Baseball links from around the sabersphere...
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Is Jose Bautista Currently Baseball's Best Earthly Hitter? | Baseball Nation
He's having a HUGE 2011. We've got eight months of data, spread over three seasons, that tells us Bautista is simply not the same hitter he used to be.
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Trendspotting: FIP and ERA Battle For Planet Earth | DRaysBay
A look at linear trends of FIP and ERA. -
What’s Wrong with Francisco Liriano? | Fangraphs
Opposing batters have been more reluctant to offer at Liriano’s pitches this season; particularly outside of the strike zone. When batters are swinging at those pitches, they are making contact with more frequency as well.
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Josh Johnson Best Modern Day Era Pitcher in April | Fish Stripes
Josh Johnson has the fewest April hits allowed in the modern era. -
Brian McCann’s Power | Capitol Avenue Club
His home run per fly ball rate is currently 8.3%, which is significantly lower than his career mark of 11.9%. He has not been lower than 12.0% in HR/FB since 2007, so applying the rules of regression should mean additional homers are to be expected going forward.
More links after the jump...
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Are the Indians For Real? | Fangraphs
t’s not just wins and losses, either. The Indians have the best run differential in baseball (+47) and they’re second in the majors in team WAR (+10.5), trailing only the offensive juggernaut in St. Louis.
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April's Outside Power Hitters | Baseball Analytics Blog
April's top 15 power hitters on outside pitches -
Jason Vargas' Key to More Groundballs | Lookout Landing
With the Mariners, Vargas had an established ground ball rate around 36% previously. Vargas had success as the prototypical flyballing lefty in Safeco Field, but an improved ground ball rate indicates progress away from being so park-dependent.
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Trade Candidate: Wilson Betemit | MLB Trade Rumors
Betemit is a free agent after 2011 and, unlike Moustakas, he isn't a long-term solution for K.C. Perhaps the Royals could flip him for a player who will contribute to their next great team.
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The Anti Ethier: Raul Ibanez in range of setting dubious record | Big League Stew
Raul Ibanez has gone 34 straight at-bats without a hit.