Primate Studies: What do you do with Deacon White?

Last week, the attention of the baseball world was focused keenly on the Winter Meetings.  They’re reliably one of the high points of the offseason, featuring free agent speculation, wild trade rumors, and Hall of Fame selections from the Veterans’ Committee.

Unfortunately, “keen” is a very generous description for the level of emphasis given to the last item on that list.  The Veterans’ vote didn’t even get top headline status on ESPN’s MLB page when it was announced, even ...

Read More...

Jim's Lab Notes: BBTF.org Beta, Take 2

After taking a much needed hiatus from my work on the site’s redesign. I am back to work. In June, when I realized I would not be able to finish off the Beta in time for the All Star, I decided to take a break. I needed it. I was burnt out from all the work that I was doing. Additionally, with the summer at hand, I knew it would be a good idea to spend some time with my kids and family whose patience I was beginning to try. So, other than some bug fixing, I put the update on the back burner. ...

Read More...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1971 Ballot

Here are the specific rules for this election:
Candidate Eligibility: Any North American professional baseball player is eligible for the Most Meritorious Player (MMP) award including players in the top Negro Leagues or independent teams. Voters should consider the player’s on-field contribution to Major League Baseball (MLB) team(s) in that season only. If part of the season was spent outside MLB, that value may be considered as well. However, the player’s on-field contribution should be ...

Read More...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1970 Results

Another close result, and congratulations to Carl Yastrzemski, 1970’s Most Meritorious Player!

...Read More...

Newsblog: Sean Forman talks to MLB Network

If you can’t get enough of Baseball-Reference.com’s Sean Forman (and if you know Sean no one would blame you), here’s his television debut on the MLB Nework.

Enjoy!!

Transaction Oracle: 2012 ZiPS Projections - Toronto Blue Jays

Is there any team more happy about baseball adding a second wildcard spot than the Toronto Blue Jays? In the short-term at least (and probable long-term unless the top AL East teams start showing some serious incompetence), Toronto's prospects improve considerably if they don't have to better both the Red Sox and Yankees to make the playoffs. That obviously helps Tampa Bay and Baltimore as well, but the Jays are in that sweet spot where it's pretty darn useful - the Rays can compete for the ...Read More...

Transaction Oracle: 2012 ZiPS Projections - Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays plan to win in 2012 the same way they usually do: pitching, defense, and catching just enough lightning in a bottle on offense around their core. The team is, at least by ZiPS, just behind the Red Sox for 3rd place, but the winter is over and given how relatively quiet the team has been with minor-league signings (outside of Luke Scott, they've made very few), they've still got some empty bottles to fill.

Tampa won't have that starting rotation, forever. A team competing on a ...

Read More...

Newsblog: You could win the job of your dreams!

Want to be the next Gleeman or Calcaterra?

We’re searching for the next sports social media personality to be a voice of XFINITY behind-the-scenes at the biggest nationwide sporting events this year. Submit your video to show us if you have what it takes for the job.

Hall of Merit: 2013 Hall of Merit Ballot Discussion

2013 (November 26, 2012)—elect 3*
WS W3 Rookie Name-Pos
705 186.2 1986 Barry Bonds-LF
437 146.4 1984 Roger Clemens-P
428 73.8 1989 Craig Biggio-2B
325 68.7 1993 Mike Piazza-C
322 61.0 1989 Sammy Sosa-RF
252 75.4 1990 Curt Schilling-P
288 51.7 1992 Kenny Lofton-CF
297 41.3 1989 Steve Finley-CF
280 45.0 1983 Julio Franco-SS/2B
210 55.2 1988 David Wells-P
237 41.8 1995 Shawn Green-RF
209 36.7 1992 Reggie Sanders-RF
230 28.9 1994 Ryan Klesko-LF/1B
185 33.7 1994 Jose Valentin-SS
169 33.1 1995 Jeff ...

Read More...

Transaction Oracle: Mariners - Acquired Montero

Seattle Mariners acquire C Jesus Montero for P Michael Pineda and P Jose Campos

ZiPS projected Montero at .271/.333/.486 in Yankee Stadium. Good enough for a 112 OPS+. He’s going to a much tougher place to hit, so the raw stat line is not going to be nearly as pretty to get the same value. Let’s put it this way. Justin Smoak (a name not chosen at random of course) put up a 104 OPS+ with .234/.323/.396. I like Montero an awful lot but I’d downgrade him a fair amount in anything like a Strat ...

Read More...