"No one ever got fired for buying IBM." That one sentence, popular in corporate IT shops from about 1960 to 1990, spoke volumes to the problems American business faced during that period. The importance of information technology was growing rapidly and the understanding of the obstacles to successful use of IT in increasing efficiency was…
This is a column I have avoided writing, in part because I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to and in part because I know some people are tired of hearing about it. But I can no longer stand idly by and watch this player, one of the most overrated, undercriticized players in baseball today, continue to…
As we chronicled in Baseball Prospectus 2000, the current thinking on how to build and run a major-league bullpen may be changing. For 20 years, teams have used their "closer"–a term originally used to designate a team’s best reliever–more and more exclusively in what we call "save situations:" the ninth inning with a lead of…
The Strike Zone Revisited Your response to the mailbag question on umpires included a thought I’ve been having regarding the use of technology in calling games. I was actually getting ready to mention that to several friends when I saw your answer. It seems to me that some pitchers get the "close" calls near the…
One of the criticisms occasionally leveled at the Baseball Prospectus staff is that we are rabid prospect hounds, to the point of being a bit excessive about it. We’ll cheerfully admit to the first part and live with the second, because sometimes the long minor-league watch pays off and provides some wonderful moments for us…
One of the most striking changes to the landscape of major-league baseball has been the disappearance of the left-handed starting pitcher. In the American League, left-handers made fewer than 20% of all starts last year, allowing teams like the A’s to take advantage by stacking their lineup with left-handed hitters. How dramatic is the decline?…
With the Angels and Rangers falling off the pace, there are only two real contenders in the AL West, the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners. As I write this, Seattle has just completed a sweep of the Centrum-sponsored Orioles while Oakland has taken two of three from Royals, which means the A’s are a…
I just finished your article "Russian Roulette" on ESPN.com. After reading your excellent article I began to ponder the starting pitcher/wins ratio this year. It seems every second or third boxscore has a win by a middle reliever or closer. I’ve noticed a few relievers, like Danny Graves, Jeff Nelson and Gabe White, who have…
The baseball world is abuzz with trade rumors that have a pair of thirtysomething Hispanic right fielders with good power and suspect defensive ability changing addresses. Juan Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa could be going to Boston, Toronto, the Bronx, Queens or possibly even staying in their current cities, Detroit and Chicago. Not to be a…
"[Oakland GM Billy] Beane likes to say competing against big-market clubs like the Yankees and Indians and Rangers is ‘like using bows and arrows against smart bombs.’" — Bob Klapisch, ESPN.com, May 12, 2000. "So what’s the problem here? … First off, Cleveland is just the No. 13 media market in the U.S., which makes…
(Ed. note: Chris Kahrl is wending his way from Chicago to Washington, D.C., so Keith Law steps in for him. A new TA by Chris will be available later this week.) BALTIMORE ORIOLES Activated RHP Calvin Maduro from the 15-day disabled list; optioned RHP Gabe Molina to Rochester of the International League (AAA). [6/20] Activating…
Baseball is good any way you can get it. On TV at home, at a local minor-league park with your significant other, watching 18 six-year-olds hit off a tee in a game in which the second baseman is left-handed…it’s a great game in all its forms. But one of the best ways to enjoy the…
Rocky Mountain High Heading into action on May 27, it was shaping up to be another thouroughly mediocre season for the Colorado Rockies. The team sat just over .500 with a record of 23-22, and rivals Arizona and Los Angeles were running away from the pack in the NL West. Despite first baseman Todd Helton‘s…
MOVING TRAINS “I’m taking it to Shea Stadium. I won’t be in a cab. I won’t be on the bus. I’ll be on that train.” — John Rocker, Braves reliever, on his intention to ride the No 7 subway line he derided in his SI comments “We spoke to major league baseball. I spoke to…
The truer category of "Belles", at least by name, are the players who are having good seasons without anyone knowing. This can be because their bad start has clouded perceptions, and is hurt by the fact that these player don’t pop up in statistical leader categories until much later in the season. I’ve chosen to…
Maybe They’ll Take Bernie? The Brewers are hovering around the .400 mark, spending a second season in a lame-duck ballpark and a ninth season far, far from contention of any kind. Even a bad team usually has one or two bright lights that make watching them worthwhile, and the Brewers are no exception. Closer Bob…