Game 79, Mariners at Tigers
Fister vs Scherzer, 4:05 pm.
One of the criticisms of this blog that we hear most frequently is that all of our analysis is just fancy pants math, and that those who actually play the game don’t have any use for this crap. Don’t tell that Max Scherzer, the kid who is taking the hill for Detroit tonight. In this article, Scherzer talks about how his brother got him turned onto sabermetrics, and how he uses Pitch F/x and things like FIP and xFIP to evaluate how well he’s pitching between start. It’s not just for player valuation anymore – the places these new types of analysis are going are actually helping the players on the field. Exciting stuff.
Also, if you haven’t yet, watch this video – it is one of the coolest uses of Pitch F/x data you will ever see.
Ichiro, DH
Figgins, 2B
Branyan, 1B
Bradley, RF
Lopez, 3B
Gutierrez, CF
Jack Wilson, SS
Johnson, C
Saunders, LF
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When Zack Greinke was interviewed during his Cy Young run last season, he was asked how he felt about having such a low ERA. His response was about how he uses more telling metrics, his preference being FIP and FIPx. The article below has a good summary of his comments in the NYT.
http://fackyouk.blogspot.com/2009/11/does-zack-greinke-really-understand-fip.html
Yeah, but Greinke is teammates with Brian Bannister, who is king of all nerd baseball players. More likely than not, Greinke is just going off what Bannister tells him.
That video is awesome. I had always wondered how someone could dominate using only one pitch.
The Rivera video was quite cool – probably even for a person not that interested in newer types of stats and analysis.
I know that “closers” are generally overrated, but Rivera is simply amazing.
The article talks about Bannister teaching Greinke. But still, I can’t get any love for having something relevant in my memory bank to use for the first time ever on this site? Jeesh 🙂
M. Cabrera is a scratch for the Tigers tonight. Fister has a fighting chance!
I wonder how much of Rivera success comes down to the fact that he has pinpoint control, and the knowledge that if he misses a couple inches off the plate, it will probably be a called strike. I recall a game against (I think) the Twins or Indians in which Rivera through a pitch that was more than 12″ outside, and it was a called final strike of the game.
In defense of the numbers, I believe that Tony LaRusa has been using “crazy” numbers for years, even going so far as hitting the pitcher in the 8 hole often. I think we can all agree that he is a great manager.
Hell, I’d use Cliff Lee or Felix in the 8 hole, if I we Tui on the roster still.
Ok so I know the formula for FIP, but what’s xFIP? I know it’s supposed to predict future FIP but what’s the formula? Doesn’t it add HR/FB%?
I dunno about that one, Dave. Greinke had the rep of being his own brand of cookie when he was a prep arm- “aloof,smart,always thinking,not afraid to invent” was the way I heard him described.
He might’ve been introduced to the stuff by Bannister, that’s easy enough to believe in. But I think Greinke’s a bit too much of an iconoclast to be led into espousing new concepts without him thinking there was something to it, on his own.
Think if we trade Figgins along with Lee we’ll be able to get more return? Or will he bring down Lee’s stock? I really don’t like Figgins anymore.
Nope!
Fister should’ve had a rehab start. And LOL at the tiger fans telling Guti to “suck it”
That Rivera video is freakin sweet.
Wow, an its/it’s error on-screen in the question. That’s disappointing.
I mean, I expected Fister was going to get rocked.
Here’s the Bannister link.
That Rivera video is awesome. I especially liked the mass of balls at the “decision point” — you have a few thousand balls coming right at you… what’s it going to be? Choose! It’s downright terrifying.
The MLB network should have a feature like this every week. Seriously. If they did, I’d watch. You hear that MLB network? I’d freaking subscribe to freaking cable and pay extra for whatever stupid tier includes you just to see that.
But you’re not doing that, so I’m just going to go to the pub to watch World Cup replays instead.
Man the fist can’t catch a break tonight. Hope his calf is okay after taking that liner off it.
Oh, Bradley.
Is it wrong to not like Cordero simply for the way he wears his “flat” hat so it bends over the top of his ears?! I know it’s petty, but is it wrong?
There you go Sean. Your not a terrible pitcher. Its just a problem with the mound
I’m just amazed that Ramon Santiago is, even at this late date, playing shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. And even more amazed that his double-play partner is Carlos Guillen. Few people mention this one among the all-time bad Mariner trades.
Ahh…gotta love White Flag Time…sigh.
Yep. Gotta love how a late-night speeding ticket somehow translates itself into one of the worst trades in franchise history — thanks, of course, to a totally incompetent GM who didn’t even know how to trade away players he didn’t like properly.
Sure wish Carlos Guillen could’ve played a World Series in a Mariner uniform, Mr. Bavasi. >:(
Dave Sims Hat Club Night!
Dave Sims Hat Club Night!
Not sure if anyone would want him at his current contract with the way he’s performing. I loved the signing at first but now that Ackley is being groomed for 2nd base I’m not so sure about the contract we gave him. Moving Figgy back to 3rd next year or 2012 is what they’ll do I guess but I would like to see us get a 3rd baseman with some pop if Figgy isn’t going to turn things around. Any chance we stick Ackley at 1st and he could be a Todd Helton type with his great OBP?
You know, I keep bugging my softball teammates about taking chances at inadvisable times. I guess i won’t invite Figgie to play with us anytime soon.
Wait, now Sims says “he thinks mauybe he’s scoring on that and maybe we’ve got an inning going.”
WE’RE DOWN SIX! Scoring with no outs isn’t important.
C’mon – really.
When are the M’s going to realize that White is bad!
Well, you gotta tip your “hat” to Sims for his sunny optimism, at least. 🙂
When he gets exiled from Mercer Island, perhaps.
Nice article about Scherzer. He’s a very promising pitcher–I watched his 5 2/3 IP, 14 K performance from a few weeks ago. His stuff is just electric at times.
Wow. That Rivera video was amazing.
Incredible Rivera video. I don’t generally pay extra for anything, but if there was a channel or site that did that kind of stuff, I’d be sorely tempted.
In addition to being crazy good, Rivera has always struck me as truly a good human being. At one game in Anaheim a few years back, he spent close to two hours talking with fans, signing autographs, playing games throwing balls into stands, etc… I was fortunate enough to get his autograph, one of my most prized pieces of baseball memorabilia.
I love the fact that, at least according to the article, Scherzer learned to use advanced statistics from a gambler’s fallacy.
I think it’s “fancypants”…