AL East Power Rankings
The inaugural installment of the power ranks are focusing on the numbers. Small sample sizes be damned; let’s find out why teams have got out these particular starts and whether it is sustainable or not.
#1 Tampa Bay Rays
Pertinent number: 9.31
Despite a 7-6 record, the Rays bullpen has struggled, mightily. An ERA over nine is terrible, regardless of games played. But has their performance truly been that bad? Advanced stats would say, no. While the Rays collective bullpen ERA sits at 9.31, their expected fielding independent pitching (xFIP) is a much more manageable 4.72.
So what has contributed to the poor totals? Two numbers leap off the stat sheet: Tampa is dead last in the league in its stand rate. An ungodly 55.2% left on base percentage (LOB%) is definitely an important factor to consider. That’s a historically pathetic rate and will certainly come up in the coming weeks. Determining why that number is so low will require some speculation, but a 37.3 ground ball rate (GB%) and 5.59 BB/9 from the unit certainly are not helping matters. Both, rank 29th in baseball, ahead of only the Cubs.
The Rays have managed a winning record in spite of the inflated bullpen stats. When the numbers normalize, expect their win total to increase.
The Pat Mayo Experience: MLB’s Forgotten Players
“Like war, baseball is a game of attrition; and like on the battlefield, it’s easy to forget those who’ve served us so well.” – Pat Mayo
I’ve had enough of Spring Training. At first, there is a certainly excitement in seeing the players, in uniform, playing structured games again. Don’t judge; it’s been a while. But the initial enthusiasm disappears rather quickly. Three weeks into the exhibition schedule and all everyone wants is to see real baseball get underway. No one’s to blame, there’s only so much stock that can be placed into a Spring Training. How relevant are the records when big league starters, generally, see no more than six innings at a time and get a generous amount of days off. It seems like pre-season is a better barometer of how good any given team’s Double A squad will fare rather than an indication of its major league prospects.
The main purpose, to me, of Spring Training is reintroducing some forgotten players that have either fallen by the wayside because of injury or those flashing former brilliance after a season or seasons of mediocre play. So who’s making headlines so far down South?
Pat Mayo Presents the AL West
The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels will headline the AL West in once again 2012, but popular opinion is irrelevant without Pat Mayo weighing in with his thoughts on the subject.
Point Taken
Pat Mayo and Phil Perkins are back once again taking on the world’s most ridiculous sports stories in, Point Taken.
Point Taken
Pat Mayo and Phil Perkins are back this week taking on the world’s most ridiculous sports stories in, Point Taken.
Getting to Know a Mid Major with the Quizmaster
Pat Mayo and Graeme Wallace answer questions about sports
NHL Trade Deadline Breakdown
With next Monday’s NHL Trade Deadline right around the corner, our Pat Mayo takes a look what moves might get done / not get done.
Point Taken
We haven’t seen Bob and Doug McKenzie do their thing since they took off to the Great White North with Geddy Lee about 30 years ago, but perhaps we’ve found the new Canadian sensation.
Meet Pat Mayo and Phil Perkins as they take on the world’s most ridiculous sports stories in their new series Point Taken.
Fantasy Politics?
“I like sports. I like politics. Why can’t they be intertwined?” – Pat Mayo
Presidential primary season and sports go hand-in-hand every four years. The largest of political junkies will tell you that tracking the primaries is the equivalent to following your favorite team or league. If county-by-county, state-by-state primary leagues existed, there would no doubt be massive crossover from the millions who participate in make believe sports leagues. It would be fantastic. The more mathematically inclined of us could create our own brand of exit polling sabremetics, or they could just be stolen from the top campaign operatives country wide – because they have the data. Let CNN, FOX or Politco run it for free like the major websites do for fantasy football. While the kinks would certainly need to be worked out, just getting the idea out for public brainstorming would be enough to get the ball rolling.
Confused about the College Football Bowl Picture? Listen up!
As of November 30th, 18 teams are eligible for BCS bowl games, but ten will qualify. The number is increased from 14 because 4 teams that are in the running to win their division are not ranked in the top 14 – Clemson, Louisville, Cincinnati, and West Virginia.
Confusing? Check out the video and I’ll break down for you.
Still confused? Watch it again…..
….. or this might help.…. Our own Dory LaBlanc has taken the time for those of you with ADD to lay it all out…
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