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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,560 comments Add your comment
N8
August 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
shaun you want to say in one post that the Braves are better at turning batted balls into outs than the Rockies, but a couple posts earlier you’re talking about park adjustments or park factors?
Ever think that the Rockies batted balls into outs ranking has to do with the fact that they play in the Grand Canyon of baseball parks?
Did you watch the Rockies play defense in that series last week? Have you watched the Rockies play defense all year long? Have you watched the Braves play defense all year long?
Sorry dude. Just another case of me using my eyes and common sense rather than what the numbers say.
Bobbeeee's Cox
August 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
Hey Shaun, tonight’s game starts at 7:10 pm EST. I invite you to WATCH the game tonight, and not the stat sheet…
Lew
August 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
Is there medication for a Fluctuating BABIP?
Glen W
August 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
WAR is not the be all end all.
But I do find it admirable (maybe too strong a word) to see people try to map individual ofensive performance mathmatically to the team’s bottom line of wins and losses. A very worthwhile endeavor.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
Payne: See, the majority of Cy Young winners in the NL over the last 20 years have had BABiPs lower than .290…. “But a BABiP much lower than .290 is not sustainable.”
Keep telling yourself that.
Second, Hudson’s BABiP isn’t the lowest on that chart. Maddux beat him a couple of times and that’s assuming it doesn’t change from here on out.
Wayne in Utah
August 31st, 2010
5:18 pm
We need to have a segmented blog: A Haters Segment, A Stats Segment, and An All Others Segment.
Sign me up for the “All Others Segment!”
P-Town Brave ©
August 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
Also, Hinske may deserve a go in LF tomorrow against Pelfrey…he is 4 for 8 against him, while both Diaz and Ankiel have the same amount of hits in 15 AB’s…
I would almost wanna get both Nate and Freddie some AB’s…
So why not go with Freddie in the 6-hole, Alex 7th, and Nate 8th tomorrow?
Keeping the top portion the same
TRADE
August 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
OT – With Masoli out at Ole Miss and Ingram out for Bama, pretty clear road for Auburn to win the SEC West IMO
UKUGA
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
I can’t believe DOB didn’t tell Terry Pendleton and Brian McCann about Huddy’s lucky BABiP.
Alabama Brave
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
“We need to have a segmented blog: A Haters Segment, A Stats Segment, and An All Others Segment.
Sign me up for the “All Others Segment!””
For the record, I am against segregation.
Lew
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Wayne-You’re just upset that they never came up with a stat that took “running into a wall for the team” into consideration.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Shaun wrote:
Name one pitcher who has sustained a BABiP under .250 (post Dead Ball) for more than 1-2 seasons, then maybe I can believe that inducing batted ball outs is as much a skill as some of you think.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It’s called pitching to contact dumbass.
TennesseePaul
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Payne (8/31/2010 5:16): Name one pitcher who has sustained a BABiP under .250 (post Dead Ball) for more than 1-2 seasons
Seriously!!?? That’s what you are resorting to? This whole discussion was based on Cy Young Merits. Why bring up 2+ years of work? Are you now saying that award should be given on the basis of performance over multiple years? I thought it was a single year? Argue all you want about the ability of a player to sustain any level of performance day in day out for more than 2 years…. The awards are for single seasons. SINGLE SEASONS Payne.
MiaBchBravesFan
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
When the inevitable blowout (one way or the other) or ineffective start happens, I like the idea of a bullpen with Martinez, Kimbrell, Proctor, Marek, Kawakami, Farnsworth, and Dunn. The use of O’Flaherty, Saito, Moylan, and Venters must be restricted to winable games.
Steve McP
August 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
I am really looking forward to the reaction of one or two bloggers when McLouth or Glaus come to the plate.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
You remember in the movie Matrix, there is this scene where Neo suddenly creeps up on Cypher who is sitting watching the code on his screens and he proceeds to tell him that once you get used to it he can just look at the code and see “blonde.. Brunette and redhead”.In my mind I see Shaun’s evening of baseball consisting of a live-updated advanced stat sheet, similar to that.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Tn Paul
Payne – Why?
Lew
August 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Steve McP-You mean you haven’t already figured out what the reaction will be?
Chop Chop
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
I did a post a few weeks ago comparing Hudson’s 2010 with a number of Hall of Fame-caliber pitchers over the last 25 years, including Pedro, Clemens, Maddux, Johnson, Glavine, and Smoltz.
Here’s a link to it:
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2010/08/14/braves-need-to-make-the-most-of-august-schedule/comment-page-3/#comment-748534
Suffice it to say that what Huddy’s doing this year is magical. The hows or whys matter more when you’re projecting what Hudson will do going forward. The reality of this particular season is that he’s putting everything (luck, skill, mechanics, and determination) together.
monty
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
Greg Maddux probably had more groundball outs him back at him than any other pitcher I can think of. Not a coincidence. And not luck.
Bobbeeee's Cox
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
McCann’s bunt yesterday…total luck.
Every time Infante or Prado exploit a hole in the infield due to the double play shift: absolutely lucky.
According to Shaun that is, because players just swing and hope the ball finds a hole. Maybe Jeff Francouer does that and that’s why he’s one of the worst hitters in baseball, but some players know how to handle the bat. You have to watch the games to find those players. Good thing GM’s and managers watch games.
richbrave
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
hEY nova scotia steve:
Just blew through your beatiful city on the way to the Atlantic south shore of NOVA SCOTIA. Tasted a sample of rush hour in 98 degree heat. SWEET!!!! Here in some resort – spa which everyone except AAA feels is a mistake. Anyway its called OAK ISLAND RESORT and SPA. Anything around we should eye-ball tomorrow?
Oh and GO BRAVOS. Play ‘um one game at a time. MANHATTEN-time. Later. You know I got a PEACHTREE feed in CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. Can you believe it? Got to see the BRAVOS for once.
P-Town Brave ©
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
Just read that the Rangers are close to a deal with the Mets for Francoeur…
INTE-RESTING
GT Fan
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
TennesseePaul, that’s gotta be mis-typed. Peavy had a 777 BABiP in 2007?
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
Just read that the Rangers are close to a deal with the Mets for Francoeur…
Please- let him be traded after this series. At least let him be in the lineup today – Minor should have the luxury of a couple of easy outs. Please.
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
August 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
Does anyone keep the DOB blog commenters WAR?
njbraves
August 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
Shaun is a perfect example of a modern day stat guy.” If the stats say so, it must be true” I like all the new ways to look at a players performance, but it gets out of hand. Watch Huddy pitch, he has been brilliant all year long.
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
August 31st, 2010
5:32 pm
SB_
Didn’t Jeffey have a couple of hits last night?
P-Town Brave ©
August 31st, 2010
5:32 pm
Snot-
He would have to be traded by midnight tonight or he isn’t eligible for postseason with the Rangers…
That rule has not changed.
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2010
5:32 pm
Bat:
Dont worry – yours will be quite high.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
August 31st, 2010
5:33 pm
Greg Maddux quote:
My idea of a perfect game is twenty-seven pitches.
Read between the lines people.
Shaun
August 31st, 2010
5:34 pm
Bobbeeee’s Cox, Maddux’s career BABiP was in the .280’s. Even the shining example of a pitcher manipulating weak contact wasn’t anywhere near a BABiP in the .240’s. Doesn’t that tell everyone something?
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2010
5:34 pm
Didn’t Jeffey have a couple of hits last night?
Pure luck. And so now he shall regress to the mean.I am digging for a 4 letter stat to prove it.Just wait.
Glen W
August 31st, 2010
5:34 pm
I don’t think there is anything wrong with Shaun or anyone else enjoying stats. I think there useful. And if he enjoys them… then great for him.
I just don’t understand how some explanations for stats take root. If it has to be explained to that degree, the stat needs to be matured further, its lacking, its incomplete.
There is no statistical evidence to support that lower BABIP is the result of luck. None.
P-Town Brave ©
August 31st, 2010
5:34 pm
Like I have said previously, I’m not too big on those computer/fantasy guy stats…
Then again, I actually did and am still playing…I’m not the team manager type
Snotboogie
August 31st, 2010
5:35 pm
My idea of a perfect game is twenty-seven pitches.
Read between the lines people.
That just means he wants to get 9 Ks and go hit the showers after 3 innings. Right?
Shaun
August 31st, 2010
5:35 pm
Coach (2011 or Bust), so if pitching to contact means getting batted ball outs so often that a pitchers BABiP is lower than .250 over the course of more than a season or two, I’m sure there are many example, right?
Nova Scotia Steve -
August 31st, 2010
5:35 pm
Steve McP – I am really looking forward to the reaction of one or two bloggers when McLouth or Glaus come to the plate.
I’m excited for the return on Glaus.
Chop Chop
August 31st, 2010
5:35 pm
By the way, 2000 Pedro posts a .237 BABiP on Baseball Reference. FanGraphs has him down for a .253 BABiP. Does anybody know why?
FanGraphs has Hudson at .244, while Baseball Reference has him at .248.
There must be some kind of conspiracy. Somebody is messing with our minds. It’s like the stats have taken on lives of their own. They must be stopped.
Nova Scotia Steve -
August 31st, 2010
5:36 pm
Steve McP – I am really looking forward to the reaction of one or two bloggers when McLouth or Glaus come to the plate.
I’m excited for the return *OF Glaus.
LPad
August 31st, 2010
5:36 pm
Shaun, Maddux isn’t a god. Every year there are pitchers with low BABiP. There are four with BABiP lower than Hudson this year, only two are Cy candidates doesn’t that tell you something?
Shaun
August 31st, 2010
5:37 pm
Glen W, if a pitcher keeping his BABiP well under the .290-.300 range is a skill, why aren’t there pitchers who have done it over the course of more than 1-2 seasons? There are pitchers who consistently strike out a lot of batters. There are pitchers who consistently avoid walks and homers. Why aren’t there pitchers who consistently keep their BABiP well under .290-.300?
LPad
August 31st, 2010
5:37 pm
If people can have lower ERAs, a higher K/9 then why can’t they have a lower BABiP than Maddux?
Bobbeeee's Cox
August 31st, 2010
5:38 pm
Shaun: No.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
August 31st, 2010
5:41 pm
Right Snotboogie, and not twenty-seven ground ball outs over the course of nine innings.
Here is just a bit of insight into the brilliance that was Mad Dog on the mound. Maddux had the ability to deliberately induce a batter to hit the ball on the ground exactly where Greg wanted it. That is why Maddux was called the professor. He saw the game in three dimensions, and intimately understood the “game within the game”.
LPad
August 31st, 2010
5:41 pm
Glen W. Exactly, why has luck become an excepted explanation to this stat? I have never seen any stat explained by luck. Stats are always used to prove a guy isn’t lucky.
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
August 31st, 2010
5:42 pm
Dont worry – yours will be quite high. _SB
I did not expect to be a qualifier, thanks. ( high is good, right?)
Glen W
August 31st, 2010
5:43 pm
Glen W, if a pitcher keeping his BABiP well under the .290-.300 range is a skill, why aren’t there pitchers who have done it over the course of more than 1-2 seasons?
Shaun, you are not listening to me. I have said that I agree it is unlikely to be sustained. But why does it have to be explained by luck?
Why can’t the explanation be that Hudson is pitching amazingly this year, hitting his spots, keeping the ball down, getting good late movement, etc?
I don’t think he’ll have an ERA uner 3.00 next year. But why does that have to mean that he is lucky this year?
Gary O
August 31st, 2010
5:46 pm
As for adding Freddie Freeman, he has earned it but this is as much a public relations move as anything. The kid won’t play much if at all. .
If I’m not mistaken, Gwinnett’s season ends on September 7. So if the Braves dont have Freeman on the bench, he will be at home watching TV on his couch.
Being called up allows him to take BP with the big boys, get a better feel for the travel etc, so I think it has nothing to do with public relations.
glove51
August 31st, 2010
5:46 pm
Great post Chop Chop. It is very improbable that Hudson can sustain what he has done this season. I have said that since early on.
On the oteh rhand, we don’t know for certain that Hudson hasn’t discovered a new way of gettting batters to ground out consitently to less dangerous (to Hudson) spots on the field or that he isn;t just in some sort of hertofore unseen “zone” that won’t last forever, but that he can sustain for 1-2+ seasons.
We can assume it is unlikely, but we do not know it for certain. Therefore, I think it unwise and un”fair” to penalize Hudson for his seeming good fortune. Many past winners of awards have experienced phenomenal staistical achievements due to seemingly improbable anomalies in their stat lines, a lot of which occurred before the advent of stats such as BABIP and other more advanced statistical measures. How does one say with absolute certainty that freakish performance, even over a full season, is largely the result of luck?
BTW, those of you pulling Maddux into the discussion as an obvious example of soemone who “got a lot of groundballs and therefore proves Hudson hasn’t been lucky”, don;t know what you’re talking about. maddux’s career BABIP is nowhere close to Hudson this year. I posted this awhile back. Maddux had like one season (without going back to look it up again, but the stats are readily available if you want to know) even approaching what Hudson has done to date. Also, Maddux at his peak was MUCH more of a strike-out pitcher than Hudson.
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
5:49 pm
Do you think a single Braves pitcher knows his BaBip?
Or any player knows his WAR?
Do you think Bobby Cox knows?
Do you think Frank Wren knows?
Do any of them care?
By guess, the answer is no, no, no, no and no
GT Fan
August 31st, 2010
5:50 pm
Actually, another baseball nerd’s indictment of Tim Hudson’s abnormally low BABiP actually helps contradict that contention that it is the source of Hudson’s success this year. The article (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/421658-the-impending-tim-hudson-implosion-an-example-of-luck-in-baseball), written on July 17, says that Huddy’s BABiP then was 232, 16 points lower than what it is now. Yet, over that same period of time, he’s put up a 2.13 ERA.
Over that same period of time, his strikeouts have increased, but he’s still behind his career pace for strikeouts per IP. Actually, his very low BABiP could be an indication that players were putting more pitches that he normally would’ve gotten SOs with in play, but they were getting such weak contact that very few of them were getting through.
brian
August 31st, 2010
5:51 pm
just had to youtube my favorite commercial again: Chicks Dig the Long Ball. Classic
Glen W
August 31st, 2010
5:52 pm
Gil – I do think front office folk are looking at stats like WAR. I do think they are increasingly using these advanced stats to help make financial decisions.
For example, should I sign Jermaine Dye for $2M if I have a rookie that will give me 90% of his performance for $400k?
Things like that.
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
5:52 pm
only a GT fan could have made that last post
and i say that with all due respect to the fact that you are much smarter than the average bear
Chop Chop
August 31st, 2010
5:52 pm
Let’s just hope Huddy doesn’t have a .400+ BABiP in the postseason.
FEAR
August 31st, 2010
5:53 pm
WAR is a great band but a useless stat
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
5:55 pm
War may be an advanced stat — thought i dispute that — but it is an unproven stat.
It much more theory than stat.
And it changes depending on what formula you use.
so i would guess that no, they don’t pay too much attention to it, any more than they do BaBip and Izar and every other manufactired “stat” that exist just to sell a book or a theory
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
5:56 pm
Glen –
I don’t think they need WAR to make that determination.
these people were making those judgements long before WAR came aloing
mike jay
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
Shaun,
This will be a slow response because this blog has exploded but….
Unless you can provide a formula to quantify the amount of luck a pitcher has recieved then it is not fair to judge the worthiness of a cy young award from it. Now every great success in sports has a littel bit of luck involved with it but since is unqualafiable you just can’t us it. Especially in a game that comes to inches and when tryign to hit a round bat wit ha round ball.
Anyhow I knew nothing about this BSASIASBS stat before reading so Iam certainly enlightened in that regards but Hudsun has been too consistenly good at what he has done to belittle his accomplishments with ‘luck’. Just my 2 cents.
Chop Chop
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
When is somebody going to come up with the GWAR stat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHHoJTrdrjE
They deserve a stat.
Coach (2011 or Bust)
August 31st, 2010
6:00 pm
War is a certain state of organized violent conflict that is engaged in between two or more separate social entities.
Mickie, Minnie, Goofy and BABiP. There ya go!
@ Kim Fang as Chin Ho
August 31st, 2010
6:00 pm
Hawaii 5 O…..I figured out your screen name….
DogsBrekky
August 31st, 2010
6:01 pm
Johhny “rock n roll” Venters, lowest BAA woo hoo
Toots
August 31st, 2010
6:01 pm
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
5:49 pm
Do you think a single Braves pitcher knows his BaBip?
Or any player knows his WAR?
Do you think Bobby Cox knows?
Do you think Frank Wren knows?
Do any of them care?
By guess, the answer is no, no, no, no and no
182 comments about WAR BABiP Luck
And by the way….I bet 90% on this blog don’t care…. WAR BABiP…Luck….XBABiP yikes
FEAR
August 31st, 2010
6:02 pm
Chop Chop – YES!
Scumdogs!
Toots
August 31st, 2010
6:03 pm
Mike J….. Now we have BSASIASBS Holy Shipro
DogsBrekky
August 31st, 2010
6:03 pm
The leading WHIP in mlb in 2010 by SP is Latos with around 0.99
In 4 years of his Cy Young dominance Maddux’s WHIP was under 1… for 4 straight years..
put that 1 in your books stats heads
GT Fan
August 31st, 2010
6:04 pm
Oh, and Maddux’s SO/9 during his prime was about 7, and Huddy’s career SO/9 is 6.1. I wasn’t going to crunch the numbers to get exactly Maddux’s SO rate during his prime, but his career avg was exactly 6.1. Not sure how much of a difference that 1 SO/9 innings makes statistically. Assuming about 200 IP in a season, that’s about an extra 22 SOs a year.
Glen W
August 31st, 2010
6:04 pm
I don’t think they need WAR to make that determination.
these people were making those judgements long before WAR came along.
I disagree. The market for LH/DH types has really changed over the last 5 years or so. And I think part of that is because organziations have changed the way that they value players. I didn’t mean to place too much credit on the WAR stat specifically, but I do think part of it is credited to advanced statistical analysis in the industry.
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
6:05 pm
Toots, if you are agreeing with me, yes, that is exactly my point.
They are manufactured stats made up to entertain numbers-crazy baseball fans (myself included)
But I don’t think people in the game pay them any attention.
I would be interested in hearing from DOB –
Have you ever heard a player, coach, manager or GM mention WAR or BaBIP or IZAR or any such stat>
Toots
August 31st, 2010
6:06 pm
Man.. I don’t know nothing about baseball.. I just like to watch the game.. What’s with the WAR>> BABiP Go Braves…. Isn’t that the idea
David O'Brien
August 31st, 2010
6:06 pm
6 Braves prospects will be on ArizonaFall League’s Phoenix Desert Dogs team: 1B Freddie Freeman, OF Cory Harrichak, RHPs Michael Broadway, Brandon Beachy, Erik Cordier, Kyle Cofield.
The team will be managed by Don Mattingly and includes players from five organizations: Braves, Yankees, A’s, Dodgers, Marlins.
The Desert Dogs have won the AFL title for five straight years.
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
August 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
BSASIASBS ?
What ………. bull sht a stat is a stat bull sht
Toots
August 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
The only stat I need is for my heart to still beat? Doc tells me that I’m good to go….
Braint
August 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
WAR — umph — good God — what is it good for? Absolutely nothing — say it again.
Boricua
August 31st, 2010
6:07 pm
If anyone know it this called up Player stay it in Atlanta today or they travel with Gwinnett today?
VOR
August 31st, 2010
6:08 pm
“WAR does not determine who is right, only who is left.” ~Bertrand Russell
What about center?
Chop Chop
August 31st, 2010
6:10 pm
Shaun would simmer down if Huddy’s FIP/xFIP wasn’t 3.74/3.86 this season.
“This does not compute” are the words that echo in Shaun’s brain.
He’s right. It doesn’t compute. Some amount of luck has to be involved in that.
It’s happening, though. Therefore, if you’re just a Braves fan like me who’s sitting back and enjoying the ride (and feeling like he stole something after many of these wins), why don’t we just let the baseball gods get back at us after a World Series title in 2010?
glove51
August 31st, 2010
6:10 pm
Gil Garrido: I am sure you insisted the cassette tape would never supplant the 8-track.
Your argument about what stats players pay attention to represents the worst kind of ignorance. Which do you think the vast majority of players pay more attention to: OBP or batting average?
Glen W
August 31st, 2010
6:11 pm
If you read into Theo’s comments, you can basically see that they were using a statistical analysis along the lines of WAR to decide whether to cut jason Bay loose or not.
http://www.i-yankees.com/?p=17997
AdirondackDave
August 31st, 2010
6:12 pm
DOB — You mentioned the Phillies “injuries and other issues…” Man, I’d like to hear more about those other issues.
Toots
August 31st, 2010
6:12 pm
OMG …… my 8 track is out dated.. I hate that.
GT Fan
August 31st, 2010
6:12 pm
Oh, Maddux’s BABiPs from ‘92-’95, when he was winning Cy Young awards:
1992- .258
1993- .277
1994- .258
1995- .249
So, he benefited from some well below avg BABiPs in winning his Cy Youngs. His ‘95 number almost matches Huddy’s for this season exactly.
FEAR
August 31st, 2010
6:13 pm
AdirondackDave – how bout the bullpen?
Toots
August 31st, 2010
6:13 pm
Well…. At least I still have my leisure suit
Bravefaninok
August 31st, 2010
6:13 pm
OMG …… my 8 track is out dated.. I hate that.
Cassette tapes …….you have to keep up with technology!
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
6:14 pm
Ask 100 major league players their batting average or their OBP
I would bet the house the vast majority know their average, not their OBP
Steve McP
August 31st, 2010
6:14 pm
The 8-Track was better than the cassette tape.
Betamax was also better than VHS.
Just because a product does not pay off does not necessarily mean that it is a lesser item than it’s rival.
Daybed Wagmoe
August 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
Regarding hudson and strikeouts — I think that when Brandon Webb won the cy young a few years ago, he didn’t have an overwhelming amount of Ks. Something like 178 in 235 innings. How many does Hudson have at this point? Isn’t it something like 110?
Steve McP
August 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
Have we had a line up for tonight yet?
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
August 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
My 8 track tape player is good to go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTKn0PqJM44
Gil Garrido
August 31st, 2010
6:16 pm
And, the worst kind of ignorance?
I’ll give you, i may be ignorant about a lot of things.
But itt’s hardly the worst kind …
Steve from OH
August 31st, 2010
6:17 pm
Why should Hudson’s BABIP even matter in the Cy debate? Has nothing to do with what’s already transpired on the field. The only use I have for BABIP is telling me if a certain pitcher is likely to perform at a similar level next year (or, if it’s April, for the rest of the year).
Don’t forget that he’s had Yunel and A Gon playing behind him, though. Having 2 of the best defensive SS in the league behind him every day may artificially decrease his BABIP a little. Prado is +5 at 2B and +2 at 3B this year. Chipper was (surprisingly, given the tone of the blog) +8 this year at 3B, so Huddy’s had some pretty solid D played behind him. That’ll sure help the BABIP.
Huddy’s career BABIP is .286. That’s what he’s likely to revert toward next year, like it or not. Is that the difference between Cy-caliber Huddy and Derek Lowe Huddy? Nope. Not even close. So don’t worry about it.
But like others have said, you can’t sustain that. You can call it “pitching to contact” or “hitting the weak part of the bat” or whatever, but I simply point to Hudson, Maddux, and Glav’s career BABIP numbers. They pitched to contact. And their numbers are the same as everyone else’s. Funny how that turned out just like the statheads thought it should’ve, huh?
jeffrey d
August 31st, 2010
6:17 pm
Wow, I didn’t realize Wainwright had hit a rough patch like that. In my (probably biased) opinion, if the Cy Young was decided today, I think Hudson should win it. I wasn’t saying that a week ago, but Hudson’s leading in ERA and has a half the losses of Halladay
mike jay
August 31st, 2010
6:17 pm
Coach 2011,
I remeber a story Smotlz told where Maddox was sitting next To smoltz in the dugout and he told him to watch out. Smoltz looked at him funny and the next pitch was hit and flew into the braves dugout about 2 feet from Smoltz. The ‘Professor’ could not only dictate where his pitches would get hit but he understood the game so well he could figure that out with everyone.
Bartholomew (Bat) Masterson
August 31st, 2010
6:18 pm
I’m saving up for the new technology now though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su6_0v5TEAY
LPad
August 31st, 2010
6:19 pm
testing
Steve from OH
August 31st, 2010
6:19 pm
Harrilchak is an interesting pick for the AFL. Didn’t see that one coming. Freeman will tear that league up, and will benefit from the extra AB.
Glad Cordier got the call. Hopefully he can use the AFL to break out. He can still throw really hard.
glove51
August 31st, 2010
6:20 pm
Dogsbrekky: apparently you think you proved something with your quote about Maddux and WHIP. In fact, you proved the opposite.
Thanks for playing.