Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Newsletter Excerpt, October 11, 2023 -- "Down to Seven"

This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.

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"Nola, despite being a curveball pitcher facing a team that treats curveballs like Wimpy treats hamburgers, did very well against the Braves this year. Three starts, two of them quality, six innings in every one, a 3.50 ERA in 18 innings, just three homers allowed, all in one start back in May. It wasn’t like he avoided the topic; Nola threw 37% curves across the three starts and led with the curve in every one.

"So what wins? The pitcher whose best pitch is a curve, or the team that was first in baseball with a .460 SLG and second with a .340 wOBA against curves? Does Rob Thomson once again treat one of his aces like a special case, or does he get his hard-throwing bullpen into the game at -- even before -- the first sign of trouble? "