in the playoffs.  That maybe that “bridge to Kimbrel” that Michael Kay referred to ad nauseam down … Continue reading Save us Eduardo, you’re our only hope.

If you’ve read my stuff before or if you’ve ever chatted with me offline you know my feelings on the term “clutch”.  It’s nonsense.  It doesn’t exist.  It’s just a part of fans’, broadcasters’ and writers’ stories that are used around campfires, bars and with their kids. (“Let me tell you, Cody, you think that … Continue reading “Clutch”. LOL…

Maybe it would have not mattered.  When the final score is 16-1 many, many things have to go wrong so it certainly is possible that a single decision wouldn’t have altered the outcome. But as I usually ask in cases like last night’s, we’ll just never know, will we?  I sure would have liked to … Continue reading Et Tu, Aaron Boone?

Not that I don’t ever see National League baseball.  But I do try to make my allotment of baseball watching hours Yankee, and therefore mostly American League, centric. So although far from an expert I can confidently say that what I saw yesterday confirmed many of my season long, longer in some cases, beliefs. In … Continue reading I watched the NL yesterday…

Last night ESPN 2 conducted a statistically oriented broadcast of the NL Wild Card game – a “StatCast” broadcast they called it.  Mike Petriello, who is a very knowledgeable baseball writer with regards to analytics and their applications towards winning games, was joined by play by play man Jason Benetti and color commentator (and former … Continue reading Did you miss last night’s game?

Out of left field is an occasional piece about matters that may not require 1,000 words of analyzation, but I think we should chat about anyway: Here’s some fun with numbers: Coin Flip: If you played a 5 game series between one team who had a 97-65 record and another team that had a 65-97 … Continue reading Out of left field: