With the Yankees’ playing night games on the left coast, I don’t have too much to add to or comment upon about the recent day to day in-game activities.  1 a.m. and I are not friends. That doesn’t mean I can’t still comment (rant) on big-picture matters about the 2019 season.  Whether you’ve heard this … Continue reading Clutch Cashman

I saw an interesting stat line a few days ago that caught my eye: Bryce Harper’s batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentages: Through July 27th:  .253/.366/.465 Since July 28th:  .250/.423/.650 Now there are two matters worth noting here: First, stop using batting average as a benchmark of a player’s offensive ability.  Those two stretches … Continue reading Shift. Robot. Umpires. Now.

My first article for The Hardball Times was published over the weekend.  If you have 5 minutes, check it out and let me know what you think. Catfish and Me

At this point in the season, a lot of digging isn’t necessary to see the trends and establish expectations for both teams and individual players.  But sometimes even just a little digging can illuminate the extent to which trends are happening with both.  So with Cleveland coming to the Bronx tonight, here are a few … Continue reading Beat the shift! CLE/NYY preview:

If you missed part one of this post, go back and check it out.  Or if you want to get right to part 2, here’s the quick synopsis of part 1: Defensive metrics are far from perfect but when it comes to evaluating player performance, they’re way better than using fielding percentage and errors, and … Continue reading Defensive metrics part 2:

I’ve lost my mind. There is no way Gio Urshela is a below-average third baseman, defensively.  No way. Put a pin in that, I’ll come back to it. Advanced defensive metrics have some limitations obviously:  Some of the data is inputted by humans, and even great data entry folk make occasional mistakes.  There’s no way … Continue reading Defensive Metrics (part 1)

It’s time to talk Brian Cashman.  The Yankees are tied in the loss column for the best record in baseball, and the trade deadline just passed.  Typically, I’m the guy who tells other people think long term, stay objective, don’t be rash and overreact to short term happenings either good or bad. But the objective … Continue reading Time to show Cashman the door

As usual, I got online to do a little digging about the Yankees’ next opponent and found a ton of cool stuff, some of which I was tangentially aware, and some I was not.  But none of the tidbits I saw made me want to analyze and write about one particular aspect of the Twins … Continue reading Twins vs. Yankees

For those of you who are new to the blog, “Out of left field” is an occasional post for when there are subjects that don’t require 1,000 words of analysis and opinion, but I want to throw my two cents out there anyway.  As usual, in no particular order: Watch out for the A’s…again. On … Continue reading Out of left field:

So Bud Selig has a new book out.  I’m not in the habit of promoting the self-serving drivel of someone who’s done more harm to the game than anyone else in our lifetimes, so I’ll keep this short: If you want to know about Bud Selig, you don’t need to read anything by Bud Selig.  … Continue reading Bud Selig. Come the F on…