Keith Foulke returns to the major leagues this year after a one-year retirement. After battling knee injuries in 2005 and 2006, Foulke retired just prior to the 2007 season. He has rejoined the Oakland Athletics for 2008 and is expected to fill a key role in their bullpen. We have PITCHf/x data for his appearance […]

The Cleveland Indians signed Masahide Kobayashi from the Chiba Lotte Marines over the winter to join their bullpen. The PITCHf/x system was turned on in Atlanta tonight, and Kobayashi pitched the 7th inning in a rain-shortened game. The Braves scored five runs against Kobayashi on five hits, one walk, and three errors, and it would […]

Brian Bannister made his final spring training start against the Brewers yesterday. He went five innings, allowed six hits, including a solo home run, struck out four, and walked none. Here are some of his comments about his start: “I kept the ball down today, mixed all my pitches in. It was just a good […]

I’m browsing through the pitch data from Friday’s games where the PITCHf/x system was turned on, and here are some of the average fastball speeds for pitchers who pitched in those games. Take them for what they’re worth. Pitcher Speed D.Turnbow 96 J.Broxton 95 E.Gonzalez 94 T.Lincecum 94 J.Saunders 94 A.Miller 93 C.Billingsley 92 B.Colon […]

With some teams moving from their spring training sites to major league ballparks on Friday night, the PITCHf/x systems in a few stadiums were turned on. We have PITCHf/x data for the games between the Red Sox-Dodgers, Rockies-Diamondbacks, Tigers-Astros, Royals-Brewers, A’s-Giants, and Yankees-Marlins (partial). A new feature this year is real-time pitch classification, and you […]

Here’s a great story of the bond that can form between an avid baseball fan and a player. This is just another reason to love ballparks. And the story makes me a bit more of a Brandon Phillips fan too.

It’s a step forward to fielding a team capable of competing with Chicago and Milwaukee. Now they just need to actually utilize their superior young players.

Baseball Analysts has a four-way conversation on the NL East up on their site. I was in on the conversation, though I was the only one who felt that the Mets are clear favorites. The other guys are more optimistic about the Braves’ rotation than I am. I do think their rotation will provide the […]

Big League Stew categorizes Opening Day starters into five bushels. I quibble with some of the rankings, but overall, a solid list.

MGL has come up with a method of measuring HR rates for major league parks. Be sure to check out Greg Rybarczyk’s article about HR rates as well.