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After what felt like an eternity, we finally have actual Major League baseball again! And to prepare you for a full slate of games, we bring you the best saber links from around the internet. Enjoy!
Previously on Beyond the Box Score
- Are rookies getting better? by Stephen Loftus │ Beyond the Box Score
Do you feel like each and every season the rookie crop is better than the year before? I know I do, and so did Stephen so he ran the numbers to find out if rookies are actually getting better as time passes.
- Competitive Balance Lottery: Fixing the System by Ken Woolums │ Beyond the Box Score
Much like he did for the Rule 4 Draft, Ken gives us a guide to the competive balance picks that have been awarded by Major League Baseball. Not only does he explain how the picks currently work, but he also outlines some ways to improve the process.
- BtBS Podcast #71: Ring Rust by Blake Murphy │ Beyond the Box Score
Blake and Bryan are back talking Matt Harvey, Wade Davis, and the AL MVP race. After you listen don't forget to rate and review the podcast on iTunes!
- Who deserves credite for throwing out baserunners? by Max Weinstein │ Beyond the Box Score
When a baserunner steals a base, it is the fault of the pitcher, the catcher, or both players. Well Max decided to find out who is really to blame when baserunners run wild.
Around the Sabersphere
- Derek Lowe says farewell by Alex Remington │ FanGraphs
With the announcement of Derek Lowe's retirement yesterday, Alex looks back at his career. As a Red Sox fan I will always appreciate Lowe's no-hitter and his contributions to the 2004 World Series Team, but even I could not recall how good he was throughout his time in the big leagues.
- Top-50 MLB prospects update by Keith Law │ ESPN Insider ($)
Now that the ASG festivities are behind us, Keith updates his prospect list with commentary on each player on the list.
- The All-Vindication Team by Ken Funck │ Baseball Prospectus ($)
As fans and analysts, we certainly are permitted to questions some of the acquisitions or extensions made by big league clubs. Many times though, it turns out that those moves didn't warrant our skepticism in the first place. Yesterday Ken picked a team made up of those instances including the likes of James Loney and Raul Ibanez.
Around SB Nation
- The State of the Sacrifice Bunt in Seattle by Patrick Dubuqe │ Lookout Landing
We know bunting is not typically an optimal strategy. Wanting to know just how often Seattle wastes an out, Patrick compares their bunting tendencies to the rest of the teams in the league.
- Was Jim Leyland's "epic blunder" really a blunder by Rob Neyer │ Baseball Nation
Jim Leyland has been criticized quite thoroughly for not using Mariano Rivera in the 9th inning of the ASG, but was it really a mistake? I agree with Jim, and Rob, that ensuring he pitched in the game was much more important than giving him a shot at the save.
- This is why we can't have nice things by Bryan Joiner │ Over the Monster
Clay Buchholz wants to be 100% when he returns to Boston's seeming plaoff-bound team. For some, that's not good enough.
Outside the Sabersphere
- With how often my links in this space are music related, I hope the general consensus is, "Alright, another music link!" and not, "Oh, another music link.." Regardless, here's a link to Blue of Colors new album stream. It's a solo project the lead singer from the band Punchline, an awesome rock group from Pittsburgh, PA. And to tease the stream, here's my favorite song off of the new album:
