tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post5315111289396123993..comments2024-03-25T10:19:58.493-07:00Comments on the joy of sox: Stars Of May: Beckett And Ellsburyallanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-57244451751459803122011-05-30T12:00:43.640-07:002011-05-30T12:00:43.640-07:00I don’t know if I am more impressed by AGon’s abil...I don’t know if I am more impressed by AGon’s ability to hit or with his ability to explain his approach to hitting. Maybe all of the really good big league hitters have this sort of approach but don’t (or aren’t able to) elucidate it so clearly. For example, guys like Manny or Vladimir Guerrero always struck me as incredibly talented hitters that just went to the plate looking for any pitch that they could drive really hard someplace and were good enough to succeed at it. On the other hand, I am sure there are guys that look at more tape than Gonzalez that don’t have the skill to deliver (as frequently) when they get the pitch they are looking for. Adrian seems to have an idea what to expect and then execute when he sees it. Regardless, I can’t remember seeing him have an AB this year where he looked foolish. I think he is going to be a lot of fun to watch all year long.Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919343462085992964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-21116256761157436372011-05-30T11:17:51.725-07:002011-05-30T11:17:51.725-07:00Now I have to look at Dice's other years with ...Now I have to look at Dice's other years with the bases loaded.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=matsuda01&year=2007&t=p#bases" rel="nofollow">2007</a>: 32 PA, 8-for-29, .276/.344/.448<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=matsuda01&year=2008&t=p#bases" rel="nofollow">2008</a>: 18 PA, 0-for-14, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 SAC.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=matsuda01&year=2009&t=p#bases" rel="nofollow">2009</a>: 8 PA, 0-for-7, 1 BB.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=matsuda01&year=2010&t=p#bases" rel="nofollow">2010</a>: 23 PA, 5-for-19, .263/.348/.316<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=matsuda01&year=2011&t=p#bases" rel="nofollow">2011</a>: 4 PA, 2-for-4, single & double.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=matsuda01&year=Career&t=p#bases" rel="nofollow">Career</a>: 85 PA, 15-for-73, .205/.282/.301.<br /><br />It's his lowest OPS against of all the base/out sitations, which is nice, but I would not say it's something he sustains/controls year-to-year.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-52708288648064339532011-05-30T11:08:50.485-07:002011-05-30T11:08:50.485-07:00Leaving a higher percentage of the guys you let on...Leaving a higher percentage of the guys you let on base is better, obviously; even if you let fewer guys on, it's better to left them there.<br /><br />I'm not sure if the ability to strand runners is a skill, however. We remember Dice's uncanny success with the bases loaded in 2008 (0 hits in 18 PA), but that felt more like the fluke that it was the longer it continued.<br /><br />Maybe like BABIP, LOB% is a measure of whether things have been going particularly good or bad for a player. And like any other stat, you should look at it along with a bunch of other things.<br /><br />(Someone with a low BABIP and a high line drive rate might look like he's in a slump, but there is clearly some bad timing/luck at work.)<br /><br />Relievers: Inherited runner totals take care of some of that. But LOB% is probably worth looking at more than ERA for pen guys, since a 5-run inning along with 8 perfect innings is great overall, but shows up as a 5.00 ERA.allanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673233312198832937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730822.post-66080325113060093592011-05-30T10:23:56.707-07:002011-05-30T10:23:56.707-07:00Do statisticians view a high LOB% as good or bad? ...Do statisticians view a high LOB% as good or bad? Obviously, not allowing base runners to cross the plate is good but putting runners on base is not.<br /><br />I would think that having a high LOB% would be a better statistic for relievers, who often come in with runners on base.FenFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02348863925130603048noreply@blogger.com