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The last twenty comments in true blog fasion, with the links to their authors and the player commented upon.
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10th most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 725
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 97.3
Avg Spin Rate: 2,340
Avg Exit Velocity: 87.8
11th most valuable hitter, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast averages
HIP: 444
Avg Exit Velocity: 88.2
Avg HR Distance: 402
Avg Launch Angle: 9.0
A lor of homers for such an extreme ground ball hitter.
th highest earner, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP:
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed:
Avg Spin Rate:
Avg Exit Velocity:
Fifth highest earner, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 1165
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 92.8
Avg Spin Rate: 2,117
Avg Exit Velocity: 87.1
First pitcher -- by earnings last year -- who's fastball velocity is below theMLB average (93.2).
Sixth most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 1006
Pitch Type: Sinker
Avg Pitch Speed: 92.0
Avg Spin Rate: 2,268
Avg Exit Velocity: 88.0
First pitcher on the list of top earners whose primary pitch is not a four-seam fastball. The sinker is a two seamer, presumably, and the MLB average for that last year was 91.6.
2nd most valuable hitter, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast averages
HIP: 438
Avg Exit Velocity: 92.6
Avg HR Distance: 407
Avg Launch Angle: 5.0
7th most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 983
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 95.3
Avg Spin Rate: 2,357
Avg Exit Velocity: 85.2
More than ten mph difference between speed coming in and going out. Combine that with lots of grounders and... voila.
12th most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 809
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 94.1
Avg Spin Rate: 2,308
Avg Exit Velocity: 86.8
7th most valuable hitter, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast averages
HIP: 519
Avg Exit Velocity: 87.0
Avg HR Distance: 400
Avg Launch Angle: 17.0
Most valuable hitter, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast averages
HIP: 432
Avg Exit Velocity: 92.3
Avg HR Distance: 400
Avg Launch Angle: 18.4
One dollar better than Yelich.
Most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 1746
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 94.4
Avg Spin Rate: 2,486
Avg Exit Velocity: 86.4
Pennies better than Verlander, a dollar better than deGrom.
8th most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 578
Pitch Type: Sinker
Avg Pitch Speed: 97.3
Avg Spin Rate: 2,371
Avg Exit Velocity: 87.2
First reliever on the list of highest earners. His sinker was was almost six mph faster than the average sinker (91.6). The exit velocity was more than one mph lower than the average (88.4).
I am writing this in November, before the Cy Young voting has been announced. He and Diaz would both be very high on my ballot, probably second and third behind Snell; in the cumulative wisdom of the baseball writers, neither is going to be in the top five.
What I can't decide is, which one is second?
Third most valuable pitcher, both leagues, in 5x5.
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 1374
Pitch Type: Four-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 96.0
Avg Spin Rate: 2,362
Avg Exit Velocity: 86.3
Pitcher No. 26 in $5x5 (both leagues).
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 372
Pitch Type: Knuckle Curve
Avg Pitch Speed: 81.2
Avg Spin Rate: 2,464
Avg Exit Velocity: 88.3
First pitcher on the list (of pitchers ranked by $5x5) whose primary pitch was not a four-seam fastball. A close to average knuckle curve at that, going by Statcast (MLB averages -- 80.9, 2,488, 88.4).
Jeffress is only the fourth relief pitcher on the list (behind Treinen, Diaz and Kimbrel), although he of course ranks much higher in 4x4.
The XFL, drafting for 2019 in November at First Pitch Arizona, plays 5x5.
Fifteen teams, nine pitchers.
Jeffress wasn't even taken.
Other notable free agents when it was all over: Brad Boxberger, Bud Norris, Shane Greene, Sergio Romo and (of course) Fernando Rodney.
Hitter No. 35 in $5x5 (both leagues).
2018 Statcast averages
HIP: 493
Avg Exit Velocity: 90.1
Avg HR Distance: 404
Avg Launch Angle: 14.8
Put the ball in play 61 times on an 0-2 pitch and had 14 hits. Struck out, either swinging or looking, 19 times.
May not sound great, but I'm sure very few batters did as well. Maybe no one.
With the count full (71 times) he managed only six hits: four singles and two doubles.
So he was a wuss on the most critical count in baseball, right?
Yes, but an effective wuss. He shortened his swing and struck out 11 times. How many were backward K's? Can't say but it was more than a few: he drew ball four 25 times.
His slash stats on the 3-2 pitch: .133/.433/.178.
My kind of batter.
Pitcher No. 22 in $5x5 (both leagues).
2018 Statcast Averages
NP: 920
Pitch Type: Two-seam FB
Avg Pitch Speed: 89.8
Avg Spin Rate: 89.8 (92.5 is average)
Avg Exit Velocity: 89.0 (88.4 is average)
Less than one mph difference between velocity and exit velocity. Great d in the outfield obviously helped him but the Red Sox infield was a big minus (according to Defensive Runs Saved).
SIERA pays some attention to BABIP, hence is lower than FIP. But both metrics say his ERA was lucky. Billy Beane must have agreed; Fiers was non-tendered in November.
Signed a one-year deal on Nov. 30 for $2.65 million. Will be a free agent next year.
FIP and SIERA -- not to mention K/9, K/W, BABIP and G/L/F -- say he had amazingly bad luck last season.
Lots of fastballs, few of them hard hit.
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I'm usually not one to have big power hitters. I think the last one I had out of the auction was Albert Belle when he was on the White Sox. That doesn't mean I don't spend on hitters. I have frequently had Ichiro and Altuve in my league and they have always been one of the most expensive hitters, and more frequently the #1 earner.
I bought JD Martinez for only $18 in 2017 and lost him to the NL - the market expected it and he was mildly injured at draft time if I recall. I traded for him mid-season this year giving up Rafael Devers as part of the package. I will be keeping him for $37. I don't expect him to repeat his $41 earnings from 2018. I don't even expect him to earn $37. But, I think he would cost at least $40 as the top non-steals hitter in the AL, so I'm locking in those inflation savings even if they are not year-end savings.