Despite the fact that most of his daily nutrition is derived from spreadsheets and decimal points, noted and famous sabermetrician Rob Neyer is also partial, it seems, to Rice Krispies Treats — photographic evidence of which fact has been captured via an internet Twitter message by Dave Cameron and rendered here, for the Enjoyment of the Public, into a fine oil painting by the present author.
According to PITCHf/x data at Texas Leaguers, Twins and Team USA catcher Joe Mauer posted a swinging-strike rate of just 2.4% against four-seam fastballs in 2012. As the footage here demonstrates, his swinging-strike rate against Pirates and Team Canada right-hander Jameson Taillon is higher than that at the moment.
After striking out 135 batters in 114.2 innings last year as a freshman, NC State left-hander Carlos Rodon entered the present season as one of collegiate baseball’s most notable draft-ineligible prospects.
Rodon’s first four starts of 2013 have been decidedly mixed: despite posting a 46:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio (for strikeout and walk rates of 47.4% and 8.2%, respectively) in 24.1 innings, he’s conceded four homers and 14 total earned runs — for rather a high 5.18 ERA.
Regardless of what might be to blame for Rodon’s difficulties — be it bad luck on home runs per batted ball, the lack of a third pitch with which to neutralize a right-hander’s platoon advantage, or some other cause — it’s manifestly the case that Rodon’s slider is still excellent.
Did, as fourth century theologian St. Athanasius contends in his De Incarnatione, “God [become] man so that man might become God”? It’s not for the present author to say. However, Carlos Rodon’s slider would be decent evidence on behalf of that argument.
Consider an example of same from this past Friday — in this case, to Clemson right fielder Steven Duggar:
This is action footage, first captured and then rendered into GIF form by the author, of Team USA second baseman Brandon Phillips making a decidedly above-average defensive play on a ground ball by Italian right fielder Mario Chiarini.
Humans are capable of this achievement: that’s the point of this dumb post.
Click to acquaint yourself with the truth.
The author of this post is currently enjoying a secret video stream of today’s World Baseball Classic game between North American foes Canada and Mexico.
Watching, but decidedly not enjoying, that same video stream are citizens of the internet TheFranchise29, Fjaschler, Dodgerpreacher, Gigo19, and Cj102 — all of whom would likely have made that play on which former MVP Joey Votto committed a throwing error.
Much like a young John Cusack holding his boombox aloft outside an also-young Ione Skye’s bedroom window, the author both (a) has declared for everyone to hear his feelings about right-handed Pirates prospect Phil Irwin’s curveball and (b) finds no little value in the musical stylings of Mr. Peter Gabriel.
A recent spring-training broadcast of a Red Sox-Pirates game has provided a means by which we might all reacquaint ourselves with what film critic Pauline Kael would likely describe as a “fucking tour de force” were she still alive and also filthier of mouth.
Like on this curveball to Boston shortstop Stephen Drew:
In an attempt to associate himself with something that is both larger and more sexy than his own person, the author has decided he will support Team Italy, which plays at 3pm ET against Mexico, in the World Baseball Classic.
Understanding, however, that naked displays of nationalism are irksome — and also that he is less real Italian, and more of what comedian Mike Birbiglia would call an “Olive Garden Italian” — the author has decided to express his support in the form of a comedy t-shirt (one which, in fact, appears to be officially licensed by the Rocky movie franchise).
That his life is a constant apology for itself, the author is entirely aware.
While acquainting himself with the internet last night, the author found his way to a post by Mop Up Duty’s Callum Hughson from late 2010 regarding retired Cuban shortstop German Mesa. As notes Hughson, Mesa is regarded not only as the best defensive shortstop ever to have played in the Cuban domestic league, but was also an above-average offensive player for much of his career, which lasted from 1986 to 2002, when he retired.
What one learns from the video embedded here is that — regardless of how many runs he saved and/or produced — Mesa is capable of convincing a lone, tired internet surfer that life is not sinkhole of misery.
What else one learns (both from Hughson and the rest of the internet) is this:
• He was nicknamed El Mago (the Magician) and El Imán (the Magnet).
• He played for Industriales for his entire career (except when he played for Metropolitanos, their farm team).
• He slashed .285/.386/.423 in 4,344 career at-bats, probably.
• He was banned for life for 1.5 years between October of 1996 and March of 1998.
• He had terrific rapport, as the video here indicates, with Industriales second baseman Juan Padilla.
In his Discourses, noted Roman Stoic Epictetus proclaims that, to live a life free from anxiety, that each of us must become like a “spiritual athlete.” To that end, NotGraphs presents this exercise, with a view towards helping to tighten and tone the spirits of the readership.
A pair of she-bears take a long loving look at the real while also devouring some children.
Notes
In his challenging text on the nature of the contemplative life, 1974’s The Human Adventure, Carmelite monk William McNamara invites the reader to take what he calls “a long loving look at the real.”
During the final game of Pool A play this morning in Fukuoka (box), Cuban left fielder Alfredo Despaigne either did or did not accept McNamara’s invitation following his eighth-inning home run off Japanese right-hander Takeru Imamura.
To wit:
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It’s possible that the author just traded for computer-generated left-hander Andy Moore of Elizabeth, West Virginia, in his Hardball Dynasty league because of Moore’s relatively balanced platoon splits, above-average control rating, and reasonable salary.
What’s probable, though, is that the author traded for computer-generated left-hander Andy Moore owing to his entirely virtual mustache, which one is forced to assume was stolen from a carnival strongman in the year 1913.
