Chris Volckmann: April 2010

Monday, April 19, 2010

I know I've been on a baseball kick lately, but what can I say? It's April. I love that FanGraphs decided to prove that the "Dave Duncan Effect" is real and awesome. As a Cards fan by marriage, I witnessed first hand Jeff Weaver pitching like an allstar in the World Series. I knew that one or more of the following things had happened:

1. Weaver had made a deal with the devil Robert Johnson style, a deal for which he's currently paying for by pitching out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.

2. LaRussa had a Jeff Weaver suit manufactured and sent Chris Carpenter out to the mound wearing it.

3. Dave Duncan is one hell of a pitching coach.

I'm still not convinced that 1 is a myth, but FanGraphs proved that 3 is a reality.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Vans x SF

Only 12 pairs made. Ugh. I guess I won't be getting a pair of these. But my wife proved once again how much she rocks when she surprised me with a couple pairs of the Adidas At-At Walkers.

Giants Fans, Meet Sabermetrics

Bay City Ball has been around since late 2006, but with a rise in the popularity of sabermetrics and the honor of being added to Rob Neyer's Sweet Spot Network on ESPN.com, it's quickly become an essential for Giants fans.

Self advertised as an "intelligent forum where people can discuss the Giants and other baseball happenings" it's a pretty fascinating blog, and author Chris Quick offers some great assessment of all things Gigantes. Apparently ESPN thinks so as well, as Quick got to write the blurb about the Giants in the latest "Power Rankings" (where we currently sit #4 btw..). I love the fastball graph (above) depicting Lincecum's fastball velocity over the course of his 7 innings in Houston. Not too bad considering everyone was nervous about his velo drop in the spring.