Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Call Strikes you get home faster!! My answer to the pace of play problem in MLB

Sweet!! Gonna try some of these. Mine is most like the Saturday Night Fever with a right-cross chaser. Sends 'em back to the dugout with a smiley face :(  (Maybe not) 


I was looking at this site for another statistical purpose ( max batted ball speed for batters ) when I came across this data. 


from baseballsavant.com


Standard umpiring wisdom says "You can strike a ball....." which is what this chart clearly shows happening at about the 15% level in MLB.  


....."but you should never ball a strike" which is apparently happening here at an alarmingly high 10% approximate rate. This can be attributed to the "Ted Williams effect" we had discussed in previous blog post. Umpires defer to stars as far as ball / strikes go. 


I agree Vince!!! I was shocked and appalled when I saw the data as well!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V0TYIO6yv4


If you really, really want to speed up the pace of play, there is about a 10% pick up right there. That shaves 21 minutes off your standard 3;30 game and brings it to a more reasonable 3:09 marathon. Back to the average. Now, the average 3:09 game loses about 19 minutes, becoming a 2:50 gig.

I'm OK with this "Width of Strike Zone" outcome, in fact the actual could even be a bit wider. And if it makes the panty-waisted stat geeks shudder, who gives a Flying Walenda? Put on a Nutty Buddy, get behind the dish for three hours of dealing with David Ortiz and Mike Napoli's and see how wide your strike zone gets, 


This wisdom is taught at all umpire clinics at all levels, except perhaps at the MLB level, where they have unions and shit they have to go through, but it's so simple and elegant and gets to the heart of the pace of game issue:
CALL STRIKES, YOU GET HOME FASTER!!! 

PACE OF GAME PROBLEM SOLVED!! YOUR WELCOME!!

Also, you can eject that melon-head Ortiz from more games, which would suit me just fine.



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Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
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2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
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  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
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2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
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