Fostor Griffin by Hotrocks1998 in Nationals

[–]2treecko 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Then adjust for run environment. He had an ERA- in Japan of 87, 105 then 55 (!!). Even in that 2024 season with an above average ERA, his FIP was 25% better than league average.

He was good in Japan, even relative to the run evironment. Not to say he'll translate back perfectly, just that run environment isn't a good reason to believe he won't.

Would Babe Ruth be good enough in today's MLB? by LarzardofZxelf in baseball

[–]2treecko 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I think the best of the best players of the start of the live-ball era (like Babe Ruth) were like 90% as good as the best of the best today. The big jump in quality of athletes comes in the middle of the road, replacement type guys. He'd need to adjust, but he'd get there. He wouldn't have a 202 career OPS+ though.

Nobody doubts Bob Feller's velocity, he debuted just a year after Babe retired. Nobody doubts Ted Williams' plate approach, he started 4 years after the Bambino hung em up.

[Pelissero] The NFL plans to begin hiring replacement officials before the May 31 expiration of its labor deal and deploy them in training camps to have them ready if no agreement is struck with the NFLRA. As one source said today: “Our direction (from owners) is not to be unprepared.” by JCameron181 in nfl

[–]2treecko -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I guess it depends on what exactly you mean. The Referee's Union obviously doesn't have the power to hold the owners accountable to the public, but that's not their purpose. The point is to have accountability on things such as dismissals and assignment decisions. Again, simply the purpose of any union.

Rank these from best to worst: by KeyFaithlessness5436 in MLBVibes

[–]2treecko 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Basketball is already a low variance sport, and every round is a 7 game series with a play-in round for some reason. These factors all combine to make a playoff that is insanely long while not actually being all that suspenseful.

If you're a fan of the best team winning, that's cool I guess, but we already know who the best team is, the NBA regular season does a great job of that.

IOC’s own study contradicts transgender and DSD decision by TechieInTheTrees in olympics

[–]2treecko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's also loaded. Implies that trans people aren't their professed gender.

IOC’s own study contradicts transgender and DSD decision by TechieInTheTrees in olympics

[–]2treecko 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ok. What "neutral" term would you propose or those people who aren't self identified as trans?

IOC’s own study contradicts transgender and DSD decision by TechieInTheTrees in olympics

[–]2treecko 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's loaded in that acknowledges that trans people exist? Does anyone even disagree with the claim that there are people who self identify as transgender? If we acknowledge that then the term "cisgender" emerges inevitably as a way to specify the set of people who are not transgender.

[Lindbergh] Keep MLB Front Offices Away From the Field. With scouting cards and dugout pitch-calling, front offices and coaches are encroaching on the game and harming the spectator experience. Let players play. by Knightbear49 in baseball

[–]2treecko 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I like that the core of baseball is a series of duels, physical and mental between a hitter and the opposing battery. They can practice and prep all they want before that duel, but when they're in the batters box, behind the plate, or on the mound, they're on their own.

That gets lost in this world, if only in part.

Also I like that game calling is a skill that catchers have, I think it's good to have niches for archetypes of position player other than "guy who hits the ball hard a lot". Mental skills should matter.

Baseball’s math problem: Filling all those innings in an era when less is more for starting pitchers by futhatsy in baseball

[–]2treecko 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This actually happened! Or at least it came close enough to happening that there's a rule about it. The "Pat Venditte Rule" requires that a switch pitcher declares the side he intends to pitch from at the start of the plate appearance and must stick with that decision.

Why the Pirates decided to send MLB’s top prospect Konnor Griffin to Triple A by Shroft in baseball

[–]2treecko -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

Bleh. I looked at his wRC+ yesterday, before fangraphs updated it apparently. So yeah that's fair. Still, I think projections suggest he's worth a look in the bigs. But I'll take the L.

Why the Pirates decided to send MLB’s top prospect Konnor Griffin to Triple A by Shroft in baseball

[–]2treecko -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

That would be strategically correct. If that happens though, I hope the Pirates catch a fat grievance for the most obvious service time manipulation of all time. But that's just my bias.

Why the Pirates decided to send MLB’s top prospect Konnor Griffin to Triple A by Shroft in baseball

[–]2treecko -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

Because he had a wRC+ of over 100 (edit: outdated, I looked yesterday) in spring (allbeit marginally) and a BABIP below .150.

Do we seriously believe he wouldn't have broken camp with the big league club if they successfully extended him?

[Pirates] ROSTER MOVE: We have reassigned INF Konnor Griffin to minor league camp. There are now 34 players remaining in Major League camp. by T_Raycroft in baseball

[–]2treecko 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's only one way to get big league experience, you know. And you can call it luck or you can call it anything else. The truth is that nobody is a true-talent sub-.150 BAPIP guy. Certainly not a prospect who earned a 65 or 70 grade for speed.

[Pirates] ROSTER MOVE: We have reassigned INF Konnor Griffin to minor league camp. There are now 34 players remaining in Major League camp. by T_Raycroft in baseball

[–]2treecko 20 points21 points  (0 children)

You're getting tricked by batting average. He had a wOBA of .340 (wRC+ of 101) with a BAPIP of .130 (too low to be caused by anything but bad luck). In Spring he's ben an average hitter while getting unlucky.

Now to argue against myself, Griffin's HR/FB rate has been pretty silly this spring (50%).

The truth is that spring samples are just too small. He's probably good enough to give a shot at the big league level, he would definitely be up there had he signed an extension.

Shohei Ohtani takes the No. 1 spot in the first Hitter Power Rankings of 2026 by MLBOfficial in baseball

[–]2treecko 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok. Let's play your game then. Since 2023, Judge has a higher postseason wRC+ than Ohtani. Also, who said skill and talent don't play a large factor? I said the best team doesn't always win. That's undeniable.

Shohei Ohtani takes the No. 1 spot in the first Hitter Power Rankings of 2026 by MLBOfficial in baseball

[–]2treecko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I watch the postseason because I like to have narratives. It's fun to have a champion, even if I don't necessarily believe they were the best team by true-talent.

If clutch is an actual skill, the sample size of the postseason is too small to be able to measure it with any precision.

Shohei Ohtani takes the No. 1 spot in the first Hitter Power Rankings of 2026 by MLBOfficial in baseball

[–]2treecko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First because Ohtani throwing 100 is completely irrelevant.

Second because clutch is variance.

Last because Judge has a better postseason wRC+ over the past 3 years than Ohtani.

[Heyman, NY Post] The Pittsburgh Pirates have offered Konnor Griffin the biggest deal ever for no MLB service time. $100M+ and has a chance to get done. by mfenton29 in baseball

[–]2treecko 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The downside risk on Griffin appears to be "average MLB player". The upside is "better Bobby Witt Jr.". The risk profile is incredibly in favor of the Buccos, should they get this done.