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In case you missed it, Ryan and I have begun contributing over at Beyond the Box Score as of three weeks ago. During our short stint there to date, we’ve published some really good stuff and I encourage you to head over there and check out our work and the writing of our saber-savvy colleagues. I’m bringing this up because …
Continue Reading →*Previous entries: Steamer Projections Primer | 2014 Rotation | 2014 Outfield | 2014 Bullpen
While the 2013 Diamondbacks outfield had some great defensive performances, the infield led the way offensively. #MVPaul did most of that damage as he became one of baseballs true young stars. Aaron Hill was very good when healthy and Martin Prado, despite some down months, …
Continue Reading →What’s better for a baseball team: a very good pitcher who misses time to injury, or a very good pitcher who struggles for long stretches of time? — Voice in my head
In fantasy baseball, the choice between an effective-but-fragile player and one who is very streaky is often an easy one. A hurt player is a player you know …
Continue Reading →Nearly two weeks ago, the Diamondbacks signed Brad Ziegler to a two-year deal worth $10.5M in guaranteed payments, avoiding arbitration for the team’s last year of control. The yearly salaries — $4.5M in 2014, $5M in 2015, and even $5.5M for the 2016 option year — are extremely reasonable rates for the club. Make no mistake: Ziegler is a very …
Continue Reading →*Previous entries: Steamer Projections Primer | 2014 Rotation | 2014 Outfield
Writing about the Arizona bullpen is like having to talk to your neighbors. No, not the friendly neighbors who invited you over drinks last night, I’m talking about the neighbors who smile when you see them but throw their dog poop over the fence and into your lawn. …
Continue Reading →*Previous entries: Steamer Projection Primer | 2014 Rotation
The Diamondbacks’ outfield was solid but unspectacular at the plate in 2013. There were no black holes, at least once Jason Kubel stopped receiving playing time, as everyone posted a wOBA right around .320. Unfortunately, there were no standouts with the bat and unit lacked offensive punch last season. Defense, though, …
Continue Reading →The on-again, off-again news of the posting of Masahiro Tanaka has thrown the offseason market for “front line” starters into disarray. Not only have we not seen any of the offseason’s top three (or four) starters sign, but to my knowledge, we also have not heard any credible information from front offices regarding offers or likely offers. All we have …
Continue Reading →*If you’re unfamiliar with these projections, please read the Primer on Steamer Projections
The Arizona rotation did not grade out particularly well in 2013. Although Patrick Corbin had an unexpected breakout, several rotation members disappointed. Ian Kennedy pitched himself right out of a Diamondbacks uniform, Brandon McCarthy never got it together and Trevor Cahill was wildly inconsistent. Wade Miley …
Continue Reading →Over the next couple of weeks, Inside the ‘Zona will be previewing the upcoming season through Steamer projections. Each post will feature a different Diamondbacks unit (ie. bullpen, outfield, etc.) and a player-by-player breakdown within those units. Provided will be each player’s Steamer projection for 2013, his actual performance for 2013, the player’s Steamer projection for 2014 and a capsule …
Continue Reading →When the new posting process for Japanese players became official, I explained why I think Tanaka is “cheaper” for some teams nearer to the luxury tax threshold than the D-backs, and why I thought Arizona’s chances for landing him are low. Now that Tanaka has been posted, I thought I might discuss a few other dynamics in place that …
Continue Reading →It’s Friday and where I come from, Friday is supposed to be fun. So I think we should kick the weekend off early and have a little fun by playing a familiar game. It’s called “Guess That Power Hitter!” If you haven’t played before, the rules are simple. Read the career stat line of each player and guess who it …
Continue Reading →Very little has changed we broke down the likely 2014 bullpen. There’s still just one spot open for a lefty to join Joe Thatcher, with five righties (J.J. Putz, Josh Collmenter, Brad Ziegler, David Hernandez and Will Harris) locked into spots if they’re healthy. Still, the few changes that have been made point in a very promising — and …
Continue Reading →*Note: this is a continuation of yesterday’s post. You can take it for what it is, but I’d recommend reading the first half to get the full effect.
Yesterday we examined the two power-hitting outfielders that we know the Diamondbacks have been in on. Both Mark Trumbo and Yoenis Cespedes fit the bill as a “power bat” in …
Continue Reading →*Note: this post will be broken up into two parts. Today we’ll examine the power hitters available to the Diamondbacks in depth and check back later this week to see why the “need” to acquire one of the players below is overstated.
Here we are again, discussing Kevin Towers’ rumblings and what it means for the Diamondbacks. Last week …
Continue Reading →Ordinarily, a trade like the one the Rays, Reds and D-backs pulled off yesterday would inspire a lot of media coverage and analysis — it was so unusual, even if no big-time players were involved. Yesterday was something of a baseball transactions apocalypse, however, and so relatively few people have written about it. Of those that have written, many …
Continue Reading →*Note: this post was written prior to the twitter-shattering trade between Texas and Detroit last night. Keep in mind that the Tigers now most definitely have the resources to retain Max Scherzer for the foreseeable future if they want. Whether or not they want to, however, is still unclear.
As you’ve probably noticed in our Offseason Plan, Ryan and …
Continue Reading →@ryanpmorrison
Congrats to @OutfieldGrass24 on a beautiful life, wedding and wife. He deserves all of it (they both do). And I cou… https://t.co/JzJtQ7TgdJ, - Best part of Peralta’s 108 mph fliner over the fence, IMHO: that he got that much leverage despite scooping it out… https://t.co/ivBrl76adF,
RT @OutfieldGrass24: If you're bored of watching Patrick Corbin get dudes out, you can check out my latest for @TheAthleticAZ. https://t.co/k1DymgY7zO, - Of course, they may have overtaken the league lead for outs on the bases just now, also...
But in 2017, Arizona ha… https://t.co/38MBrr2D4b,
- Prior to the games today, there had only been 5 steals of 3rd this season (and no CS) in the National League. The… https://t.co/gVVL84vPQ5,
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- Old friend alert https://t.co/AMp9iNKENL,
RT @DefectorMedia: MLB owners have a lot of power to influence the public’s perception of the CBA proceedings, and they’re willing to… https://t.co/SMs2XAFAtF, - Old friend alert https://t.co/DeFNp8fCM8,
- TFW your 114-year old pipes leak under your house right before you try and move 🤦🏻♂️,
- Starting 2022 with a frigid dog walk sounds just lovely https://t.co/xoLZSZBpGp,
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