1. Chicago Cubs Notes: Tom Gorzelanny Faces Jason Marquis, Matt Murton Recalled

    I've looked at both Tom Gorzelanny and Jason Marquis in the past couple months. Hit the links if you want to see their stuff in PITCHf/x. Now, the news.......

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 304 reads 0 comments

  2. Toronto Blue Jays Return Randy Wells to the Chicago Cubs

    Rule V draftee Randy Wells was sent back to the Cubs today after clearing waivers. The Blue Jays had hoped to keep Wells but were unable to work out a deal with the Cubs.The Cubs must like him...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 720 reads 5 comments

  3. Coffey Spills - Cubs vs. Reds

    Red's reliever Todd Coffey had an honest appraisal of his outing against the Cubs on Tuesday night"The way I'm throwing right now, I'm embarrassed," Coffey said on Wednesday...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 290 reads 1 comments

  4. Soriano to DL, Eric Patterson recalled

    Big surprise to me, Matt Murton stays in Iowa, Eric Patterson comes up to take Alfonso Soriano's roster spot. I suspect this means even more AB's in left for Mark DeRosa...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 162 reads 0 comments

  5. Chicago Cubs-Cincinnati Reds: Mid-Game Update

    We're almost half-way through tonight's game, and the Cubs are down a run and a player.Alfonso Soriano strained his right calf on a routine fly-ball-third out in the first inning...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 505 reads 0 comments

  6. Chicago Cubs Pitching Staff: Thinking about Release Points

    I've been looking at a way to get at arm angle and location on the rubber via PITCHf/x. I've added height to my database, just for the Cubs at the moment, to help put some stuff together...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 384 reads 1 comments

  7. Arizona Baseball: Mark Grace Gets Honor From D-Backs

    Yes, legendary Arizona first baseman Mark Grace is part of the venerable 10th Anniversary Team for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 2001 World Series champions dominate the squad, otherwise, I'm sure Tony Clark or Erubiel Durazo would get the nod...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 358 reads 0 comments

  8. Chicago Cubs Escape Philadelphia, Avoid Sweep

    In their third extra-inning game of the road trip, Kerry Wood threw two shutout innings for the win.The umpires, with a generous fair call on Mark DeRosa's home run, helped out...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 309 reads 0 comments

  9. Chicago-Cincinnati: Cubs Return Home to Face Reds

    After a six game, seven day swing through Pennsylvania, the Cubs start a three game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.The first two home night games of the season will kick off the homestand...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 475 reads 0 comments

  10. Dan Fox on PITCHf/x "pitch_type"

    As I've noted a few times, the Gameday pitch ID's are a little odd. Not like mine are perfect, but one issue has been addressed, per Dan Fox at BP's Unfiltered Blogas of ...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 191 reads 0 comments

  11. Cubs-Phillies: Chicago Looks to Bounce Back Against Phillies' Jamie Moyer

    With just a few hours to recover from a rough beating at the hands of Cole Hamels, the Cubs need a win Sunday to turn the season's first road trip into a winning one...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 389 reads 0 comments

  12. Cubs Facing Phillies' Pitcher Cole Hamels on Saturday

    Cole Hamels, one of the best young pitchers in the game, will try and give the Phillies a second straight win against the Cubs. Using over 800 pitches from July 2007 thru last week, I'm able to pick out three pitches in the PITCHf/x data...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 245 reads 2 comments

  13. Chicago Cubs Not Quite as Ready for Phillies as I Thought

    The Jimmy Rollins-less Phillies were too much to handle. Brett Myers pitched very well Friday, despite yielding gopher balls to Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano. Carlos Zambrano took the loss in six so-so innings of work...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 286 reads 1 comments

  14. Jason Marquis Set to Pitch Sunday; Cubs Ready for Phillies Tonight

    In an article from MLB.com on Jamie Moyer's longevity, Jason Marquis is listed as Sunday's starter. I'm glad to hear Jason's feeling better and that no emergency starter is needed...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 233 reads 0 comments

  15. Chicago Road Trip Continues: Cubs to Face Brett Meyers in Philadelphia

    With Jason Marquis out until at least Sunday, Lou has had to shuffle the rotation. Given the days off, Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly now go on their normal rest in the first two games...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 223 reads 0 comments

  16. MLB's Most Impressive Curves

    In Effective Curves, I looked at the best curveballs in terms of actual effectiveness. This time, it's impressive curveballs, the ones with the biggest drop or sweep.I'm going to dump a lot of data on ya here, so hold on tight...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 425 reads 3 comments

  17. Chicago-Pittsburgh: Cubs Win Fifth Straight

    Matt Morris took one for the team, as the Pirates starter spent seven innings on the mound, despite giving up a five-spot in the sixth. He threw 112 pitches before yielding to Evan Meek...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 471 reads 0 comments

  18. Chicago Cubs: Felix Pie Not Getting Any Better

    Felix Pie has put up great numbers at a young age, in the Minor Leagues. Thing is, he's pretty hideous in the bigs. His lack of zone judgment is very clear just watching him hit, and the PITCHf/x data has supported that...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 134 reads 0 comments

  19. Cubs-Pirates: Chicago Goes for the Sweep Against Matt Morris

    Cubs take on Pittsburgh for what I can only hope will be a nine inning game. The first two games covered 27 innings and a lot of, shall we say, interesting baseball. Up two to none, the Cubs go for the sweep against Matt Morris...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 167 reads 0 comments

  20. Chicago Cubs: Cliff Floyd's Alarming Consistency

    Cliff went back to the DL, an all too familiar place. The Rays knew the risk of signing him, and the Cubs know the effect. Even if you throw out his September call-up in 1993, Cliff has averaged less than 109 games per season, though 2007...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 323 reads 0 comments

  21. Chicago Cubs: Marquis Ill, Marshall Up, Piggy Down

    Marquis may not make his start tomorrow, so Hill is on call. It is not his turn, but it is his fifth day. Marshall is up to take his spot, if needed. Carmen Pignatiello was sent down to make room...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 149 reads 0 comments

  22. MLB News: Matt Craig likes to play, so does Aramis Ramirez

    Matt Craig landed back in Tennessee this year, despite being 27 and more than ready for AAA.The Dallas native batted a respectable ...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 308 reads 0 comments

  23. MLB Pitchers: Top Ten Effective Curveballs

    Who has the most effective curveball? Taking all the curveballs together, the average outcomes in terms of Home Runs allowed, Swings and Whiffs, B:CS ratio were calculated.First, the benchmarks - league averages...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 2,058 reads 4 comments

  24. Chicago Cubs Inherit Earth

    Really, Evan Meek gave it up.The Cubs drew 11 free passes in 12 innings. That's just one less than Neifi Perez drew in all of 2006 and 2007 (387 PA).Then Evan Meek gave up five all by himself, along with two wild pitches...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 481 reads 2 comments

  25. Zach Duke Wednesday

    The Cubs enjoy a day off before facing their 2nd straight, and 2nd of 2008, lefty starter. Zach Duke has beaten the Cubs before, but they've had their days, too. See this post for more on that...

    Harry Pavlidis Written by Harry Pavlidis about 5 years ago 257 reads 0 comments