Hitting for the Cycle #13
A Sunday Review - April 17, 2022
📖 What I’m Reading:
NFBC Main Event: Fever Dream - Ryan Rufe
Ryan Rufe is chronicling his first journey into playing the 15-team NFBC Main Event this year. Ryan goes through an extensive analysis of how he constructed his roster and the players he was contemplating each round. In addition, he explains how you can qualify to play in the NFBC Main Event without having to pay the $1,750 entry fee. As with most things in life, it may not be easy, but it’s possible. In Ryan’s article, he also details some of his research tools he plans on using this year. Having all the tools at your disposal is great, but as Ryan points out, it’s really about investing the time and having the patience for a 26 week season grind. Look forward to reading future installments of Ryan’s in-season observations and strategies this year. You can read and listen to more of Ryan’s fantasy baseball analysis as he writes about closers for RotoWire, and also joins the Pull Hitter Podcast every Fridays to discuss setting lineups for the weekend and the next week ahead.
🎧 What I’m Hearing:
Wins Above Fantasy Episode 51: Meaningful Week One Takeaways
One of my new favorite fantasy baseball podcasts this season is Wins Above Fantasy. I think Van Burnett and Steve Gesuele do a fantastic job blending player analysis and explaining fantasy metrics. In their latest episode, they discuss the all too early season first week results, and try to determine whether any small samples can give insight into contemplating early-season moves. Though there is not enough data for most metrics to stabilize, they suggest looking at plate discipline, maximum exit velocity, pitch velocity and pitch mix change during this early part of the season. Van and Steve then take those four early metrics, and discuss a number of players that are having both positive and negative outcomes. Good player suggestions, and perhaps some might still be available on your league’s waiver wire, so make sure you give this episode a listen.
📊 Metric of the Week:
Maximum Exit Velocity (maxEV)
MaxEV is a singular batted ball event (BBE) that measures a player’s hardest hit ball. A very general conclusion from this one time event is that it can help show the capable ceiling strength of a player. It’s practical on its own if you are just researching for raw power as it doesn’t need a large sample size since it is just one data point. When we don’t have a lot of data, it can be most helpful early season as an indicator of power or for younger players just coming up from the minors. On its own, maxEV can be a broad indicator of power, but it really needs to be combined with other metrics, most notably launch angle, to unlock whether a hitter has an improved quality of contact. Remember, the harder a ball is hit the greater probability for better outcomes.
💬 Quote of the Week:
“Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you’re wasting your life.”
- Jackie Robinson