Comments on: Dallas Defies Doubters

By: JD

JD — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:20:46 +0000

Is there a way to use batted ball data to see how lucky Braden is with the lower home run totals? Has he given up an extraordinary number of warning track flyouts?

I think it’s possible that if he’s giving up lots of fly balls that are essentially medium-depth pop ups, there’s not a lot of reason to expect those to suddenly turn into 400 foot bombs. I’m not saying this is what is happening, but it’s possible.

By: Andy S

Andy S — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:37:39 +0000

Speaking of little errors, I think you meant to say “not getting the whiffs he was getting in the MINORS”

Or else I’m misunderstanding that paragraph.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:30:22 +0000

He’s throwing screwballs again? I know the screwball was what he was famous for in the early minors, but the A’s development team shut them down under the risk for arm trouble. He’s said in interviews he doesn’t throw them anymore, and wants to get out of the reputation for being a “screwball pitcher”.

By: Erik Manning

Erik Manning — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:18:23 +0000

ah, dang it. thanks for pointing out the goof. been a little under the weather lately.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:56:02 +0000

The HR/FB%, while not *that* low, should stay below the mean pitching most of his games in Oakland, though.

By: aweb

aweb — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:53:02 +0000

Why can’t he maintain a 70% LOB? That’s actually pretty terrible, and likely unsustainable in the opposite direction. Strikeout rates don’t correlate that strongly with LOB% – others between 67 and 73% include Liriano, De La Rosa, Scherzer, Billingsley – that Braden is doomed to a 71.3% rate for his career. Now, the HR rate is really low (4.7% on Flies), an area inhabited by very few, and mostlythose who induce more grounders.

Also, he’s only 26. There is the possibility that he will actually improve.

By: brendan

brendan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:39:11 +0000

braden has been awesome this year, but he won’t sustain this level of success. he won’t maintain 70% LOB with his modest strikeout rate, and his HR/FB is low at 5%

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:57:03 +0000

And by the second ‘he’, I of course mean Erik.

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:56:38 +0000

If only he were doing this for the Rockies, then he could have named the article “Denver Does Dallas”

Actually relating to the article, I didn’t realize anyone actually threw a screwball anymore. I should actually watch him start some time.

By: Steve C

Steve C — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:36:30 +0000

I appreciate the balanced reporting. One article about a guy that gets it done with a laser rocket arm and another whose arm is a little bit more like a rubber band.

Good symmetry.