Overthinking It

Overthinking It: From Prospect to Project to Prominence

Ten players who took the long route from top prospect to major-league contributor this year.

Overthinking It: What Stephen Strasburg’s Season Could Have Looked Like

If the Nationals had handled their ace's innings limit a little more like the Braves massaged Kris Medlen's, they might not be facing a Strasless October.

Overthinking It: What the New Skippers Have Done

by Ben Lindbergh 8/28

It's hard to draw conclusions about manager abilities, but Ben looks at how each of five managers hired before the season have performed this year.

Overthinking It: The A’s, the Rays, and Two Different Ways to Ball on a Budget

by Ben Lindbergh 8/24

Oakland's success this year is all the more surprising considering they have departed from the small-market blueprint perfected by Tampa Bay.

Overthinking It: Finding Life After 30

by Ben Lindbergh 8/24

Five older players on contending teams have defied the aging curve by having unexpected success this year. How have they done it, and can it continue?

Overthinking It: Running, But Running Out of Time, in the NL East

by Ben Lindbergh 8/16

The National League East could come down to baserunning. The Nationals have the edge in the standings, but the Braves' baserunners have kept it close.

Overthinking It: Anthony Gose is Not Ready Right Now

by Ben Lindbergh 8/14

Blue Jays blue-chip prospect Anthony Gose has been bad in the big leagues, but has he been so bad that we should start to doubt his skills?

Overthinking It: The Adam Jones Extension Revisited

by Ben Lindbergh 8/13

When the Orioles extended Adam Jones, he was hitting like a player possessed. Now that he's back to being the old Adam Jones, have the deal's detractors been proven right?

Overthinking It: What Happens When Starters Get Sick

by Ben Lindbergh 8/10

Sometimes starters get sick, and they start a game anyway. After that, things often get ugly. We should celebrate their sacrifice.

Overthinking It: Defending to the Crown

by Ben Lindbergh 8/09

This year's Pirates haven't crumbled like last year's Pirates, and the reasons why start with team defense.

Overthinking It: Measuring the Movement at This Year’s Deadline

by Ben Lindbergh 8/07

Using PECOTA to figure out how much each of this year's moves affected the playoff odds.

Overthinking It: Have Glove, Will Learn to Hit

by Ben Lindbergh 8/02

Not all glovemen are destined to stay hopelessly inept at the plate. Ben looks at defensive stars who have added offense to their games this year.

Overthinking It: Upgrading From Nothing

by Ben Lindbergh 7/26

The easiest way for contending teams to get better is to start with where they've been worst. Here is where they've been worst.

Overthinking It: Did Boston Trade Youkilis Too Soon?

by Ben Lindbergh 7/19

The Red Sox moved quickly to get Kevin Youkilis out of their lineup and out of their clubhouse this summer. With Youkilis hitting well once more, the decision looks like it might have been a mistake.

Overthinking It: PECOTA’s First-Half Hits and Misses

by Ben Lindbergh 7/17

Forty notable projection successes and failures from the first half, in haiku form.

Overthinking It: The Rapid Aging of A-Rod

by Ben Lindbergh 7/13

Alex Rodriguez had an extraordinary prime, but he's aging much more like an average player, and that's not good news for the Yankees.