Comments on: MGM: Nieuwendyk, LeBron Puppet, and Me http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/ InsideCorner sports page and blog analyzes Dallas sports teams including the Texas Rangers, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Stars with original reporting, statistical analysis. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:33:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: DJCahill http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-15399 DJCahill Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:52:24 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-15399 I'm just glad that Hockey is still going on in Hockeytown. Its really the only place in the US that needs to worry about the sport. I’m just glad that Hockey is still going on in Hockeytown. Its really the only place in the US that needs to worry about the sport.

]]> By: KJ http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14980 KJ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:18:12 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14980 The thing that bugged me more was the 9th inning DP was induced on a 2-0 count. That happened at least twice to Rangers hitters yesterday. We should not be grounding out on hitter's counts. The thing that bugged me more was the 9th inning DP was induced on a 2-0 count. That happened at least twice to Rangers hitters yesterday. We should not be grounding out on hitter’s counts.

]]> By: Bob Sturm http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14979 Bob Sturm Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:13:40 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14979 Interesting discussion, but you are right, I was just looking at balls in play with a 0-0 count. If you are going to count ALL scenarios where an at-bat starts 0-1, it would seem that you are not accounting for patience or lack thereof with Ian or whoever. Most pitchers like to get ahead (duh), and even the most patient batter can easily fall behind 0-1 just by taking the first pitch. I feel that is a different discussion, no? Anyway, if you are fascinated by the science of it all, make sure you read and keep this story by Joe Posnanski: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/04/22/pitch.counts/index.html Interesting discussion, but you are right, I was just looking at balls in play with a 0-0 count. If you are going to count ALL scenarios where an at-bat starts 0-1, it would seem that you are not accounting for patience or lack thereof with Ian or whoever. Most pitchers like to get ahead (duh), and even the most patient batter can easily fall behind 0-1 just by taking the first pitch. I feel that is a different discussion, no?

Anyway, if you are fascinated by the science of it all, make sure you read and keep this story by Joe Posnanski: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/04/22/pitch.counts/index.html

]]> By: J. Blake http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14977 J. Blake Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:35:38 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14977 You can't say "See, I do not like poorly constructed sports arguments," and then get owned by Borah. Tisk tisk. Maybe this will make you less snarky in the future Rodney. Nice work Borah. Do you have Hamilton's numbers after 0-1? You can’t say “See, I do not like poorly constructed sports arguments,” and then get owned by Borah. Tisk tisk. Maybe this will make you less snarky in the future Rodney.
Nice work Borah. Do you have Hamilton’s numbers after 0-1?

]]> By: Michael Borah http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14971 Michael Borah Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:45:14 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14971 Rodney, the #s you found are as limited as the ones Bob used. Those are numbers for when Ian or Josh put a ball in play with a 0-1 count. Once again, not every time the batter swings at a 0-1 pitch, does the AB end. Sometimes he misses or fouls it off, prolonging the AB with an 0-2 count. Rodney, the #s you found are as limited as the ones Bob used. Those are numbers for when Ian or Josh put a ball in play with a 0-1 count. Once again, not every time the batter swings at a 0-1 pitch, does the AB end. Sometimes he misses or fouls it off, prolonging the AB with an 0-2 count.

]]> By: Michael Borah http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14969 Michael Borah Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:41:35 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14969 To expand on this, I did some searching: Ian has had 231 plate appearances this year. Of those, he has swung at the 1st pitch 35% of the time. Thats 81 times he has swung at the 1st pitch. 33 of those times, his AB has ended after that swing. As Bob pointed out, Ian is batting .485 (16 for 33) in those instances. However, the other 48 times that Ian has swung at the 1st pitch, that has put him in an 0-1 hole for that plate appearance. Now, the #s don't tell me what has happened ONLY in those 48 plate appearances, but for the season, Ian has been in a 0-1 hole 101 times. That counts swinging strikes, taken strikes, and foul balls he hits on first pitch. After Ian gets to an 0-1 count, his batting avg is .174, OBP is .252, and SLG is .348. That's bad. If the count begins 1-0 for Ian, his #s for those plate appearances are .316/.436/.711 To expand on this, I did some searching:

Ian has had 231 plate appearances this year. Of those, he has swung at the 1st pitch 35% of the time. Thats 81 times he has swung at the 1st pitch. 33 of those times, his AB has ended after that swing. As Bob pointed out, Ian is batting .485 (16 for 33) in those instances.

However, the other 48 times that Ian has swung at the 1st pitch, that has put him in an 0-1 hole for that plate appearance. Now, the #s don’t tell me what has happened ONLY in those 48 plate appearances, but for the season, Ian has been in a 0-1 hole 101 times. That counts swinging strikes, taken strikes, and foul balls he hits on first pitch. After Ian gets to an 0-1 count, his batting avg is .174, OBP is .252, and SLG is .348. That’s bad.

If the count begins 1-0 for Ian, his #s for those plate appearances are .316/.436/.711

]]> By: Rodney http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14968 Rodney Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:39:48 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14968 See, I do not like poorly constructed sports arguments, so I will respond to Clint: Kinsler 0-1, .385 BA, .731 SLG - 2009 .307 BA, .455 SLG - Career Hamilton 0-1, .429 BA, .643 SLG - 2009 .333 BA, .506 SLG - Career See, I do not like poorly constructed sports arguments, so I will respond to Clint:

Kinsler 0-1, .385 BA, .731 SLG – 2009

.307 BA, .455 SLG – Career

Hamilton 0-1, .429 BA, .643 SLG – 2009

.333 BA, .506 SLG – Career

]]> By: Michael Borah http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14966 Michael Borah Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:28:51 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14966 Very good point, Clint. I thought the same thing. Pitching coaches always stress the importance of throwing stike one to get ahead of the batter. So, unless that 1st pitch gets put into play as a hit, then the batter is in an 0-1 hole, and I know that the success rate of a batter drops after an 0-1 start to the count. Very good point, Clint. I thought the same thing.

Pitching coaches always stress the importance of throwing stike one to get ahead of the batter. So, unless that 1st pitch gets put into play as a hit, then the batter is in an 0-1 hole, and I know that the success rate of a batter drops after an 0-1 start to the count.

]]> By: Clint http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14964 Clint Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:05:10 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14964 Concerning your first-pitch stats, looking at the batting average does not tell the whole story. Those numbers only represent the at-bats when the first pitch is put in play. It makes sense that Ian and Josh have high BA's on the first pitch, since they're often guessing fastball, and when they're right they know what to do with it. However, what those stats don't tell us is what happens the rest of the time when they swing and miss at that first pitch. Can we look at their BA after starting 0-1? That combined with the first-pitch BA should provide a better picture. And my guess is that it won't be a pretty picture. Concerning your first-pitch stats, looking at the batting average does not tell the whole story. Those numbers only represent the at-bats when the first pitch is put in play. It makes sense that Ian and Josh have high BA’s on the first pitch, since they’re often guessing fastball, and when they’re right they know what to do with it.

However, what those stats don’t tell us is what happens the rest of the time when they swing and miss at that first pitch. Can we look at their BA after starting 0-1? That combined with the first-pitch BA should provide a better picture. And my guess is that it won’t be a pretty picture.

]]> By: Dan http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/06/01/mgm-nieuwendyk-lebron-puppet-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-14962 Dan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:51:34 +0000 http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/?p=6179#comment-14962 Jim Cramer? WTF?! Jim Cramer? WTF?!

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