MLB Daily Notes: Sunday, May 7
It’s funny that after you have kids for a couple of years, the attention on Mother’s Day completely shifts off of your own mother and fully onto not screwing it up for your wife. We have two kids now, three and one, and the three-year-old is firmly able to understand everything going on and she loves to color and do art crafts and stuff - which is to say that I have almost no excuse for not turning in a pretty good Mother’s Day today.
Except, I think that’s kind of what I’m about to do. I spent some serious bucks on presents (money is fungible and all, but we can just go ahead and say that the paid subscribers to this blog paid for those presents - so shout out to you), but I didn’t have my daughter do any special drawing or anything and the canvas pictures of the kids I got are like … enormous. I mean they’re going to look completely ridiculous hanging on our wall, so we’ll have to figure something out on that front. I also bought us a nice big stroller that hold both kids easily as well as a bunch of other stuff for when we go places. So that’ll be dope.
It’s pretty clear to me that women are uniquely qualified to be good, nurturing parents to kids. I mean I love my kids, and I think my level of calmness and patience is like 95th percentile, but it just doesn’t compare how much better my wife is than me. She is constantly sick and feeling bad with this pregnancy, but she doesn’t complain or miss a beat with the kids.
Having multiple kids is tough, like my son is up at 6 every day, currently sitting next to me as I locked him in his playpen thing so I could write all of this, and then he doesn’t even nap for more 90 minutes in the middle of the day - and that’s it. I cut the grass yesterday and I felt almost guilty about it cause my wife was with both kids without help. So that’s where I’m at - cutting the grass is my “escape”, but it almost makes me feel guilty.
What I have realized and I’m trying to really push forward on is the idea that we aren’t meant to live for ourselves. There is something ironically freeing about not being able to do the things you want to do all the time. Living for other people can be frustrating, of course, but once you kind of accept it and realize that it is good, you are free of a lot of stuff - and you find that you’re just satisfied and happy at the end of the day. I think a lot of the ballooning we’ve seen in depression and suicide has to do with people more now than ever being able to pursue all the things they want to pursue and live for their own pleasure - but that turns out to not be the answer to being happy in life. If you’re only chasing your own whims and pleasures, I think more often than not you’re going to end up feeling pretty crappy about yourself.
So all young men should go get married to a great woman, never get divorced, have all kinds of kids, and stop worrying about going on that trip or getting that dream job or whatever - just start a fantasy baseball blog that’s all you need.
Corbin Burnes pitched yesterday and had another sparkling outing, but could not overcome Ohtani as the #1 overall JA pitcher on the year, but he’s up to #2 and I imagine he stays in the top three for the rest of the year.
I noticed that he’s throwing a crazy number of cutters this year, which would be a little bit concerning if he weren’t so dominant day in and day out with whatever he does. Nothing to react to, just interesting to see.
I also noticed yesterday that Ketel Marte is completely out of his slump and dominating again, slashing .385/.529/.769 in May.
The top 3 JA hitters for May are all Brewers, here’s the top 10:
Rowdy Tellez
Willy Adames
Christian Yelich
Jazz Chisholm
Manny Machado
Nolan Arenado
Tim Anderson
Paul Goldschmidt
Jesus Aguilar
Yordan Alvarez
Okay now to the notes!
CSW% Leaders - Yesterday
1. Sonny Gray (MIN): 15.2 SwStr%, 40.9 CSW%
2. Connor Overton (CIN): 3.9 SwStr%, 36.4 CSW%
3. Logan Webb (SF): 14.3 SwStr%, 35.7 CSW%
4. Keegan Thompson (CHC): 14.8 SwStr%, 35.2 CSW%
5. Tyler Anderson (LAD): 18.8 SwStr%, 35.0 CSW%
6. JT Brubaker (PIT): 14.5 SwStr%, 34.9 CSW%
7. Corbin Burnes (MIL): 20.4 SwStr%, 34.7 CSW%
8. Steven Matz (STL): 12.3 SwStr%, 33.3 CSW%
9. Michael Lorenzen (LAA): 14.6 SwStr%, 32.6 CSW%
10. Kyle Freeland (COL): 13.5 SwStr%, 32.6 CSW%
Top Pitcher JA Scores - Yesterday
1. JT Brubaker - 5.0 IP - 66.25 JA Points
2. Nick Pivetta - 6.0 IP - 64.25 JA Points
3. Corbin Burnes - 5.67 IP - 61.5 JA Points
4. Eduardo Rodriguez - 6.67 IP - 53.0 JA Points
5. Framber Valdez - 6.0 IP - 52.75 JA Points
6. Sonny Gray - 4.0 IP - 52.75 JA Points
7. Max Fried - 7.0 IP - 52.25 JA Points
8. Tyler Anderson - 5.0 IP - 51.5 JA Points
9. Sean Manaea - 6.0 IP - 51.5 JA Points
10. Zach Davies - 6.33 IP - 51.25 JA Points
Pitcher JA Scores - Season
1. Shohei Ohtani (LAA) - 5.0 GS - 59.62 JA Points
2. Corbin Burnes (MIL) - 6.0 GS - 56.28 JA Points
3. Lucas Giolito (CWS) - 4.0 GS - 55.72 JA Points
4. Dylan Cease (CWS) - 6.0 GS - 53.42 JA Points
5. Kevin Gausman (TOR) - 6.0 GS - 53.18 JA Points
6. Shane McClanahan (TB) - 6.0 GS - 53.12 JA Points
7. Garrett Whitlock (BOS) - 3.0 GS - 52.85 JA Points
8. Carlos Rodon (SF) - 5.0 GS - 50.34 JA Points
9. Max Scherzer (NYM) - 5.0 GS - 49.69 JA Points
10. Brandon Woodruff (MIL) - 5.0 GS - 48.59 JA Points
Velo Changes - Yesterday
Sonny Gray's CU velo (19 pitches) UP 2.2mph to 80.0
Josiah Gray's SL velo (17 pitches) UP 1.7mph to 85.9
Josiah Gray's CU velo (23 pitches) UP 1.5mph to 83.3
Robert Dugger's CH velo (13 pitches) UP 1.5mph to 82.6
Tyler Anderson's CH velo (31 pitches) DOWN -1.5mph to 78.0
Mitch Keller's SL velo (20 pitches) DOWN -1.6mph to 85.8
Kevin Gausman's SL velo (13 pitches) DOWN -1.9mph to 82.0
Ross Stripling's FF velo (42 pitches) DOWN -2.0mph to 90.1
Pitch Mix Changes - Yesterday
Connor Overton's SI usage (32.5%) up 18.6 points
Drew Smyly's FC usage (38.3%) up 13.7 points
Eduardo Rodriguez's FF usage (51.5%) up 11.1 points
Jake Woodford's SL usage (40.0%) up 11.4 points
James Kaprielian's SL usage (40.4%) up 26.4 points
Marco Gonzales's SI usage (46.9%) up 13.4 points
Michael Lorenzen's CH usage (29.2%) up 15.0 points
Mitch Keller's FF usage (68.6%) up 12.3 points
Ross Stripling's FF usage (53.8%) up 19.0 points
Sonny Gray's CU usage (28.8%) up 12.9 points
Steven Matz's SI usage (61.4%) up 12.5 points
Tyler Anderson's CH usage (38.8%) up 15.6 points
CSW% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Corbin Burnes - 100 TBF, 37.0% CSW%
Joe Musgrove - 78 TBF, 36.2% CSW%
Shane McClanahan - 90 TBF, 36.0% CSW%
JT Brubaker - 76 TBF, 34.1% CSW%
Eric Lauer - 97 TBF, 33.6% CSW%
Kevin Gausman - 102 TBF, 33.6% CSW%
Aaron Nola - 92 TBF, 33.2% CSW%
Jesus Luzardo - 87 TBF, 33.2% CSW%
Chris Bassitt - 77 TBF, 33.2% CSW%
Kyle Wright - 79 TBF, 32.2% CSW%
K% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Eric Lauer - 97 TBF, 38.1% K%
Corbin Burnes - 100 TBF, 38.0% K%
Shane McClanahan - 90 TBF, 35.6% K%
Dylan Cease - 95 TBF, 32.6% K%
Nestor Cortes - 81 TBF, 32.1% K%
Aaron Nola - 92 TBF, 31.5% K%
Kevin Gausman - 102 TBF, 31.4% K%
JT Brubaker - 76 TBF, 30.3% K%
Max Fried - 93 TBF, 28.0% K%
Kyle Wright - 79 TBF, 27.8% K%
K-BB% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Corbin Burnes - 100 TBF, 34.0% K-BB%
Eric Lauer - 97 TBF, 32.0% K-BB%
Shane McClanahan - 90 TBF, 31.1% K-BB%
Kevin Gausman - 102 TBF, 30.4% K-BB%
Aaron Nola - 92 TBF, 28.3% K-BB%
Max Fried - 93 TBF, 26.9% K-BB%
Dylan Cease - 95 TBF, 25.3% K-BB%
Nestor Cortes - 81 TBF, 23.5% K-BB%
Pablo Lopez - 97 TBF, 22.7% K-BB%
Luis Garcia - 126 TBF, 22.2% K-BB%
GB% Leaders - Last 3 Weeks
Framber Valdez - 99 TBF, 71.8% GB%
Adam Wainwright - 96 TBF, 64.3% GB%
Shane McClanahan - 90 TBF, 61.1% GB%
Logan Webb - 98 TBF, 60.8% GB%
Dakota Hudson - 87 TBF, 58.3% GB%
Corbin Burnes - 100 TBF, 57.9% GB%
Yusei Kikuchi - 76 TBF, 57.4% GB%
Kyle Wright - 79 TBF, 57.1% GB%
Martin Perez - 89 TBF, 55.6% GB%
Max Fried - 93 TBF, 55.4% GB%
Magic Formula Qualifiers - Pitchers - Last 3 Weeks
Aaron Nola - 92 TBF, 31.5 K%, 3.3 BB%, 51.7% GB%
Corbin Burnes - 100 TBF, 38.0 K%, 4.0 BB%, 57.9% GB%
Dylan Cease - 95 TBF, 32.6 K%, 7.4 BB%, 46.4% GB%
Freddy Peralta - 64 TBF, 31.2 K%, 6.2 BB%, 50.0% GB%
Kevin Gausman - 102 TBF, 31.4 K%, 1.0 BB%, 47.8% GB%
Kyle Wright - 79 TBF, 27.8 K%, 7.6 BB%, 57.1% GB%
Max Fried - 93 TBF, 28.0 K%, 1.1 BB%, 55.4% GB%
Pablo Lopez - 97 TBF, 27.8 K%, 5.2 BB%, 52.3% GB%
Shane McClanahan - 90 TBF, 35.6 K%, 4.4 BB%, 61.1% GB%
Tarik Skubal - 69 TBF, 27.5 K%, 2.9 BB%, 50.0% GB%
Multiple Barrels
Jorge Soler (MIA) 5 PA, 12 Swings, 3 Barrels, 1 HR
A.J. Pollock (CWS) 5 PA, 13 Swings, 2 Barrels, 0 HR
Brandon Drury (CIN) 10 PA, 14 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Brandon Lowe (TB) 5 PA, 6 Swings, 2 Barrels, 2 HR
Freddie Freeman (LAD) 9 PA, 15 Swings, 2 Barrels, 0 HR
Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL) 4 PA, 4 Swings, 2 Barrels, 1 HR
Top Hitter JA Scores - Yesterday
1. Brandon Lowe - 5.0 PA - 73.0 JA Points
2. Jorge Polanco - 4.0 PA - 58.0 JA Points
3. Christian Walker - 4.0 PA - 58.0 JA Points
4. Freddie Freeman - 4.0 PA - 53.0 JA Points
5. Brandon Drury - 5.0 PA - 53.0 JA Points
6. Willson Contreras - 4.0 PA - 51.0 JA Points
7. Jorge Soler - 5.0 PA - 50.0 JA Points
8. Yadiel Hernandez - 4.0 PA - 48.0 JA Points
9. Ronald Acuna Jr. - 4.0 PA - 48.0 JA Points
10. Josh Bell - 5.0 PA - 45.0 JA Points
Hitter JA Scores - Season
1. Yordan Alvarez (HOU) - 93.0 PA - 153.98 JA Points
2. Mike Trout (LAA) - 101.0 PA - 143.37 JA Points
3. Jose Ramirez (CLE) - 118.0 PA - 141.36 JA Points
4. Taylor Ward (LAA) - 91.0 PA - 136.7 JA Points
5. Freddie Freeman (LAD) - 110.0 PA - 135.64 JA Points
6. Rowdy Tellez (MIL) - 96.0 PA - 127.92 JA Points
7. Aaron Judge (NYY) - 102.0 PA - 123.14 JA Points
8. Manny Machado (SD) - 121.0 PA - 115.7 JA Points
9. Juan Soto (WSH) - 128.0 PA - 115.62 JA Points
10. Nolan Arenado (STL) - 109.0 PA - 114.86 JA Points
Hardest Hit Balls
Isaac Paredes (TB) - 113.6mph - foul
Ketel Marte (ARI) - 113.4mph - foul
Manny Machado (SD) - 112.4mph - single
Franchy Cordero (BOS) - 112.4mph - field_out
Willson Contreras (CHC) - 111.6mph - home_run
Abraham Toro (SEA) - 111.2mph - foul
Garrett Cooper (MIA) - 111.2mph - single
Jorge Soler (MIA) - 111.1mph - home_run
Christian Bethancourt (OAK) - 110.8mph - double
Franmil Reyes (CLE) - 110.8mph - home_run
Last 3 Weeks - Brl% Leaders
Aaron Judge - 65 PA, 37 BIP, 12 Brls, 32.4 Brl%
Mike Trout - 67 PA, 39 BIP, 12 Brls, 30.8 Brl%
Rowdy Tellez - 70 PA, 48 BIP, 13 Brls, 27.1 Brl%
Ryan Jeffers - 49 PA, 27 BIP, 7 Brls, 25.9 Brl%
Patrick Wisdom - 63 PA, 33 BIP, 8 Brls, 24.2 Brl%
Yordan Alvarez - 77 PA, 49 BIP, 11 Brls, 22.4 Brl%
Byron Buxton - 53 PA, 32 BIP, 7 Brls, 21.9 Brl%
Willy Adames - 85 PA, 51 BIP, 11 Brls, 21.6 Brl%
Franmil Reyes - 61 PA, 28 BIP, 6 Brls, 21.4 Brl%
Austin Riley - 77 PA, 47 BIP, 10 Brls, 21.3 Brl%
Last 3 Weeks - Contact% Leaders
Steven Kwan - 50 PA, 81 Swings, 91.4 Cont%
Luis Arraez - 56 PA, 98 Swings, 90.8 Cont%
Miguel Rojas - 54 PA, 105 Swings, 89.5 Cont%
Michael Brantley - 72 PA, 131 Swings, 89.3 Cont%
Austin Meadows - 64 PA, 106 Swings, 88.7 Cont%
Myles Straw - 77 PA, 129 Swings, 88.4 Cont%
Nick Madrigal - 51 PA, 98 Swings, 87.8 Cont%
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - 57 PA, 111 Swings, 87.4 Cont%
Alex Verdugo - 77 PA, 137 Swings, 86.9 Cont%
Alex Bregman - 81 PA, 109 Swings, 86.2 Cont%
Magic Formula Qualifiers - Hitters - Last 3 Weeks
Christian Yelich - 80 PA, 20.0 K%, 19.6 Brl%
Freddie Freeman - 73 PA, 13.7 K%, 20.8 Brl%
Max Kepler - 70 PA, 17.1 K%, 16.7 Brl%
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