Daily Tracker, 9/30

Apologies for not updating these yesterday - the numbers today reflect both days.

These posts are a collection of things I'm interested in (feel free to make suggestions) from day-to-day during the season.

• Ryan Braun Update:
  
  • Tonight in the box score: 3-8, 2 2B, 2 BB, 3 K, 4 R, RBI
    
  • Current line on season: .324/.370/.634 (492 PA)
  • Line adjusted for leaderboards: .317/.363/.620 (502 PA)
    
  • Leaderboard ranks: 12 (--)/ 29 (+4)/ 1 (+1)
    
    
• Johnny Estrada Swing Index: Done for the year.
• See here for his final data.
  
  
• See the entry behind the tracking of Langerhans and Borchard.
  
• Ryan Langerhans was 1-1 as a defensive replacement over the weekend.
  
• MLB numbers: 64 TB, 81 SO, 210 AB
  
• AAA numbers: 19 TB, 15 SO, 51 AB
• Total numbers: 78 TB, 96 SO, 259 AB
• As of now, he joins the list in the linked entry.
  
• Joe Borchard is done for the year.
  
  • MLB numbers: 56 TB, 60 SO, 179 AB
  • AAA numbers: 53 TB, 11 SO, 72 AB
  • Total numbers: 109 TB, 71 SO, 251 AB
    
    
• Jimmy Rollins was 3-7 this weekend. He finished the season with 212 hits in 716 at bats. He officially makes the list of players amassing 200 hits in season while batting below .300, though he places above Juan Pierre's record for the lowest batting average. He also set the record for most plate appearances in a single season with 778 (passing Lenny Dykstra's 773 in 1993).
  
  
• Rickie Weeks was 2-9 with a walk. His batting average stayed at .235 and his on base percentage slid to .374. A while ago I put up an entry dealing with similar players. I also posted one about the highest slugging percentages among players with low batting averages.
  
  
• Cubs catchers (with/without Barrett):
  
• Tonight in the box score: 4-7, 2 2B, BB, K, 2 R, RBI
  
• Through June 19: 290 PA, 264 AB, 62 H, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 20 BB, 46 K, 98 TB, .235/.287/.371, .658 OPS
• Since June 19: 373 PA, 327 AB, 79 H, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 32 BB, 53 K, 120 TB, .242/.316/.367, .683 OPS
• Season Line: 663 PA, 591 AB, 141 H, 14 HR, 70 RBI, 52 BB, 99 K, 218 TB, .239/.303/.369, .672 OPS
  
  
• Brewers catchers (splits for continuity with Cubs):
• Tonight in the box score: 1-6, 2B, 2 BB, K, 2 R
  
• Through June 19: 298 PA, 283 AB, 77 H, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 9 BB, 32 K, 113 TB, .272/.300/.399, .699 OPS
• Since June 19: 368 PA, 342 AB, 88 H, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 17 BB, 51 K, 131 TB, .257/.288/.383, .671 OPS
• Season Line: 666 PA, 625 AB, 165 H, 15 HR, 78 RBI, 26 BB, 83 K, 244 TB, .264/.293/.390, .684 OPS
  
  
• 2007 MLB Average Catcher's Line: .254/.317/.392, .709 OPS
  
  
• Players making their MLB debut today (links go to The Baseball Cube):
• Drew Macias, OF, San Diego (Saturday)

On to the playoffs!

Daily Tracker, 9/14

Whoops. I forgot to post this last night - how grossly negligent.

These posts are a collection of things I'm interested in (feel free to make suggestions) from day-to-day during the season.

• Ryan Braun Update:
  
  • Today in the box score: 0-4, 2 K
  • I guess he must have forgotten his HGH dose, huh? :)
    
  • Current line on season: .325/.369/.635 (428 PA)
  • Line adjusted for leaderboards: .305/.349/.597 (453 PA)
    
  • Leaderboard ranks: 15 (--)/ 44 (-4)/ 3 (-1)
    
  • MIL Average PA/G for #3/#4 spot in lineup: 4.50/4.35
  • Projected PA at end of season if in #3/#4 spot for MIL: 500/498
    
    
• Johnny Estrada Swing Index:
  
  • Plate Appearances: 442
    
  • Times Swung at First Pitch: 222
    • Swung at First Pitch Percentage: 50.2%
      
  • Times Made Contact with First Pitch: 195
  • Contact Percentage for First Pitch Swings: 87.8%
    
  • First Pitch Put Into Play: 108
    
  • First Pitch Contact Put Into Play: 55.4%
  • First Pitch Swings Put Into Play: 48.7%
    
  • First Pitch Overall Put Into Play: 24.4%
  • Double Play Opportunities: 77
  • Double Plays Resulting: 15
  • DP Rate: 19.5%
    
    
• See the entry behind the tracking of Langerhans and Borchard.
  
• Ryan Langerhans was a defensive replacement and was pulled for a pinch-hitter before he could bat.
• MLB numbers: 59 TB, 77 SO, 203 AB
  
• AAA numbers: 19 TB, 15 SO, 51 AB
• Total numbers: 78 TB, 92 SO, 252 AB
• As of now, he joins the list in the linked entry.
  
• Joe Borchard is done for the year.
  
  • MLB numbers: 56 TB, 60 SO, 179 AB
  • AAA numbers: 53 TB, 11 SO, 72 AB
  • Total numbers: 109 TB, 71 SO, 251 AB
    
    
• Jimmy Rollins was 1-5 with a stolen base. His season pace is now 210 hits and 712 at bats. He is threatening to join this dubious list. He also is on pace to set the single season at bats record.
  
  
• Rickie Weeks was 1-4 with a strikeout. His batting average stayed at .236 but his on base percentage dipped to .374. A week or so ago I put up an entry dealing with similar players.
  
  
• Cubs catchers (with/without Barrett):
  
• Tonight in the box score: 1-3, BB, SO, R
• Through June 19: 290 PA, 264 AB, 62 H, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 20 BB, 46 K, 98 TB, .235/.287/.371, .658 OPS
• Since June 19: 312 PA, 271 AB, 61 H, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 28 BB, 45 K, 91 TB, .225/.307/.336, .643 OPS
• Season Line: 602 PA, 535 AB, 123 H, 12 HR, 65 RBI, 48 BB, 91 K, 189 TB, .230/.298/.353, .651 OPS
  
  
• Brewers catchers (splits for continuity with Cubs):
• Tonight in the box score: 2-4, HR, R, 3 RBI
  
• Through June 19: 298 PA, 283 AB, 77 H, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 9 BB, 32 K, 113 TB, .272/.300/.399, .699 OPS
• Since June 19: 307 PA, 286 AB, 78 H, 8 HR, 41 RBI, 15 BB, 37 K, 116 TB, .273/.303/.406, .709 OPS
• Season Line: 605 PA, 569 AB, 155 H, 14 HR, 69 RBI, 24 BB, 69 K, 229 TB, .272/.301/.402, .704 OPS
  
  
• 2007 MLB Average Catcher's Line: .254/.317/.394, .711 OPS
  
  
• Players making their MLB debut today (links go to The Baseball Cube):
• None, but how come I've never heard of Jamie Burke before?
  

Daily Tracker, 9/6

Only two National League games and five overall makes for an abbreviated update list:

• Ryan Braun Update:
  
  • Today in the box score: No game
    
  • Current line on season: .334/.379/.649 (398 PA)
  • Line adjusted for leaderboards: .307/.350/.595 (431 PA)
    
  • Leaderboard ranks: 15 (--)/ 42 (--)/ 2 (--)
    
  • PA/G needed to qualify for leaderboards (502) without adjustment at end of season: 4.52
  • Current PA/G since call-up: 4.37
  • MIL Average PA/G for #3/#4 spot in lineup: 4.50/4.36
  • PA's projected lost if in #4 instead of #3 for rest of season: 3.14
    
  • Projected PA at end of season if in #3/#4 spot for MIL: 501.4/498.3
    
    
• Johnny Estrada Swing Index: No game
  
  • Plate Appearances: 425
    
  • Times Swung at First Pitch: 214
    • Swung at First Pitch Percentage: 50.4%
      
  • Times Made Contact with First Pitch: 187
  • Contact Percentage for First Pitch Swings: 87.4%
    
  • First Pitch Put Into Play: 105
    
  • First Pitch Contact Put Into Play Percentage: 56.1%
  • First Pitch Overall Put Into Play Percentage: 24.7%
  • Double Play Opportunities: 75
  • Double Plays Resulting: 15
  • DP Rate: 20.0%
    
    
• Ryan Langerhans did not have a game today.
  
• MLB numbers: 54 TB, 74 SO, 196 AB
  
• AAA numbers: 19 TB, 15 SO, 51 AB
• Total numbers: 73 TB, 89 SO, 247 AB
  
  
• Joe Borchard has not been recalled.
  
  • MLB numbers: 56 TB, 60 SO, 179 AB
  • AAA numbers: 53 TB, 11 SO, 72 AB
  • Total numbers: 109 TB, 71 SO, 251 AB
    
    
• Jimmy Rollins was off today as well. His season pace is 210 hits and 709 at bats.
  
  
• Rickie Weeks was off today. His batting average is .228 but his on base percentage is a nifty .365.
  
  
• Cubs catchers (with/without Barrett):
  
• Tonight in the box score: 0-3, BB
• Through June 19: 290 PA, 264 AB, 62 H, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 20 BB, 46 K, 98 TB, .235/.287/.371, .658 OPS
• Since June 19: 276 PA, 241 AB, 51 H, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 26 BB, 43 K, 74 TB, .212/.298/.307, .605 OPS
• Season Line: 566 PA, 505 AB, 113 H, 11 HR, 60 RBI, 46 BB, 89 K, 172 TB, .224/.293/.341, .633 OPS
  
  
• Brewers catchers (splits for continuity with Cubs):
• Tonight in the box score: No game
• Through June 19: 298 PA, 283 AB, 77 H, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 9 BB, 32 K, 113 TB, .272/.300/.399, .699 OPS
• Since June 19: 281 PA, 263 AB, 69 H, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 14 BB, 36 K, 94 TB, .262/.295/.357, .653 OPS
• Season Line: 579 PA, 546 AB, 146 H, 10 HR, 61 RBI, 23 BB, 68 K, 207 TB, .267/.298/.379, .677 OPS
  
  
• 2007 MLB Average Catcher's Line: .255/.317/.393, .710 OPS
  
  
• Players making their MLB debut today (links go to The Baseball Cube for minor league career numbers):
• Dave Davidson, LHP, PIT

Daily Tracker, 8/27

Today features an abbreviated post because a number of teams had the day off. The guys that did play are below and the rest of the players' numbers can be found here.

• Ryan Braun Leaderboard Ranks: 18 (+3) / 49 (+1) / 7 (--)
  
  
• Ryan Langerhans went 2-6 with a double, walk and three strikeouts for AAA Columbus in the team's doubleheader today.
  
• MLB numbers: 54 TB, 74 SO, 196 AB
  
• AAA numbers: 6 TB, 8 SO, 21 AB
• Total numbers: 60 TB, 82 SO, 217 AB
  
  
• Joe Borchard had an 0-3 day with a walk and a strikeout for AAA Albuquerque. He was also named PCL Offensive Player of the Week for hitting .520 (13-25) with 4 HR and 14 RBI.
  
  • MLB numbers: 56 TB, 60 SO, 179 AB
  • AAA numbers: 48 TB, 8 SO, 47 AB
  • Total numbers: 104 TB, 68 SO, 226 AB
    
    
• Jimmy Rollins was 2-5 today. His season pace is up to 203 hits and 707 at bats.

Daily Tracker, 8/26

Sunday means the work week is just around the corner. To distract you from that dreary fact, some updated data:

• Ryan Braun Update:
  
  
  • Today in the box score: 2-4, HR (25), 3 RBI, K
  • His 25th home run ties him for 16th all-time among first-season players with Orlando Cepeda, Eddie Mathews, Joe Gordon, Dale Alexander, and Del Bissonette.
    
  • Current line on season: .334/.378/.648 (362 PA)
  • Line adjusted for leaderboards: .298/.340/.576 (403 PA)
  • Leaderboard ranks: 21 (+3)/50 (--)/ 7 (+1)
  • PA/G needed to qualify for leaderboards (502) without adjustment at end of season: 4.38
  • Current PA/G since call-up: 4.41
  • MIL Average PA/G for #3/#4 spot in lineup: 4.49/4.35
  • PA's projected lost if in #4 instead of #3 for rest of season: 4
    
  • Projected PA at end of season if in #3/#4 spot for MIL: 506/502
    
    
• Johnny Estrada Swing Index: Did not play today.
  
  
  • Plate Appearances: 396
  • Times Swung at First Pitch: 200
    • Swung at First Pitch Percentage: 50.5%
      
  • Times Made Contact with First Pitch: 176
  • Contact Percentage for First Pitch Swings: 88.0%
    
  • First Pitch Put Into Play: 98
  • First Pitch Contact Put Into Play Percentage: 55.7%
  • First Pitch Overall Put Into Play Percentage: 24.7%
  • Double Play Opportunities: 72
  • Double Plays Resulting: 14
  • DP Rate: 19.4%
    
    
• Ryan Langerhans went 0-3 with a walk and two strikeouts for AAA Columbus.
• MLB numbers: 54 TB, 74 SO, 196 AB
  
• AAA numbers: 3 TB, 5 SO, 15 AB
• Total numbers: 57 TB, 79 SO, 211 AB
  
  
• Joe Borchard had the day off, along with his teammates on AAA Albuquerque.
  
  • MLB numbers: 56 TB, 60 SO, 179 AB
  • AAA numbers: 48 TB, 7 SO, 44 AB
  • Total numbers: 104 TB, 67 SO, 223 AB
    
    
• Jimmy Rollins was 2-4 today. His season pace is up to 202 hits and 706 at bats.
  
  
• Cubs catchers:
  
  
• Tonight in the box score: 1-5, 2B, K
  
• Through June 19: 290 PA, 264 AB, 62 H, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 20 BB, 46 K, 96 TB, .235/.287/.371, .658 OPS
• Since June 19: 238 PA, 208 AB, 44 H, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 23 BB, 40 K, 66 TB, .212/.295/.317, .613 OPS
• Season Line: 528 PA, 472 AB, 106 H, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 43 BB, 86 K, 164 TB, .225/.291/.347, .638 OPS
• 2007 MLB Average Catcher's Line: .253/.315/.389, .704 OPS

Daily Tracker, 8/17

As they say in the suburbs, what are the haps, dude? Well, here are the haps:

• R.J. Braun (seriously, that could be a catalog) Update:
  
  Tonight in the box score: 1-4, CS
  Current line on season: .344/.388/.662 (330 PA)
  Line adjusted for leaderboards: .297/.339/.571 (378 PA)
  Leaderboard ranks: 21/49/8
  
  
• J.P. Estrada Data:
  
  Plate Appearances: 373
  Times Swung at First Pitch: 191
  Times Made Contact with First Pitch: 168
  First Pitch Put Into Play: 93
  Swung at First Pitch Percentage: 51.2%
  Contact Percentage When Swinging at First Pitch: 88.0%
  First Pitch Contact Into Play Percentage: 55.4%
  First Pitch Put Into Play Overall Percentage: 24.9%
  
  Double Play Opportunities: 68
  Double Plays Grounded Into: 14
  DP Rate: 20.6%
  
  
• R.D. Langerhans struck out (surprise!) in his only at bat tonight, giving him 74 SO and 54 TB in 196 AB.
  
  
• J.C. Rollins was 3-6 with two doubles, a strikeout, an an RBI. This brings his pace for the season up to 206 hits in 711 at bats, keeping him on track for the at bats and lowest batting average with 200+ hits in a season records.
  
  
• Cubs Catchers:
  
  Tonight in the box score: 0-3, K
  Through June 19 (Barrett Era): 285 PA, 259 AB, 60 H, 12 2B, 0 3B, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 45 K, 96 TB, 1 SH, 4 SF, 20 BB, 1 HBP, .232/.285/.371
  Since June 20: 211 PA, 183 AB, 37 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 27 RBI, 37 K, 56 TB, 1 SH, 3 SF, 22 BB, 2 HBP, .202/.290/.306
  Season Total: 496 PA, 442 AB, 97 H, 21 2B, 1 3B, 11 HR, 57 RBI, 82 K, 152 TB, 2 SH, 7 SF, 42 BB, 3 HBP, .219/.287/.344
  MLB Average Catcher's Line: .254/.315/.390
  

Daily Tracker, 8/10

The daily tracker posts will be a clearinghouse for various trends or curiosities I've noticed and think are interesting. Simply because I follow the team much more closely than others, more often than not it will be Brewers players featured, though I'm certainly open to suggestions.

Without further ado, the first thing I've been tracking is the offense of the Chicago Cubs' catching staff since June 20, the day Michael Barrett was traded to the San Diego Padres. More recent acquisition Jason Kendall has been on a tear lately (.360/.467/.560 in August, coming into tonight) and that continued in the Cubs' 6-2 win over the Rockies. Kendall went 3-4 with a walk and 2 RBI, bringing his line since joining the Cubs to .317/.414/.417 with 8 RBI in 18 games (71 PA). While that hot streak won't continue forever, he's showing that he can still swing the bat. The Cubs' catching staff's overall stats since June 20:

186 PA, 161 AB, 32 H, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 34 K, 48 TB, 1 SH, 3 SF, 19 BB, 2 HBP, .199/.286/.298

According to Brew Crew Ball, the 2006 league average catcher put up a .269/.329/.416 line to give you an idea just how bad they've been since trading Barrett. To their credit, however, Barrett has actually done worse, so you could argue trading him helped the team offensively. Of course, that's kind of like switching from pouring salt on a wound to pouring sugar. It's less painful, but it doesn't really help matters.

Now for the Brewers I've been keeping an eye on. First, there's been a big deal made about how often Johnny Estrada swings at the first pitch. Here's his relevant data, updated to include tonight's victory over the Astros in 11 innings.

Plate Appearances: 357
Times Swung at First Pitch: 184
Times Made Contact with First Pitch: 162
First Pitch Put Into Play: 88
Swung at First Pitch Percentage: 51.5%
Contact Percentage Swinging at First Pitch: 88.0% (fouls and balls put into play)
First Pitch Contact Into Play Percentage: 54.3%
First Pitch Put Into Play Overall Percentage: 24.6%

So, roughly one out of every two plate appearances sees him hacking at the first pitch and seven out of every eight first pitch swings result in contact. Of those swings, five out of nine are hit into play. Overall, about a quarter of his plate appearances have lasted one pitch. He has a dramatic split relating to this:

First Pitch Put in Play or Taken for Ball: .324/.358/.458 (191 PA)
After 0-1: .239/.241/.380 (166 PA)

It's too small to really say much and I don't know how it holds up over his career, but it's interesting nonetheless. Credit goes to TAPmoney at Brew Crew Ball for suggesting that angle.

The final note I have relates to Brewers rookie third baseman Ryan Braun. For the season, he's now at .345/.390/.655 after his 1 for 6 showing tonight (complete with cheap bloop single). Since being called up, he's amassed 305 plate appearances, leaving him 55 short of qualifying for league leaderboards (3.1*116 Brewers games = 359.6, so 360 PA is the minimum). Thus, when hitching an 0 for 55 collar to his numbers, you get his "leaderboard" line:

.288/.331/.547

Coming into today, that line would have put him 11th in the league for slugging average. Pretty impressive for a guy taking his first crack at the big leagues.