tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post5296163961404141561..comments2023-11-02T08:28:08.286-05:00Comments on Rany on the Royals: The Future of Disco.Ranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713226276377020284noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-71630496690485859772009-03-04T10:45:00.000-06:002009-03-04T10:45:00.000-06:00My knuckleballers can't throw hard and need to dev...My knuckleballers can't throw hard and need to develop a "trick" pitch to hang around the league. You can be a soft tossing lefty and still have a good career like a Jamie Moyer. There is no need for a lefthander to develop a knuckleball, even though I can see how it would be beneficial.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-52711804098056169022009-02-19T17:14:00.000-06:002009-02-19T17:14:00.000-06:00Speaking of knuckleballers, one of the longest sta...Speaking of knuckleballers, one of the longest standing questions I've ever had without an answer is: Why are there no left-handed knuckleballers? Surely the oddity of it would be enough to be successful if the guy could just throw strikes. If someone has a theory or interesting reading on this topic, let me know by email... at hagertyp@slu.eduAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-10822368552902872232009-02-16T16:45:00.000-06:002009-02-16T16:45:00.000-06:00You have me convinced about Chris Hayes. Bring hi...You have me convinced about Chris Hayes. Bring him up, he has to be better than Peralta.Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05874669125663966919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-79643827842518458222009-02-15T19:36:00.000-06:002009-02-15T19:36:00.000-06:00Here's an awesome idea for the bullpen: Oil Can!h...Here's an awesome idea for the bullpen: Oil Can!<BR/><BR/>http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/02/cafardos-late-2.html<BR/><BR/>Now that's my choice for Rany's next interview...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-67566159433461722702009-02-15T12:17:00.002-06:002009-02-15T12:17:00.002-06:00My brother was really great friends with Brad Zieg...My brother was really great friends with Brad Ziegler and a big fan of yours. He would have been very excited to read your column.Beetlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17547948638598920574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-34465301794639812642009-02-15T12:17:00.001-06:002009-02-15T12:17:00.001-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Beetlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17547948638598920574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-67897283346007839482009-02-15T12:17:00.000-06:002009-02-15T12:17:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Beetlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17547948638598920574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-14595873537751690632009-02-15T03:57:00.000-06:002009-02-15T03:57:00.000-06:00In unrelated news:"Royals' minor-league outfielder...In unrelated news:<BR/><BR/>"Royals' minor-league outfielder Jarrod Dyson was suspended for 50 games Saturday after testing positive for an amphetamine."<BR/><BR/>"Investigators first became suspicious of Dyson's amphetamine use last season, when he stole 39 bases in just 12 attempts."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-43039010785034298142009-02-14T22:13:00.000-06:002009-02-14T22:13:00.000-06:00I wanted to mention Randy Jones some more (I see s...I wanted to mention Randy Jones some more (I see someone else had him in mind). I remember an article in SI about him, and they were interviewing his catcher. He said how Pete Rose (maybe someone else but I'm pretty sure it was Rose) would be at the plate, cursing Jones to throw the ball.<BR/><BR/>Not just Quiz -- I also remember Ted Abernathy when the Royals first got started, and he was Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-32215175444923693042009-02-14T20:11:00.000-06:002009-02-14T20:11:00.000-06:00Buster Olney says Dayton is trying to sign O-Dawg....Buster Olney says Dayton is trying to sign O-Dawg. Hell yeah, Dayton, get it done!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-39833627223513510472009-02-14T19:41:00.000-06:002009-02-14T19:41:00.000-06:00correction...AL rank with #QS in parentheses. toug...correction...<BR/><BR/>AL rank with #QS in parentheses. tough to proofread in this little blog box. sorry<BR/><BR/>wzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-60889759531559869272009-02-14T19:40:00.000-06:002009-02-14T19:40:00.000-06:00chris-i have been using MLEs that may be outdated ...chris-<BR/>i have been using MLEs that may be outdated (because i'm too lazy and cheap to find new ones). If you are just looking to get MLEs on a few players, though, this website is helpful.<BR/><BR/>http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/mlecalc.html<BR/><BR/>if you really want my little spread sheet, i will be happy to email it you. send me a note at wez2002@hotmail.com. (i rarely use that adress Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-5118679898028759382009-02-14T16:29:00.000-06:002009-02-14T16:29:00.000-06:00Totally off topic here, but I see the Angels signe...Totally off topic here, but I see the Angels signed Ervin Santana for 4 years, $30 mil. Not sure on all the details of his contract / impending free agency status, but I'd be interested to know how Rany or others think this compares to our own recently signed Baseball Jonah.<BR/><BR/>By the way, as a Royals fan growing up in the 80s, I have great memories of Quiz. Of course, I didn't understandswimmerpie3331https://www.blogger.com/profile/00402659370362643912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-17990943027723566392009-02-14T13:50:00.000-06:002009-02-14T13:50:00.000-06:00Sorry to digress from the sabremetrics discussion ...Sorry to digress from the sabremetrics discussion but Rany, as we approach Spring Training I was wondering if maybe you could share your thoughts on which 3 or 4players or things you think could be the keys to a successful Royals season this year. I am particularly intrigued with Luke Hochevar and Kyle Davies. It seems we know what we have with Jonah and Epic and I personally do not hold out Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-19883841919846324802009-02-14T13:36:00.000-06:002009-02-14T13:36:00.000-06:00First off Rany let em just say thank you. As die ...First off Rany let em just say thank you. As die hard Royals fans I am sure you are all as sick of hearing about "A-Fraud" (what a predictable moniker) through the national media as I am. Rany, your coverage of the Royals is what gets me through the off seasons.<BR/><BR/>Also Walt (and others) I wanted to say it is thoughtful responses like yours that make reading the comments section Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-91886112497598164912009-02-13T23:01:00.000-06:002009-02-13T23:01:00.000-06:00Hayes can't even fairly be compared with sidearm p...Hayes can't even fairly be compared with sidearm pitchers. They throw harder and rely more on strikeouts (like most pitchers). Submariners are in a class of their own. They get some strikeouts, but less than most good relievers. They give up very few walks. And then get tons of groundballs. That combination (decent number of K's, very few BB's and a very high GB%) is the profile of success Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-65999214239792098552009-02-13T19:10:00.000-06:002009-02-13T19:10:00.000-06:00One of the most important things in any kind of st...One of the most important things in any kind of statistical analysis is knowing your sample sizes and error bars. I think sabermetricians are well aware of this, but even then it is easy to forget in the heat of column writing. Even at BP, it occasionally turns my head how the writers draw glib conclusions from 150 PA samples.<BR/><BR/>So yeah, Wabbitkiller, as Rany pointed out, sabermetrics is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-70285663374146262122009-02-13T11:33:00.000-06:002009-02-13T11:33:00.000-06:00Great initial post Walt. You may not want to ruff...Great initial post Walt. You may not want to ruffle the sabermetician's feathers, but I will, albeit it's a minor ruffling...<BR/><BR/>Sabermetrics ARE very accurate and a very useful tool. However, some people put TOO much stock into the numbers. The numbers cover the cookie cutter players almost flawlessly, but they DON'T account for guys like Hayes or Quizenberry. Because of this some of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-84770610067926675122009-02-13T11:29:00.000-06:002009-02-13T11:29:00.000-06:00time to sign orlando hudson and start trading away...time to sign orlando hudson and start trading away the fat from the roster!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-35204134024704677362009-02-13T10:37:00.000-06:002009-02-13T10:37:00.000-06:00Happy Pitchers and Catchers Report Day Rany!!!!Happy Pitchers and Catchers Report Day Rany!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-63098882496794047942009-02-13T09:26:00.000-06:002009-02-13T09:26:00.000-06:00sorry, again. i am just getting so jacked for base...sorry, again. i am just getting so jacked for baseball season.<BR/><BR/>i know everyone wants to say that callaspo lacks power and range, that alex gordon is somehow worse defensively than he was at nebraska, that glass won't offer pedro the two year deal it would take to outbid the market for pedro martinez.<BR/><BR/>but since it is february, please indulge me a scenario.<BR/><BR/>royals lead Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-70208390907393410552009-02-13T09:07:00.000-06:002009-02-13T09:07:00.000-06:00one last thing...most of us don;t have access to s...one last thing...<BR/><BR/>most of us don;t have access to statistical databases to test our hypotheses, so we can't be experts. but as a non-experts, i would like to offer a small hypothesis:<BR/><BR/>i do believe that there are players who are slightly better than their numbers and others who are slightly worse. and i believe that good statistical tip offs on each side of the ball are range Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-84795186813198147552009-02-13T08:57:00.000-06:002009-02-13T08:57:00.000-06:00I would sure rather have given this kid a chance t...I would sure rather have given this kid a chance than blow $9M on Farnsworth.kcghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06362423366736243156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-76328024460185579772009-02-13T08:55:00.000-06:002009-02-13T08:55:00.000-06:00typo- "rany" at the end of the last, obviously.typo- "rany" at the end of the last, obviously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-52464561672098788502009-02-13T08:54:00.000-06:002009-02-13T08:54:00.000-06:00jason-i think you and i are saying the same thing....jason-<BR/>i think you and i are saying the same thing. <BR/><BR/>most analysts do quantify variance from year to year and generate fantastic models based on them.<BR/><BR/>my point is that beyond crunching the numbers and making predictions based on them, it takes greater skill to identify a subset of players who do not seem to follow the typical performance trends of the other thoroughbreds... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com