Upper, better?

 

A few weeks ago, I watched a game and it showed that a pitcher throws a lot of pitches in the top of the strike zone and it works well. And, I was just wondering who is also effectively throwing pitches in the upper third.

Spin rate, up or down?

 

Spin rate has been discussed frequently since the statcast data available in 2015. This year, spin rate has been used as an indicator to check whether a pitcher possibly uses foreign substances. On June 21, MLB enforced the rule of prohibiting the use of foreign substances by pitchers. Since then, what really happened?

Throw harder

A few weeks ago, I was watching a video on YouTube. It’s about hitting fastballs and it indicated that more pitchers are throwing harder and we see more pitches that hit triple digits these days. That drew my attention and I would like to know if there are huge changes in pitch velocity in today’s games.

30 home runs

Previously, I listened to a podcast show and former All-Star Andre Ethier was sharing his experience with the Dodgers. He was a two-time All-Star and had 162 home runs in his career. I remember that in 2009, he crushed 31 home runs and the broadcaster indicated that he was the first Dodger to hit 30 home runs since 2004, when Adrian Beltre crushed 48 home runs. It took a few years to see another player in the Dodgers hit 30 home runs. So, how hard is it to hit 30 home runs in a single season?

Right choices?

 

The 2021 MLB draft took place on July 11-13, 2021. In total, there are 612 players selected by MLB teams. With the first overall pick, the Pirates selected Henry Davis, a catcher from Louisville. The Dodgers, the defending World Series Champion, selected Navy pitcher Charlie Connolly to end the draft. When reviewing the draft, there’s something quite interesting.

Post All-Star break

 

The second half of the 2021 season has begun and teams are fighting hard to clinch playoffs. Juan Soto has been hitting very well in the first three games after the All-Star break. He’s hitting .538/.600/1.308 with 3 home runs in these three games. Additionally, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 3 home runs after the All-Star break. In the MLB, which players did heat up after the All-Star break and enjoy the second half of the season?

Hitless games

 

A few weeks ago, I was watching a baseball game and the broadcaster mentioned that a player did hit very well in the minors and there were only a few games that he went hitless in a single season. Well, I began to check some players’ records after hearing that.

Give up too many home runs?

 

I selected a hard-throwing starter for my fantasy baseball team. However, he hasn’t pitched well in the 2021 season. The one problem is that he just gave up too many home runs. And, I was wondering which pitchers have the same problem.

On the road

 

The first half of the 2021 season is done and the Midsummer Classic is coming. All-Stars are going to Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. Well, the Rockies are currently 4th in the NL West and it’s less likely to see them to be a playoff contender. However, the Rockies are actually playing well at home with a record of 31 wins and 17 losses. But, on the road, things are just horrible.

Olympic Games – Baseball

 

In less than 3 weeks, the Tokyo Olympics will take place and it’s the first time that baseball is back to the Olympics since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately, international spectators are not allowed to attend. Thus, I won’t be able to watch a baseball game in the Olympics again this year.

2021 Topps Series 2

 

Topps Series 2 is another flagship set and continues celebrations of the 70th anniversary. Once the series 2 was released, I called a card shop owner and bought some packs of the 2021 Topps Series 2, trying to find some cool rookie cards in this set.

After 2 outs

In the 2020 postseason, the Dodgers scored 59 runs with 2 outs. Good performance with 2 outs is definitely a good reason to tell us why the Dodgers won the 2020 World Series Champion. In the 2021 season, are the Dodgers still hitting well under pressure? Maybe another team is doing a great job with 2 outs?

100+100

Shohei Ohtani will participate in the 2021 Home Run Derby and it will surely attract a lot of attention. By far this season, Ohtani already crushed 28 home runs and his OPS is over 1.000. In addition, he already tossed 60 innings, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. I’m just wondering if he can achieve something incredible.