Positional Reviews
What Happened to the Cleanup Man?
Players who hit fourth in the lineup are meant to be feared, but in 2014 they have been far from fearsome.
The best relievers of 2014, per RE24
There are many ways to get at a reliever's true talent level. But in addition to telling a story, RE24 can help us get at a reliever's true value. Here are the MLB leaders so far this year.
Baseball's best center fielders
In a continuing series, this post reviews center fielders.
Baseball's best left fielders
In an continuing series reviewing players by position, this post discusses this year's best left fielders.
The White Sox's abysmal bullpen
How the Rick Hahn ran an experiment in constructing his bullpen and failed
Baseball's best shortstops
Continuing a series in which every position is reviewed.
Baseball's best third basemen
Continuing a series in which players are reviewed by position. This post covers third base.
Are the Pirates built on a shaky foundation?
The Pirates have been on a tear lately, but there might a fundamental flaw in the way the team is built.
The best second basemen in baseball
Continuing a series in which players are evaluated position by position. This post reviews second base.
Baseball's best first basemen
The second in a series examining the best players in the game by position
The most valuable catchers in baseball
The first of a series evaluating players by position using a method I developed last year.
The best outfield in baseball
Who has the best all-around outfield in baseball?
Pitchers can hit too!
Some pitchers help themselves at the plate. Others, not so much.
The biggest black holes in baseball
Every team in baseball has a hole or two in the lineup, but some holes are especially glaring.
The Oakland A's have created a monster
Oakland is famous for its platoons and there is one in particular that is making a lot of noise.
Lefties who pitch inside to righties
Which left-handed pitchers throw inside to righties the most often? How does it help them?
Using WPA to measure pitcher effectiveness
Can WPA be used to measure starting pitcher effectiveness?
Manager ejections
Manager ejections quantified and analyzed
Is the dedicated DH becoming extinct?
As roster construction evolves, are the days of the dedicated designated hitter who plays no position numbered?
Are the Dodgers targeting pitchers who rake?
In 2013, the Dodgers pitching staff led the majors in wRC+. It looks like the Dodgers have targeted pitchers who rake in free agency and via trade.
Do the best-hitting catchers of 2013 frame well?
Offense-first catchers are a valuable rarity, but how many of them can also frame pitches? We're taking a look at the top five hitters behind the dish from 2013.
Right field: Skill position?
MLB teams have not treated right field as a skill position akin to "up the middle" positions. But should they?
SABR: Who are baseball's most valuable pitchers?
A publication of a response to the SABR Diamond Dollars Case Competition prompt: who are the top three "pitching assets" in the game today?
A slow year at the hot corner
There are many quality third baseman in the majors at the moment, but as a group they have lead feet on the bases.
How difficult was that play?
While we await for MLB Advanced Media to provide us with the best quantitative data we have ever seen on fielding, we will rely on what scouts see to decide who makes the most difficult plays.
The best and worst defenders face off
What would it look like if we pitted the league's worst glove men against the best defenders baseball has to offer?
How value in closers is found outside WAR
Do closers present the most clear picture of wins added (or lost)?
New-Era Outfield Arms
With many of the past decade's premier outfield arms gone from the game today — we examine the league's A-1 outfield arms here to stay.
Gold Gloves evaluated: Catchers
An evaluation of the 2013 Rawlings Gold Glove award-winning catchers — has the improved selection process gotten it right?
Is this a golden age of catching?
When it comes to greatness in baseball today guys like Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw grab the headlines, but there's some mighty fine catching talent out there that deserves some recognition.
The Best Fourth Outfielders in Baseball
To be a good fourth outfielder, a player may need to be adequate offensively and to have the ability to play multiple positions. But the best fourth outfielders also have at least one of a few varieties of "special sauce" that makes them more useful.
Are elite GB% relievers undervalued?
Part of what makes a high-GB% reliever valuable is the increased likelihood of double plays. But how much value does that add?