Abomination

I think my vote might go to Kimbrel in 2012, who somehow managed a 0.88 xFIP and 0.654 WHIP (only 3.9 hits / 9). He and Gagne are the only two in the discussion though imo.

If you're mixing up the different kinds of fastballs, I'm not sure you would have to. You'd just have to stay unpredictable with overall pitch selection between the fastball (all kinds) and off-speed stuff.

Heh, now there's a list no one would ever have picked (rolls eyes). Percentages are interesting on the 4-seam. I've always felt that pitchers shouldn't limit themselves to one kind of fastball. Use the 4 seam high, sinker low, 2 seam and cutter in.

It seems like AA knew about the trade well ahead of time (and indicated most GMs did if I remember right). He seemed clearly frustrated, and said something along the lines of Dombrowski having something very specific in mind as a return, and that the Jays didn't have those players he wanted. The point is, it seems that Fister WAS shopped at least to some degree and Dombrowski had clearly talked to a lot of GMs about it, so I don't buy that this had anything to do with AA. He simply had a specific return in mind and wasn't going to take superior packages over what his mind was stuck on wanting imo.

Looks like a pitcher that throws in the low 90's. Can't easily find anything else out.

I bet there's probably a university or two with at least one course on hunting it. It's astonishing what some high end universities get away with offering these days

I hope you learned your lesson

Interesting linked article at the bottom of that one saying that Hayhurst and Morris won't be back next year.

It is the origin, the constructs creating it are outside the structure of our universe (I think). Anyhow, back to topic

I think I tried to answer that earlier in the thread, but I'm not 100% sure I got it right.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind taking a chance on him, but not sure if I'd give him a guaranteed spot.

Koji's numbers are completely insane. His age is a concern, but man alive can he pitch. I mean, last year he had a .565 WHIP and a k/bb ratio of over 11! How does that even happen?

I'd probably take Jansen over everyone except Kimbrel and Chapman. Koji and Holland would likely round it out.

That assumes that it did indeed come from nothing, but I believe at least some current theories do not make this assumption. KCJaysFan would probably be able to explain it better than I can though. I believe one of the theories (based on string theory) suggest that it started as a 9 dimensional string with confined dimensions of equal size. Interactions with strings wound in the opposite direction (anti-strings) caused the string to stop confining three of those dimensions (in a process similar to matter/antimatter reactions), which released the dimensions and allowed them to expand outwards. A second theory suggests that the universe was created by a collision between two infinite 3-branes (structures containing 3 out of a certain number of allowable, in this case infinite, dimensions I think. This is getting way outside my comfort area). The energy generated by the collision creates the construct of the universe, pushing the branes apart. The resulting universe goes through phases, beginning with the big bang, then a period dominated by radiation, then matter (our period), then dark energy, then a contraction phase. Like I said though, KCJaysFan may be able to better explain it / correct me on it. Regardless, I don't have a problem with (serious) religion as I think a lot of people need to have something to believe in. Without that, society would probably crumble. That doesn't mean that everyone needs it. It doesn't mean that if you believe in these theories you can't also believe in God. My personal opinion is that if I have to believe in something that is essentially eternal (either by definition or by operating outside the laws of our universe), that I choose to believe there is some kind of intelligence behind it. I don't however believe that everything that happens in day to day life does so for some greater purpose.

You really have to include the posting fee in Darvish's cost to the Rangers. He would be getting a hell of a lot more if the posting fee was only 20M then.

Drabek threw at the end of last year (in the majors), and was hitting 95mph and averaging 92.7 on the fastball. Unless he blows out the arm a third time, he'll almost certainly pitch in the majors again (and I suspect he may break camp as one of the starters). The depth next year looks to be fantastic, which will probably (but hopefully not) be critical to our success. Now that we have it, we'll probably only have to use 5 starters all season. Murphy's Law and all that. I really believe we only need one more guy "guaranteed" to give us 200 innings. We should have the budget for it, or at least be able to make room for it.

Yeah, that was a lot earlier than 2009 though.

Romero in 2009. Cecil gets some votes too probably.

You mean other than Canseco?

I'm not sure I'd put the Mariners that high this year. Another year or two though and I think they absolutely will be.

I know that, my point was that it would be better to replace that system to eliminate all players just being posted for 20M whether they're currently worth it or not in an attempt by the teams to boost their finances. A percentage of the AAV for the years that the player would be under control in Japan would do that.

I think you misunderstood. The team would still have to decide to post the player, and the player would still have to agree to be posted.

I think what they should do is if the player agrees to be posted, a certain percentage of their AAV on the contract (only for the years the Japan team would still have control over them for) goes to the posting team. Maybe that's 25% or 50%, but whatever it is that would seem the best way to approach it. Completely eliminate the bidding nonsense.

Olney writes to his audience and gives them what they want to hear. If he actually believes what he's writing, then he's an idiot for sure. I think I put the odds at 50/50.

That's something that shouldn't be expected. A lot of evaluators seemed to feel he would be a #3 starter with possible #2 upside, but he's not Darvish.