SB Nation User Blog: Bhaakon

Blocking Balls (insert Bocock joke here)

Bhaakon — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:34:16 -0000

Blocking Balls (insert Bocock joke here)

There's an interesting article on Baseball Analysts using pitch f/x data to analyze ball blocking. The author uses pitch type and location data recorded to come up with an expected passed ball/wild pitch rate and compares it to the catcher's actual rates.

Long story short, Gregg Zaun and Kurk Suzuki tie at -32.1 PB/WP (fewer is better) over two and a half years, Bengie Molina is second to last with +30.2 PB/WP (for lack of a better term, Posada is last a +36.4). On the whole, these represent about one win above/below average over the last the two and a half seasons. Miguel Olivo, one of the names being kicked around to replace Molina, has a virtually identical +29.9.

Baserunning epic fail, and Winn

Bhaakon — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:00:14 -0000

Baserunning epic fail, and Winn

Here's a quick preview of a baserunning evaluation that's due to appear in the next Bill James Abstract. No surprise, Bengie Molina is the worst baserunner in baseball. Hes' given up -104 runs on the base paths since 2005. To put that in perspective, he's been 114.9 Runs above replacements with the bat over the same span, so he's given up virtually his entire value as a hitter back via his terrible baserunning. There ares some issues, primarily that virtually every starting catcher is a bad baserunner, and Bengie's probably only given up more like 30-50 runs over the average catcher (I'm guessing here, the list only shows the best and worst 5), but it's another note on the long list of reasons not to want Bengie back.

The surprise: Winn is at +90 since 2005, 5th best in baseball. I knew he was decent, but damn, he's virtually tied with Ichiro. Good thing too, since the Giants needed him to offset Bengie and rank 5th in baseball with +77 team baserunning runs.

Nightmare Scenario in LA?

Bhaakon — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:48:37 -0000

Nightmare Scenario in LA?

Mark Cuban shows some interest as a speculative suitor for a Dodger team that seems increasingly likely to be sold.

"Frank McCourt contends he is the sole owner of the Dodgers and insists the team is not for sale. Jamie McCourt contends she is a co-owner, and her lawyer has said she has lined up financing for a possible bid to buy out her estranged husband.

Cuban bid unsuccessfully to buy the Chicago Cubs and has expressed interest in buying his hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. He said his interest in the Dodgers would be conditional on the ability to buy a controlling share as part of an ownership group.

"I’m not a fan of debt-driven acquisitions," Cuban wrote. "If a unique situation came up where I could contribute capital to buy out a majority shareholder and gain control, with existing shareholders or note holders staying in place, I would consider it."'

Sanchez extension talks fall through

Bhaakon — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:37:45 -0000

Sanchez extension talks fall through

"Both Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson have rejected the Pirates' contract offers, and as of Sunday, neither has come back to present a counter-offer. The absence of any sort of counter-offer, general manager Neal Huntington said, does not leave the organization optimistic that a deal will be reached with either player in the coming days."

Sanchez's offer was a ridiculous lo-ball. Even in this economy, 2 years/10M is a joke for one of the top 2B's in the league, particularly one poised to reach an $8M vesting option. There were suggestions that these talks were just a PR move, but that offer is farcical. Being a Pirates fan must be worse than being a Warriors fan.

Aurilia to start at 1B Thursday

Bhaakon — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 01:11:07 -0000

Aurilia to start at 1B Thursday

"Bochy reiterated what he said in spring training: "We are not in a platoon there." Travis Ishikawa, who hit a three-run triple yesterday, will start against some left-handers, but depending on the kind of lefty, Aurilia will get some starts, too."

No more big signings?

Bhaakon — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:48:52 -0000

No more big signings?

I'll post this here, since few people scroll down and there's a not insignificant chance that I've missed something important that will make me look like an idiot for posting this.

In short, the qouta for Type A/B free agent signings this team was 4, and Johnson is the Giants' fourth type A/B signee. In other words, discussion of Manny, Dunn, Burrell, etc. aren't just repetitive and tiresome, but moot. The link is to a BBTF thread where the discussion came up, scroll to the bottom to read the relevant portion of the CBA. I'm hoping that someone else has some insight as to whether or not this is correct.

Are Alou and Bochy the same guy?

Bhaakon — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:17:41 -0000

Here's an article from the CCTimes about analyzing managers in Bill James's latest handbook.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/baseball/mlb/san_francisco_giants/16875803.htm

"According to a new book by James, Alou summoned 438 relievers last year; Bochy brought in 475.

Alou had 22 so-called quick hooks (pulling a starting pitcher early in the game); Bochy had 43.

Alou left starters in for nine long outings (120 pitches or more); Bochy did it five times."

Obviously the composition of the roster is just as (probably more) important than the manager in determining those stats, but still interesting.

Dave Roberts, maybe.

Bhaakon — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 04:32:34 -0000

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=535007

"Reports Friday out of San Francisco indicated that Roberts was prepared to sign a three-year contract with the Giants. He supposedly had narrowed his choices to Milwaukee and San Francisco.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he had not heard from Roberts' agent, John Boggs, as of Friday afternoon. But Melvin was not surprised to hear that Roberts reportedly had picked the Giants."

As long as it's 18M or less, hurray. I guess.

Kind of hard to get excited about your team signing a platoon leadoff man when you have no 3/4/5 hitters. Roberts is prone to nagging injuries, and Bochy has shown willingness to platoon him, so Linden should still get a decent number of AB's. Especially if Bonds returns.