Zucchini Mike

Baseball’s smartest vegetable

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@UnderdogMLB @ScoringChanges any idea why this isn’t a balk?

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@KirkHerbstreit I can’t stand takes like this. Saying modern mlb players don’t have “athletic ability” is insane. Just because priorities have changed doesn’t mean players are worse. The game evolves. Get over it.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@eyyankees Judge’s K%:
- Minors: 24.8%
- Majors: 27.4%

Jones K%:
- Minors: 32.8%
- Majors: 93.4% (projected)

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@ImDoneFor1 @barstoolsports @StoolBaseball Pitching around him? His BB% was right at his career average, yet his K% was less than half of every other season. Acuna is a stud regardless of his K%, so I normally wouldn’t care about it but I can’t wrap my head around it and I can’t find another player with something similar.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@ImDoneFor1 @barstoolsports @StoolBaseball Then that K% in 23 just makes no sense. If it’s health based he could replicated it before or after. If it’s approach, why would he abandon it. Statistically it’s off.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@JakeYoung_4 @barstoolsports @StoolBaseball You think Brady Anderson was juicing when he hit 50 HR? Your answer can be no and that’s fine. I don’t think the Braves were definitely cheating but it’s weird how the entire offense had their career best years and have all fallen back to earth since.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@ImDoneFor1 @barstoolsports @StoolBaseball So if he’s fully healthy this year and his K% is over 23% again would you consider that he might’ve been cheating in 2023?

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

Also odd that the entire offense peaked in 2023 and hasn’t come close since.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

Ronald Acuna’s best K% by calendar month (min 10 GP):

1. ‘23 Sept: 9.2%
2. ‘23 July: 10.6
3. ‘23 Aug: 10.8
4. ‘23 June: 10.9
5. ‘23 May: 12.4
6. ‘21 Apr: 13.2
7. ‘23 Apr: 14.4
8. ‘20 Aug: 19.0
9. ‘18 Aug: 19.1
10. ‘22 June: 19.6

How was he such a different player in ‘23?

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@SleeperMets @StevePhillipsGM @MLBNetwork - Rotation is objectively better. Added Peralta and have a more experienced McLean.
- Defense is objectively better. Semien, Robert, anyone that’s not Pete.
- Williams is just as good as Edwin and was better from 20-24. Let’s not forget Edwin’s first season in NY (5.59 ERA).

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@tclaro @bigishyanks87 @StoolBaseball @ChrisKlemmer Judge (2022-25, 4yr):
9.0 bWAR/yr
10.1 bWAR/162

Trout (2012-19, 8yr):
9.0 bWAR/yr
10.0 bWAR/162

Ironic to be using Trout’s longevity but there’s definitely an argument for either. Judge is a better hitter but it’s easy to forget how much of an all around stud prime Trout was.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@bigishyanks87 @StoolBaseball @ChrisKlemmer I think they’re both first ballot legends. Peak Judge is better than peak Trout, but Trout peaked for 8 years (2012-19) and Judge only 3 of the last 4. Pre-2022 Judge was really good, but he wasn’t on prime Trout’s level. 2022-25 Judge is a god.

Judge (17-25) v Trout (12-19)

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@StoolBaseball @ChrisKlemmer Mookie is undoubtedly first ballot. The cumulative stats matter but not when you’re an all around stud at his level. Kirby got in first ballot and Mookie is pretty definitively better.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@DanClarkSports Pedro in 2000 was better:

11.7 WAR
1.74 ERA
291 ERA+
0.737 WHIP
8.88 K/BB

The next closest ERA in the AL was Roger Clemens at 3.70

Next closest to Gibson were Bob Veale (2.05), Koosman (2.08), Steve Blass (2.12), Drysdale (2.15), Seaver (2.20), etc

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@Kevin_Hitt @jonmorosi Arraez’s career stats with two outs and a runner on third:

46 PA
.189/.348/.189/.537

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@GolfChannel @bobdoessports @BreezyGlf @PGAShow Slim Furyk

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@sg_412Fan @LobsterRollLI @JesseBarfield29 @baseballhall I agree (besides Mauer since C standards are different). Just trying to see how far the Yankee bias goes. If it was my HOF, Wright and Mattingly would both be in (along with many others), but based on the current HOF and who’s in/out, they aren’t HOFers.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@DaveEsslinger @JesseBarfield29 The big difference? Kirby won 2 rings with a franchise that hadn’t won since 1924 (and hasn’t since), but Mattingly couldn’t even make the playoffs on Steinbrenner’s Yankees, even with other HOF/borderline HOF teammates during his prime.

[Zucchini Mike @zucchini_mike]

@LobsterRollLI @sg_412Fan @JesseBarfield29 @baseballhall Would you also say David Wright belongs in? Better overall hitter, more HR and higher WAR in less games, more playoff wins, also played “gold glove” defense in NYC (at a tougher position), and also had his career stifled by a bad back.