Matt Mocarsky
Bio
Matt is an undergrad at the UConn School of Business. He knows that Joey Votto has been in an MLB leading 434 3-0 counts since 2010, and that Carlos Santana is second with only 388. You can follow him on twitter @matthewmocarsky.
Stories (11/0)
Qualifying Offer Part Two: Pitchers
The World Series may have been an incredible finish to the 2017 season, but baseball is a 365-day business. All thirty teams had until the afternoon of November 6 to issue a qualifying offer to any of their pending free agents. The qualifying offer is a one-year deal with a value equal to the average of MLB’s top 125 salaries in the most current season. This year, the value is $17.4 million.
By Matt Mocarsky6 years ago in Unbalanced
Qualifying Offer Part One: First Base
The World Series may have been an incredible finish to the 2017 season, but baseball is a year round business. All 30 teams had until the afternoon of November 6 to issue a Qualifying Offer to any of their pending free agents. The Qualifying Offer is a one year deal with a value equal to the average of MLB’s top 125 salaries in the most current season. This year, the value is $17.4 million.
By Matt Mocarsky6 years ago in Unbalanced
Bullpenning and Usage Featuring Brandon Morrow
After a year in which he notched a stellar K-BB% of 24.1 percent, Brandon Morrow fashioned himself into the most trusted reliever in the Dodgers bullpen not named Kenley Jansen. Morrow has appeared in 12 of the Dodgers 13 games this postseason, including every single game of the World Series. If 2016 was the year of bullpen usage in the highest leverage situations, 2017 has been the year of bullpen usage, period. Much has been made of the idea that “bullpenning” games work in the playoffs after Joe Girardi used his bullpen to shut the Twins down in the AL Wild Card Game. While a team with viable pitching depth, such as New York or Houston, can afford to pull their starters after two times through the order, let’s consider the toll bullpenning takes on individuals who are heavily counted on.
By Matt Mocarsky6 years ago in Unbalanced
The Numbers Say Lance Mccullers' Future Is in the Rotation
After stymying the Yankees offense over the course of four shutout innings in the decisive Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, questions have arisen regarding Lance McCullers. Is he durable enough to be a starting pitcher? Is he effective enough over the course of a game to be a starting pitcher? If the answer to either or both of those is no, does that mean McCullers will end up being a reliever who can go multiple innings?
By Matt Mocarsky6 years ago in Unbalanced
Aaron Judge Has Been Great in October. Umpires Have Failed Him.
After a record-setting rookie season that may earn him the American League Most Valuable Player award, Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge has put himself in the record books in the postseason. The record he broke? Most strikeouts in a postseason series. Judge managed to do that in the five game ALDS against the Indians, striking out 16 times in only 20 at-bats. It’s incredible that he struck out 80% of the time in that series, and he’s continued that trend into the ALCS as well. Through five games, Astros pitchers have struck out Judge eight times in 16 at-bats, which is good for a 50% strikeout rate. Overall, he’s running a 60% strikeout rate in the playoffs, and yet he somehow has put up a .847 On Base+Slugging% (OPS).
By Matt Mocarsky6 years ago in Unbalanced
Tinkering with the Yankees' ALCS Roster
After an impressive win in the American League Division Series against the Indians, Joe Girardi is a good manager again! Like many baseball fans were last Friday after Game 2, we will be playing “manager” as the Yankees set themselves up for the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros. There are a quite a few things to consider, but before we do, let’s have New York’s ALDS roster on hand for reference:
By Matt Mocarsky7 years ago in Unbalanced
One More Big Hit from Carlos Beltran
The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox just wrapped up the end of their American League Division Series, with Houston coming on top by winning three games to one. The fact that the series did not go the distance will suggest, in hindsight, that there wasn’t much to it in terms of drama. This would be an oversight, as anyone who watched the whole series would tell you.
By Matt Mocarsky7 years ago in Unbalanced
The Yankees Struck Gold on Aaron Hicks
While the top prospects from the Yankees farm system quickly matriculate to the majors, one player acquired in General Manager Brian Cashman’s retool has proven himself worthy of a prominent long-term role on the club. With the arrivals of Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez to the Bronx, and hot prospects like Gleyber Torres on the way, it’s easy to forget about just how good of a player Aaron Hicks has developed into. Let’s take a brief stroll down memory lane, to Baseball America’s scouting report on Hicks in 2009:
By Matt Mocarsky7 years ago in Unbalanced
I'm Not Saying Jon Gray Isn't Noah Syndergaard...
The Colorado Rockies have had a remarkable season, posting a 84-73 record en route to, according to PECOTA and FanGraphs projections, about a 70% chance of making the playoffs this fall. This is the most success the Rockies have had since 2009, with six miserable seasons sandwiched in the middle. What makes their success this year so interesting is that they have largely been without their ace pitcher, Jon Gray.
By Matt Mocarsky7 years ago in Unbalanced
Gary Sanchez and Mike Trout Are Comparably Dominant
Baseball has never been the same since 2012. That was when Angels center-fielder Mike Trout made his season debut after being recalled from AAA Salt Lake. If you like baseball, then you know what happened next. If you don’t, I’m happy to talk about it. Trout took the league by storm, finishing one of the finest seasons ever by a rookie. Since then, he’s been the best player in the game, and by margins unlike we've seen in awhile.
By Matt Mocarsky7 years ago in Unbalanced
Taijuan Walker Is Starting to Get It
It’s the middle of August, and the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in the thick of the National League Wild Card chase. As it stands today, the D-Backs are in control of the second Wild Card position behind the Colorado Rockies. Arizona’s success has come on the strength of their starting pitching, which has accumulated the third most Wins Above Replacement in Major League Baseball, according to FanGraphs. One of their best starters this year has been longtime object-of-attention Taijuan Walker, who is our topic of discussion today.
By Matt Mocarsky7 years ago in Unbalanced
