Answers on Richie Shaffer, a slew of pitching prospects, and the difference in scouting rookie ball versus Double-A.
Our fantasy experts offer trade advice and field other questions found in the inbox over the past week.
The fantasy staff answers questions from the inbox, including those from an owner planning for this year’s playoffs and others planning for 2014.
As the real-life and fantasy trade deadlines approach, our experts help owners decide whether to pull the trigger, amid other advice this week.
In the inaugural PITCHf/x mailbag, Harry and Dan examine how batters and pitchers behave on 3-0 counts.
This week’s mailbag takes a look at Hall of Famers who were picked in later rounds of the draft, home team winning percentage in extra innings, and Matt Cain’s one-hitter.
The Baseball Prospectus staff responds to reader mail about Rick Peterson, Todd Zeile and more.
This edition of From the Mailbag includes comments on the AL Cy Young and Barry Bonds.
From your Transaction Analysis page:
Anaheim Angels – purchased the contract of RHP Francisco Rodriguez from Salt Lake. [9/15]
I thought a player had to be on the active roster (or disabled list) as of August 31 to be eligible for post-season play. Does this mean that the Angels have to forfeit his 5 wins?
–PG
The Angels pulled the oldest roster trick in the book to make this work: They placed someone from their 60-day DL (Steve Green) on their postseason roster, effectively leaving a roster spot open for somebody else, or in this case, Francisco Rodriguez.
Regarding saving $160 million (or more) through prudent contract management, MS (and many others) writes:
How on earth is Jeff Bagwell at $6.5 million a waste of a roster spot, time, money, etc.? Sure, his power numbers are way off, but he’s got an 872 OPS, and baseball can’t work that with the first signs of your best player ever showing a little decline, you release or trade him…. He’s still an above-average offensive player, and bound to turn it around in the next couple of months.
Many people brought up the point that strikeouts can only kick in at three pitches, and walks at four pitches.