Ron Antinoja founded and runs a service called Tendu. The firm–so named for teams’ desire to understand player and coaching tendencies to do certain things in certain situations–expects to track the velocity, location and result of about 90% of all major league pitches this season. Tendu tracks those pitches and their outcomes and stores that information in an Internet database that allows users to discover pitcher and hitter tendencies in any given situation. Jonah Keri recently chatted with Antinoja about teams’ neverending quest to get the upper hand on the opponent.
A year and a day after Darryl Kile’s death, Will Carroll wonders if MLB has learned any lessons from the tragedy.
Billy Koch said that his current “dead arm” period is forcing him to learn to pitch. I guess if I had high-90s heat, I might be inclined to just try and throw it by everyone, but somewhere–perhaps after Tommy John surgery or when he was with Rick Peterson–shouldn’t he have learned just a little bit about pitching? Changing speeds and hitting spots is a good thing, even with that heater in your arsenal. Most pitchers would love to have a live arm that was in the 92 range, let alone a dead one at those velocities.
The Expos have been very encouraged by reports surrounding the rehab of Vlad Guerrero. It’s pretty clear at this point that Guerrero will avoid surgery in the near term, but as he transitions from physical therapy to baseball activities over the next week, his ability to remain healthy will come into question.
Jeff Kent had a cortisone injection in his left wrist to try and control some “raging tendinitis.” This problem is nothing along the lines of those experienced by Nick Johnson or Travis Hafner, but wrist problems do have a tendency to heal slowly and fitfully. This injury could rob Kent of some power, at least in the short term, and the DL is not out of the question.
Adam Everett has been Gold Glove-worthy so far this year. The Brewers’ 2002 draft is bearing fruit. The A’s may pay for their ill-advised spending on the likes of Jermaine Dye. Plus more news and notes, Prospectus Triple Play-style, out of Houston, Milwaukee, and Oakland.
Baseball Prospectus mourns the loss of pioneering sportswriter Leonard Koppett.
Kansas City Royals owner David Glass discusses taking on salary and the pennant race. Sammy Sosa’s still talking Corkgate, but Danny Graves isn’t. Rick Peterson offers some insight on developing and managing pitchers. All this and more in this edition of The Week In Quotes.