Boston

Cubs+Giants breakdowns | Data Science @ Loyola Chicago | Unfortunately a Cubs fan | avid MLB the show despiser | big heat map guy

[Boston @BallByBoston]

The #SFGiants picking up Harrison Bader for less than $11 million a year seems like a bargain, especially coming after his career high .277 average and 122 wRC+. His elite glove will be in CF on opening day (7 OAA last year) so let's see just how sustainable his 2025 was. (🧵)

[Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal]

Free-agent outfielder Harrison Bader in agreement with Giants on two-year contract, pending physical, source tells @TheAthletic.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@dannybarrand_ I mean has to be B right

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@matthewk36711 Fastball vaa has to be ridiculous

[Boston @BallByBoston]

https://t.co/OzPGJSYJi1

[Boston @BallByBoston]

#2: Taylor Clarke, RHP

Clarke was Non-Tendered by the Royals this November after a very solid 2025 showing. In 55 innings he had a 3.25 ERA, but I think he can be around the 3.00-3.10 level with some minor tweaks. He's got a really good slider, and a solid sinker/changeup combo.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

I was a huge fan of Taylor Clarke this offseason because of his command of his sinker/slider. He added a cutter that has been great, and has commanded his changeup like a madman (heatmap below) to the tune of a .167 opponent average. A great signing for the DBacks!

[Jake García @Jake_M_Garcia]

Really interesting pregame talk with Taylor Clarke.

He's tied for the most WAR among #Dbacks relievers, despite striking out only 10 hitters in 24 innings.

On embracing how he is, finding success in an unconventional way and making light of his low Ks:

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@ButcherBoy415 @OptaSTATS Everytime I look at his defensive stats it doesn’t make sense. Watching the games it’s not like the stats don’t match up with the eyetest. Wash deserves to be in the hall of fame

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@ButcherBoy415 @OptaSTATS Will admit I was wrong about him. Not sure how many people had him killing his ground ball rate by almost 10% tho. He has been a star so far

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@CHC_DataDrive Absolutely love his archetype. Fear that his walk rate is a little inflated from how insanely passive he is tho

[Boston @BallByBoston]

The #Cubs have been brutal to watch over the last 3 weeks. Prior to tonight’s win, they were 6-14 in their last 20. Their consistency to blow it when it matters in that span is seen in this graph I made, showing how unclutch they have been on the mound and in the batters box.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@yastrzemskiszn @bryarea #NothingLikeIt

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@TimStats How do you get college pitch level data? Is it through something that isn't publicly available?

[Boston @BallByBoston]

Bryce going 407 after hitting 106 MPH double is pretty encouraging. His fly out in his last PA is a homer everywhere….but Oracle Park #SFGiants

Maybe, just maybe, this guy should be playing more often 🤔

[Boston @BallByBoston]

#Cubs prospect Kevin Alcantara has seen 11 pitches in the bigs, and all sliders. He’s really going to need to adjust because it’s all he’ll get until he figures it out. He whiffed nearly 60% of the time in AAA this year against them.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@Brett_A_Taylor Yeah I’ve never been a huge fan of his stuff model. Always seems much different than other big ones I see on here

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@PitcherListPLV How does his curveball grade out below average? Stuff+ tjstuff+ and prostuff+ all have it pretty well above average. What do you think makes your model suggest otherwise?

[Boston @BallByBoston]

Ramírez is hitting .312/.395/.547 w/ a 136 wRC+. He has an excellent approach, and is swinging and missing less than 91% of AAA hitters at just 22 years old. He is also an excellent defender, scouts laud his defense and he won a MiLB Gold Glove last season. Really like this move.

[Jesse Rogers @JesseRogersESPN]

Good looking Cubs prospect Pedro Ramirez is in the Cubs clubhouse. Craig Counsell raved about him in spring training. Solid all-around player.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

This is a great question from Murph and honestly a bit of a deflection from Buster. Perhaps he could bring up the guy they traded their star bullpen arm for from AAA with 2 (arguably 3) plus pitches. Blade Tidwell should not be rotting in Sacramento at this point. #SFGiants

[KNBR @KNBR]

. @knbrmurph: “Why did you go into the season without a defined closer?”

POSEY: “I guess Murph you probably wanted us to sign Edwin Diaz, then you’d probably ask me why I signed Edwin Diaz because he’s on the IL. Every decision we made you could play arm chair quarterback on it and say it was good or bad. We’ve got some guys in the bullpen doing some really good stuff.”

[Boston @BallByBoston]

@TJStats A 7 degree difference in VAA between two pitches has to be one of the highest in the league right

[Boston @BallByBoston]

Edward Cabrera has just left the game in the middle of an AB in obvious discomfort. His fastball velocities have been down a full tick all year, and his spin rates along with them. Might just be the straw that broke the camels back to make him the 12th #Cubs pitcher on the IL.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

Later in the game got sure-fire first round pick Jarren Advincula to pop out on a fastball middle-middle; almost never happens with a guy like Advincula’s barrel control. Got the chance to talk to him at the team gala about pitch grips and intents, absolute 80 grade dude.

[Boston @BallByBoston]

Here he is getting fellow 2026 draft prospect Rintaro Sasaki to whiff on a high heater. Arguably the best 4 seamer in the draft metric wise; ~20 IVB from a low release height. Lots of boards would consider it a reach, but I love him as a late 1st round target for the #Cubs

[Danny @dannybarrand_]

Tennessee RHP Tegan Kuhns is one of the weirdest evals in the draft. Limited arsenal development room brings relief risk, but the fastball is unbelievable; 20” iVB from a 5.5’ relH at 94-95 t99 creates a super flat VAA. Freaky athlete with long extremities and a 4.6% walk rate.