Knuckle Curve - Baseball News

December 31st, 2007

Looking Back on 2007

   Photo by Mayr, some rights reserved
Well, that was quick. Another year gone by already? Hey, I still can’t believe it’s not the ’90s.
Anywho, thanks to everyone who stopped by and participated here at Knuckle Curve during 2007. As a way of wrapping things up, so to speak, here’s a quick look at the most popular […]

By Geoff Young -- 6 comments

November 28th, 2007

Rangers Sign Madrigal

I don’t always point out minor-league transactions, but in this case I’ll make an exception because, well, it fascinates me. The Texas Rangers have signed right-hander Warner Madrigal, formerly with the Angels.
Why I find this story interesting:

Warner Madrigal is a great name. If the kid doesn’t make it in baseball, perhaps he could try his […]

By Geoff Young -- 0 comments

November 13th, 2007

It Came from CHONE!

The 2008 CHONE projections for hitters are available. Here are a few key free agents lines:

Barry Bonds: .272/.446/.558
Alex Rodriguez: .303/.420/.588
Kosuke Fukudome: .283/.373/.465
Torii Hunter: .282/.345/.491
Andruw Jones: .246/.339/.472
Mike Lowell: .283/.346/.455
Aaron Rowand: .277/.343/.443
Mike Cameron: .246/.331/.435
Mike Piazza: .260/.321/.430
Sammy Sosa: .234/.303/.418
Julio Franco: .231/.307/.324

I hope Franco keeps playing till he’s 50. Anyway, download the whole dealio and entertain yourself for hours…
Like […]

By Geoff Young -- 4 comments

November 8th, 2007

Free Agent Third Basemen?

Baseball-Reference’s Play Index tool now provides the option to search only for current free agents. This is handy for determining things like how totally hosed you are if you’re trying to fill a void at third base via free agency and can’t afford Alex Rodriguez.
Like what you just read? Subscribe to Knuckle Curve and you’ll […]

By Geoff Young -- 0 comments

November 1st, 2007

Elias Rankings Are Here

Yep, that goofy system MLB employs to determine compensatory picks for loss of free agents is back with the sort of rankings we’ve come to expect. USA Today has made the entire lists available:

AL Elias rankings
NL Elias rankings

Quick show of hands: Who thinks Chuck James is worth more than Matt Cain?
Right.
Anyway, if you’re trying to […]

By Geoff Young -- 0 comments

September 30th, 2007

Preseason Picks Revisited: NL Central

Preseason Picks Revisited
The story so far:

AL West
AL Central
AL East
NL West

Ladies and gentlemen, the least interesting division in Major League Baseball:

Cubs – Somebody had to win the division; it might as well be the team that spent $300 million on free agents.
Astros – Why did I like this team so much? Perhaps their recent track record […]

By Geoff Young -- 0 comments

September 17th, 2007

2008 Baseball Free Agents

Ballhype - 2008 Baseball Free Agents
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Happy Monday, folks! I was just rummaging through my server stats and noticed that a lot of people are looking for information on the 2008 free agent class (perhaps they wanted this post?). I won’t reinvent the wheel, but I’m more than happy to point y’all in the right direction:

2008 […]

By Geoff Young -- 7 comments

August 6th, 2007

How’s That Big Money Workin’ For You?

Three free agents were signed for $100 million or more this past winter. Presumably if they’re worth that much money, they must be helping their new teams in a big way, right?

Six-Figure Free Agents, Class of 2007

Player
Team
2006
2007
Diff

Statistics courtesy of ESPN and Baseball-Reference.

Alfonso Soriano
Cubs
66-96
.407
58-52
.527
+.120

Barry Zito
Giants
76-85
.472
47-62
.431
-.041

Carlos Lee
Astros
82-80
.506
48-63
.432
-.074

Soriano has done a nice job (.297/.336/.511) so far, although he’s […]

By Geoff Young -- 0 comments