Weekend Round-Up – 3/13/2011

It’s time for our weekly link-o-rama!  Let’s dive right in, shall we?

• Joe Posnanski shares his four favorite offensive metrics:  OPS+, WPA, BABIP, and wOBA.  I’m a huge fan of wOBA, but the inclusion of OPS+ seems a bit redundant, especially when wRC+ is essentially wOBA+.  Still, it’s nice to see a mainstream baseball writer that’s not terrified of non-traditional metrics–Murray Chass, I’m talking about you.
• Speaking of the blogger internet columnist known as Murray Chass, Brien Jackson of IIATMS takes down Andy Rooney’s long lost brother in a riveting three part series:  the Definitive, the Delusional, and the Dishonest.
• On Thursday, Rob Neyer’s Spring Training Question of the Day was about the Boston Red Sox:  Will their luck turn around (even some) in 2011?
• Dave Allen of Fangraphs reviews the ground ball rates of two knuckleballers, and finds that velocity may play a role.
• Joe Pawlikowski explains in clear, plain English why Slowey needs to leave Minnesota.  Honestly, it’d be for the best.  Slowey is an extreme fly ball pitcher, and the Twins outfield defense is about as bad as you can possibly get.
• Matt Klaussen explains why certain pitchers can produce despite low strikeout numbers.
• Bill at the Platoon Advantage put together an incredibly interesting three part piece titled “Your Team’s Worst Best Player.”  In this series, Bill uses Fangraphs WAR grid to determine each team’s best player at their weakest position.  Here are the lists for West, Central, and East.
• David Wade of the Hardball Times wrote a very favorable review of Jonah Keri’s new book The Extra 2%.  I’m currently reading the book.  While I haven’t finished it yet, I strongly recommend picking it up.  It’s well worth the money.
• Is Raul Ibanez finished?  I thought so, but Bill Baer or Crashburn Alley makes a convincing argument that maybe he still has some life left in him.  I have to admit that a 108 wRC+ at age-38 is pretty impressive.  Also, for those who missed it, Bill took my Wednesday article titled “Potential Trade Destinations for Cameron,” and takes it a step further from the Phillies perspective.
• Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness reminds us that there’s no such thing as pitching depth.  He’s right.  Last season 273 pitchers made at least one start.  For the mathematically challenged, that’s 9.1 per team.  Yikes!
• Daniel Moroz of Beyond the Boxscore takes a look at a hitter’s ability to develop plate discipline once he reaches the majors.  Without giving too much away, his findings don’t provide a whole lot of optimism.
• Pip of Fungoes is a bold dude.  He takes on Bill James’s re-evaluation of the defensive spectrum, and makes an incredibly convincing argument.
• Ben Buchanan of Over the Monster shares an excerpt of an editorial written by T.J. Furman of the Philadelphia Enquirer.  While the editorial starts off innocently enough, he ends it by telling Philly fans to “Get your D-cells ready.”  It’s no secret that Philly fans hate themselves some J.D. Drew–a lot.  Still, isn’t it time to get over it?  That was like 13 years ago.  You’ve won a World Series.  Forgive and forget.
• Stephen Rhodes of River Avenue Blues wrote an article today that blew me away.  He digs really deep in looking at the deterioration of AJ Burnett’s curve ball.  Burnett’s curve has long been considered a plus pitch by scouting and statistical measures.  Between 2009 and 2010, he lost 19.9 runs in value off of his curve ball while not losing any velocity.  While I’m not an expert, those statistics (along with the heat maps Rhodes shows) are signs of either an elbow injury or serious mechanical issues.
• Haven’t read enough about Burnett?  Larry Koestler of Yankee Analysts compares Burnett to former teammate (and current rival) Josh Beckett.  Despite public perception, the two are not as different as most assume.
• Rany Jazayerli discusses the ins and outs of the Royals Hall of Fame.  Stop snickering.  Between 1975 and 1986, they were an American League powerhouse.
• Ned Yost wants Billy Butler to do what?  Yes, you read that right.  He wants the lumbering 1B/DH type to steal bases.  I really hate to quote Chris Berman, but I think rumblin’, bumblin’, and stumblin’ is the best way to describe his base running style.  I feel dirty now.  Excuse me while I go take a shower…
• Who doesn’t love Ozzie Guillen? When says things like, ““I’m the Charlie Sheen of baseball without drugs and a prostitute.,” all you can do is chuckle.
• Jack Dickey of Deadspin recaps the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference.
• Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts explores the potential of the Dodger offense.
• Chris Martinez of Baseballin’ on a Budget takes a look at the five best relief pitchers in A’s history.
• Semi-baseball related link of the week – Need any more reasons to hate Kenny G?  Of course not, but here’s an extra one anyway.  I think Jason from IIATMS said it best: “If I was there…. with those sorts of swings, I would have made a ‘he has to hit from the ladies’ tee’ joke.”

Just so everyone knows, in addition to my contributions here at Fire Brand, I will also be providing one or two articles a week to the Yankee Sweet Spot blog titled It’s About the Money, Stupid.  I’ll be sharing those links weekly as part of the Weekend Round-Up.  Like always, if you know of any great sites or articles that I’ve missed, please let me know.