SB Nation User Blog: Joey Matschulat

Rangers Prospect Analysis: Blake Beavan Vs. Tommy Hunter

Joey Matschulat — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:06:38 -0000

Rangers Prospect Analysis: Blake Beavan Vs. Tommy Hunter

David Brown and Trip Somers give some statistical and scouting perspective to Blake Beavan and Tommy Hunter.

David Brown/Spurdynasty on Fastball Velocity and Pitching Performance

Joey Matschulat — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:56:03 -0000

Ordinarily I'm quite reluctant to post full-fledged FanPosts promoting work from our own site (and as usual I must profusely thank Adam and Brett for allowing me to do so), but David Brown (a.k.a. spurdynasty) might have just published his most informative piece yet -- this one focusing on the relationship between fastball velocity and a variety of performance-related metrics, including ERA, FIP, K/9, BB/9, and a brief rundown of some of the Rangers' most prominent major league and minor league pitchers and their own fastballs. A brief excerpt, which doesn't really do it justice:

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Average home run rates and left-on-base percentages for pitchers classified by fastball velocity were plotted together, not because there is a correlation between the two but because they have similar values. The data indicates that pitchers with high velocity fastballs give up fewer home runs and are perhaps slightly more effective at stranding runners who get on base. These data contradict the notion that fastball velocity, at least among pitchers who become major league starters, is not that important.

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Check out David's full piece here: http://www.bbtia.com/home/2009/7/1/fastball-velocity-pitching-performance-and-rangers-starting.html

Tangentially related note: Jon Daniels will be on the Hardline at 5:50 p.m. No word on whether Mike will regale him with a second rendition of Rangers play-by-play.

David Brown/Spurdynasty on the 40-Man Roster and the Trade Deadline

Joey Matschulat — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:32:10 -0000

David Brown/Spurdynasty on the 40-Man Roster and the Trade Deadline

Michael Jackson dead at 50

Joey Matschulat — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:51:10 -0000

Michael Jackson dead at 50

First Farrah, now MJ.

David Brown/Spurdynasty on building a winning baseball team

Joey Matschulat — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:30:42 -0000

David Brown/Spurdynasty on building a winning baseball team

BBTiA Day One Draft Recap [Videos Included]

Joey Matschulat — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:28:00 -0000

BBTiA Day One Draft Recap [Videos Included]

2,500~ words of informative goodness, along with a particularly close examination of the circumstances surrounding Scheppers' previous shoulder problems and embedded MLB.com scouting video. Hopefully somebody enjoys this.

BBTiA Live Draft Chat

Joey Matschulat — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:02:58 -0000

BBTiA Live Draft Chat

Now with 100 percent more Trip Somers -- just in case you're not getting enough from the 50 other live chats going on.

Spurdynasty/David Brown on the Rule 4 draft's impact

Joey Matschulat — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:44:13 -0000

Spurdynasty/David Brown on the Rule 4 draft's impact

David brings the heat in discussing how draft position correlates with major league success and illustrating just how valuable first-round picks are, among other topics.

Trip Somers' 2009 Rangers Draft Preview: Part II

Joey Matschulat — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:06:57 -0000

Trip Somers' 2009 Rangers Draft Preview: Part II

After breaking down the Rangers' independent-league and collegiate draft possibilities in Part I, Trip assesses the high school draft possibilities in Part II -- including Shelby Miller, the presumptive favorite at pick No. 14.

Trip Somers' 2009 Rangers Draft Preview: Part I

Joey Matschulat — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:06:32 -0000

Trip Somers' 2009 Rangers Draft Preview: Part I

Taking stock of the independent-league and collegiate draft prospects for Texas at pick No. 14 next week.