Michael Baumann blogs.fangraphs.com Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports Earlier today, Dan Szymborski examined the state of left field. Now we turn our attention to those who roam center. So much of evaluating and utilizing center fielders comes down to what you want. It’s easy to forget sometimes that this is an […]
Michael Baumann
A Field Guide to Young AL West Catchers of the Tempe-Mesa Region
Michael Baumann blogs.fangraphs.com Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports The cradle of major league baseball in the spring is in the Phoenix metro area, where every February the league rises from the ashes of the previous season like, well, you know. Unlike their Grapefruit League counterparts, the Cactus League teams are fairly […]
Michael Fulmer: The Ex-Tiger In Spring
Michael Baumann blogs.fangraphs.com Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports In April 2016, a 23-year-old part-time plumber from Oklahoma showed up in Detroit, learned a changeup, and immediately became one of the best pitchers in the American League. In the previous two seasons, the Tigers had lost David Price, Max Scherzer, and Rick […]
U.S. Advances Out of WBC Pool C in Superstar-Spangled Fashion
Michael Baumann blogs.fangraphs.com PHOENIX – It was a nervy affair from start to finish, but Team USA is through to the knockout stage of the World Baseball Classic. Short on big league pitchers and star power, Colombia nevertheless hung in against the U.S. thanks to excellent defense and shrewd plate […]
Edwin Díaz, Power, Money, and the Future of International Baseball
Michael Baumann blogs.fangraphs.com Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports When Edwin Díaz fell to the LoanDepot Park turf on Wednesday night, moments after closing out one of the most exciting and important contests of the WBC so far, his injury immediately overshadowed the immense gravity of the game that had preceded it. […]