Russell Eassom

The Called First Pitch Strike – Why?

July 30, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

I have a few bugbears when I watch a game of Major League Baseball, I feel most of these are derived from the fact that I have never been taught how to play the game or faced something being thrown

An Analytic Glance at the first “Half”

July 14, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

We have just started the second “half” of the MLB season. The reason for the air quotes is that the definition of half a season in MLB is determined by if a game was played before or after the All-Star

The London Olympic Stadium – Hitter or Pitcher Dream

June 27, 2019 Russell Eassom Analytics, Baseball, London Series, Pinch Hitting

A few weeks ago we learned the dimensions of the ballpark for the upcoming London Series. The all-purpose London Olympic Stadium is going be set at the following dimensions: Home plate to the foul poles – 330 feet (100 m)

Talk the Talk and Intentionally Walk the Walk

May 18, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

Intentional walks or base on balls have been around for a long time in baseball. Early on in baseball, the catcher could set up much further away from the plate than they can do know. They would receive four wide

Can We Play You Every Week

April 21, 2019 Russell Eassom Analytics, Baseball

“Can we play you, can we play you, can we play you every week. Can we play you every week.” Those of you more familiar with British football will recognise this chant. It is one that the fans will sing

Here’s A Popular Post from Bat Flips and Nerds Dot Com…

April 16, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

Being a fan of MLB isn’t the easiest when you are based in the UK. With only a few games being played at times where you might expect a finish at a reasonable hour. Fans have to regularly determine if

Pitch Movement – There’s something in the air

April 14, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

If you have been watching baseball for some time you will know the game is slightly different at Coors Field. At 5,200 feet (1,580 m) above sea level, Coors Field is by far the highest park in the majors. The

New Season, New Pitch – Does adding a pitch make a pitcher better?

April 13, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

The image above is some usage, speed and spin info on Trevor Bauer‘s 2018 season. Last season he added a slider which he threw 20% of the time to right handed hitters. This change along with some refinement of his

A four-man outfield: last positioning gambit or the new norm?

March 27, 2019 Russell Eassom Analytics, Baseball

With the 2019 MLB season about to start, a whirlwind of uncertainty surrounds the game. Firstly, the second year of cold ‘hot stove season’ with limited free agency signings happening has lead to open discussion of action by the players’

Gambling’s influence on Major League Baseball’s approach to minor league pay.

March 26, 2019 Russell Eassom Baseball

There have been multiple reports that Major League Baseball may be changing it’s approach to the pay of minor league players. The latest statement below seems to be a change from their historic stance of doing everything they legally can