Believe the Hype: Looking Back at the 2005 Draft
With the 2010 MLB Draft just around the corner, and excitement in the air, many writers have been cautioning optimistic fans. Throughout the 1990′s, very few first rounders contributed anything...
View ArticleTribe’s Ongoing Draft Difficulties
Successful small-market teams contend by acquiring above-average talent on two levels: (a) development, either through international free agency or the amateur draft, and (b) trades. Success in one...
View ArticleThe Draft Pick Compensation Paradox
Last week I looked at the 2014 free agent class and how some of the big contracts of the offseason stacked up against our idea of fair market value. Afterwards, I tried to use this model to predict...
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Top 10 Picks in the ’90s: Irrational Trends
The annual MLB Draft is an exciting time for baseball. Dozens of high school and college players convince fans that they have the potential to be future All-Stars, and teams make selections to stock...
View ArticleWhy Is Brandon Finnegan So Unique?
On September 30, Royals 2014 1st Round Draft Pick Brandon Finnegan was brought into the AL Wild Card Game against the Oakland A’s just under 4 months after being drafted out of Texas Christian...
View ArticleThe Cubs, the Red Sox and a Blank Check
The Cubs and Red Sox are doing interesting things for their ambitions. Boston overhauled their young and unpredictable club with two of the top free agents on the board while the Cubs’ rotation...
View ArticleThe Method to the Yankees’ Madness
Last week Miles Wray examined an emerging spending pattern of the New York Yankees, suggesting that the club’s approach to free agent spending varies, depending possibly on how many dollars had...
View ArticleHow Valuable Is the First Selection In the MLB Draft?
Pop Quiz: What do Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves (2014), Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts (2012), and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (2015) have in common? Answer: They are...
View ArticleThe Gritty Details
“Grit” in baseball has long been a gag for the saber crowd. Fire Joe Morgan was basically one long joke about how gritty David Eckstein was. And there’s good reason to distrust “grit.” Grit, hustle,...
View ArticleA Way-Too-Early 2016 MLB Mock Draft
With the NFL Draft having been on, it’s hard for us baseball nerds not to get excited about the MLB draft that’s a little over four weeks away. As many of you know, it is almost impossible to predict...
View ArticleWho Has Performed Better In the Draft?
The MLB draft has passed but its impact will last. Some selections will go down as busts (e.g. Matt Anderson by the Tigers in 1997). Others will be real bargains such as Carlos Beltran with the 49th...
View ArticleJake Fishman On His Draft Process, Gaining Velocity, and Spin vs. Location
The MLB draft was about two weeks ago and the Blue Jays selected a lefty out of Division 3 Union College in the 30th round. At first blush, a pick like this sounds like when a team selects a notable...
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MLB’s Qualifying Offer: A King’s Ransom
With the MLB draft just past, I thought it would be appropriate to examine one of the most controversial topics surrounding the draft: the qualifying offer. Essentially, the qualifying offer intends to...
View ArticleStatistical Analysis of a Few College Hitters
As the 2017 MLB Draft quickly approaches, I thought it may be fun to analyze some of the best college hitters available. On May 23, Eric Longenhagen released the 2017 Sortable Draft Board on...
View ArticleThe Best Team Money Can’t Buy
Another off-season has come and gone, and your favorite team practically sat out free agency citing some combination of small-market budget concerns or vague allusions to the luxury tax, hoping you...
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Does Warm Weather Create Better Players?
My high-school-aged son sits at home yet again. Why? Because another of his baseball games has been canceled due to the wet and cold Ohio spring, and my thoughts turn again to our days playing baseball...
View ArticleDo Higher Signing Bonuses Help Players Advance?
A lot has been written over the past year about pay at the minor league level and attempts to fix things, and with good reason — it’s a pretty bad situation, and with fundamental decency in mind, it is...
View ArticleAnalyzing the Draft
Ever since the MLB draft was created in 1965, teams have been searching for any competitive edge to separate themselves from the rest of the league. After all, it is one of the best ways to acquire...
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