Mike Podhorzer
FanGraphs Baseball
Hoboken, NJ, United States
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Past articles by Mike:
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT vs Steamer Starting Pitcher ERA, Part 4
We finish up our starting pitcher ERA projection comparison, as part of the 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT against Steamer. Today, I’ll discuss the next six names down on the list of Steamer ERA favorites compared with THE BAT. This is the list of the six pitchers Steamer was most bullish on compared to THE BAT. Injury after injury has limited James Paxton to just 21.2 innings since… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT vs Steamer Starting Pitcher ERA, Part 2
Yesterday, I moved on to comparing ERA forecasts as part of my 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT against Steamer, discussing the starting pitcher THE BAT was more bullish on. Now let’s switch on over to Steamer’s favorites. As usual, there are some names I already covered in the Steamer K% favorites post, but we also find a bunch of new names. As discussed previously, there’s a massive… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT vs Steamer Starting Pitcher ERA, Part 1
Today, I’ll continue the starting pitcher side of the 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT against Steamer projections. This time, we’ll hop on over to ERA. This is probably what we all pay most attention to and it’s likely what keeps a pitcher in his team’s rotation. There are a number of drivers of a pitcher’s ERA, such as skills like strikeout and walk rates, along with luck-influenced… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT vs Steamer Starting Pitcher K%, Part 2
Yesterday, I flipped my 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT/THE BAT X projections against Steamer, to the pitching side. I began by comparing strikeout rate between the two systems, discussing those starting pitchers THE BAT is more bullish on. Let’s now find out who Steamer is more bullish on. It’s important to note that Steamer K% forecasts are higher on average than THE BAT’s, so the… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT vs Steamer Starting Pitcher K%, Part 1
At last, we have completed our 2023 hitter projection showdown pitting THE BAT X against Steamer in various categories. Let’s now jump over to starting pitcher. I’ll start by comparing K% forecasts. THE BAT X only projects hitters, so I’ve switched over to the original THE BAT system to compare with Steamer. Let’s see which starting pitchers (defined as starting at least 75% of total games… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer wOBA Forecasts, Part 2
Last week, I identified and discussed the hitters THE BAT X was most bullish on for wOBA compared with Steamer. While typically not a fantasy category, wOBA is still extremely important to pay attention to since it drives playing time and spot in the batting order, both of which fuel counting stats. So let’s now flip over to the hitters Steamer is more bullish on compared to THE BAT X. Jose Siri… → Read More
2023 LABR Mixed Draft Recap
This team's a winner, right? → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer wOBA Forecasts, Part 1
I’ve finished the fantasy stat comparisons of the 2023 projection showdown between THE BAT X and Steamer on the hitting side, so now let’s flip to wOBA. Why does wOBA matter if it’s typically not a fantasy category? Because it influences both playing time and lineup spot. It doesn’t matter if a hitter produces the nice mix of home runs and stolen bases that fantasy owners drool over if that same… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Runs Scored Forecasts, Part 2
Yesterday, I listed and discussed six hitters who THE BAT X was significantly more bullish on for runs scored than Steamer. Let’s now find out who Steamer’s runs scored favorites are compared to THE BAT X. Masataka Yoshida tops the list of Steamer favorites, as the former Japanese league hitter figures to open the season as the Red Sox leadoff hitter. Steamer is significantly more bullish on… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Runs Scored Forecasts, Part 1
Let’s continue rolling on with the 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT X against Steamer in the various fantasy categories and discussing the players each system is more bullish on. Today, we shift over to runs scored (R) and follow the same 650 plate appearance pace calculation I’ve been using. Batting order position plays a huge role here, as the higher up in the lineup, the more plate… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer RBI Forecasts, Part 2
Last Thursday, I listed and discussed the hitters who THE BAT X was more optimistic on for RBI than Steamer. Now let’s switch over to the batters Steamer is more bullish on for RBI than THE BAT X. Vinnie Pasquantino was also one of Steamer’s home run favorites, so it’s pretty clear what’s driving the discrepancy here. Steamer’s .198 ISO projection is far higher than THE BAT X’s .162 mark, which… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer RBI Forecasts, Part 1
Let’s continue rolling on with the 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT X against Steamer in the various fantasy categories and discussing the players each system is more bullish on. Today, we shift over to runs batted in (RBI) and follow the same 650 plate appearance pace calculation I did when reviewing stolen base forecasts. RBI are driven by a couple of factors — the batter’s own… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Batting Average Forecasts, Part 2
Yesterday, I pivoted the 2023 projection showdown pitting THE BAT X against Steamer to batting average. These were the hitters THE BAT X was more bullish on for batting average than Steamer. Now let’s find out who Steamer is more bullish on than THE BAT X for batting average and what’s driving the difference in forecast. This is an interesting mix of hitters! Jose Siri easily tops the list of… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Batting Average Forecasts, Part 1
Who does THE BAT X love for AVG? → Read More
Looking to Fill Your League or Join a League? Click Here! 2023 Edition
Welcome to the 2023 edition of the RotoGraphs Matchmaker Service! No, I cannot find you a date. However, we could hopefully facilitate the marriage of league owner with leagueless owner. → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Stolen Base Forecasts, Part 2
Yesterday, I pivoted the 2023 projection showdown pitting THE BAT X against Steamer to stolen bases. These were the hitters THE BAT X was more bullish on for steals than Steamer. Now let’s find out who Steamer is more bullish on than THE BAT X for stolen bases, given a constant 650 plate appearances. Steamer’s bullishness wasn’t as grand as THE BAT X, so the projection differences are narrower.… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Stolen Base Forecasts, Part 1
Let’s continue the 2023 projection showdown, pitting THE BAT X against Steamer in the various fantasy categories. Today, I’ll shift over to stolen bases, and identify and discuss the hitters that THE BAT X is more bullish on than Steamer. Like I did for home runs, I converted the projected stolen base total into a ratio first and then calculated the season pace. For steals, I used plate… → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Home Run Forecasts, Part 2
Who does Steamer love? → Read More
2023 Projection Showdown — THE BAT X vs Steamer Home Run Forecasts, Part 1
Who does THE BAT X like better? → Read More
2022 Review: Hitter Barrel% Decliners
Better days ahead? → Read More