All articles tagged with #baseball analytics
Pete Crow‑Armstrong’s 2026 first half has him at roughly .291/.386/.531 with a 153 wRC+ and about 6.0 fWAR by the All‑Star break, making it one of the Cubs’ most valuable seasons. Projections push his final tally toward 8.5 WAR, potentially ranking among the Cubs’ top seasons by fWAR and nearing the franchise’s best marks, though likely short of Hornsby’s 11.0 WAR in 1929. In short, we’re witnessing a historically great Cubs season.
FanGraphs analyzes 2022–2025 derby data and finds that derby participants typically slump in the second half relative to their hot first halves, suggesting the ‘curse’ is more about regression to norms and selection bias than a swing-change phenomenon; the piece highlights sell-high candidates (Murakami, Caglianone) for fantasy leagues, notes Walker and Rice look capable of sustaining gains, and cautions that veteran outliers Schwarber and Contreras may remain valuable despite potential declines.
Automated balls and strikes (ABS) are already reshaping MLB. Catchers must frame pitches more subtly, reducing big glove moves and influencing when to challenge, which is changing how calls are made and challenged. Early data point to quieter dugouts, greater game-situation awareness, and a growing emphasis on strike-zone discipline, with walks and strikeouts climbing. A new, informal stat idea—“Terminators”—highlights catcher-driven strikeouts from challenges, led by Ryan Jeffers, while the piece also surveys other early ABS effects and related player and pitching notes. These are early trends and will evolve as the season progresses.