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Last night was opening night in the Minor Leagues, so from now until September we have a plethora of professional baseball games every single night. Ahh, what sweet sweet news that is. Now, on to the links!
Previously on Beyond the Box Score
- Yu Can Do It, Yu Can Do It (Almost) All Night Long by Lee Trocinski │ Beyond the Box Score
After Yu Darvish's near perfect game, Lee examines the pitches that made him successful against the Astros, and wonders if he can repeat the dominance going forward.
- The real value of Replacement Level by Andrew Ball │ Beyond the Box Score
Replacement level has been in the saber news a ton recently. Yesterday I took a look at a replacement level player, Mets' rookie Scott Rice, and how all baseball fans can enjoy his story. Spoiler, the article includes a made up statistic.
- All All-True-Team Team by Chris St. John │ Beyond the Box Score
The finale in a wonderful team by team series. Chris wraps up the All-True Teams by selecting the best 25-man roster of players that only played for one franchise during their careers.
Around the Sabersphere
- FIP, Game Score, and evaluating starting pitchers by Matt Hunter │ The Hardball Times
Disturbed by some (very) early season fWAR rankings, Matt sets out to find the best way to evaluate starting pitcher performance on a game-by-game level. A great read, and some really interesting thoughts on FIP included.
- Pulling a Fernandez: 2014 Candidates by Jason Parks │ Baseball Prospectus
The second largest jump in professional baseball is from High-A to Double-A. The largest is from Triple-A to the Big Leagues. Marlins' prospect is attempting to make the jump from High-A straight to the Big Leagues. Jason Parks polls the industry to find out which prospect could make a similar leap next season.
- Q&A: Archie Bradley: Future D-Backs Ace by David Laurila │ Fangraphs
Another excellent interview by David Laurila. Today's interviewee is Diamondbacks' prospect Archie Bradley. Good insight from Bradley on his mechanics, plan on the mound, and control problems last year.
Around SB Nation
- There's no word for "pitch count" in Japan by Rob Neyer │ Baseball Nation
16-year old Japanese pitcher Tomohiro Anraku threw 772 pitches over a 9-day span in a national high school tournament. While winning is important, maybe someone should tell his coaches that 85 pitches a day seems excessive.
- Manny Ramirez hits first Taiwan homer by Marc Normandin │ Over the Monster
Just like it sounds, except better because there is video evidence with a great home run call to go along with the article.
- (Very) Brief Opening Day Impression: Vance Worley by Alex Kienholz │Twinkie Town
Newly acquired Vance Worley was Minnesota's opening day starter. Using PITCHf/x data, Alex evaluates his first outing with the Twins.
Outside the Sabersphere
- Roger Ebert, of Siskell and Ebert fame, died Thursday evening at age 70. Ebert made the phrase "two thumbs up" popular, and he surely will be missed in the film world.
