Scott Simkus
@scottsimkus.bsky.social
Author: Outsider Baseball: The Weird World of Hardball on the Fringe. Historian: Member of the Seamheads team, rebuilding Negro league stats.
Post you from a different era
November 7, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Post you from a different era
Fun mail day, courtesy of my good pal Jason @heavyjstudios.bsky.social Finally got my hands on a Jackie. Thanks for the fun additions!
November 6, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Fun mail day, courtesy of my good pal Jason @heavyjstudios.bsky.social Finally got my hands on a Jackie. Thanks for the fun additions!
One of baseball’s grand traditions: holding contempt for one of the high-profile, big network television analysts, for one reason or another. Smoltz is the guy in the barrel these days, previously generations it was Joe Morgan or Tim McCarver.
October 30, 2025 at 1:25 AM
One of baseball’s grand traditions: holding contempt for one of the high-profile, big network television analysts, for one reason or another. Smoltz is the guy in the barrel these days, previously generations it was Joe Morgan or Tim McCarver.
Abner Doubleday Uribe on the bump for Milwaukee
October 17, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Abner Doubleday Uribe on the bump for Milwaukee
Couple reasons why I listen to most games with the mute button on. Turn it off, occasionally, for crowd reaction on big plays. Then quickly click back to silence.
It is the deepest of bummers to listen to John Smoltz broadcast a baseball game. He hates the game so intensely it almost makes *me* hate it!
He sets the lowest bar because no broadcaster radiates contempt for today’s game or his audience like Smoltz
October 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Couple reasons why I listen to most games with the mute button on. Turn it off, occasionally, for crowd reaction on big plays. Then quickly click back to silence.
Phillies pitcher reminds me of a kid who was in my middle school shop class.
October 10, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Phillies pitcher reminds me of a kid who was in my middle school shop class.
Phil’s Christopher Sanchez is roughly the same size as another Philly lefty: 1930s Philadelphia Stars ace Slim Jones. 6’6” stringbean, star in the old Negro National League
October 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Phil’s Christopher Sanchez is roughly the same size as another Philly lefty: 1930s Philadelphia Stars ace Slim Jones. 6’6” stringbean, star in the old Negro National League
Important: Cal Raleigh looks like actor Chris O’Dowd
October 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Important: Cal Raleigh looks like actor Chris O’Dowd
Check it out. Adam and Von chopping it up on the pod
SURPRISE! The Outsider Baseball Notebook: Episode 5
Von Spalding - International Leaderboards
I haven’t done any personal podcasting in over a year, but I wanted to take the time to introduce to you Von Spalding, my new research partner and friend.
open.spotify.com/episode/5w7Y...
Von Spalding - International Leaderboards
I haven’t done any personal podcasting in over a year, but I wanted to take the time to introduce to you Von Spalding, my new research partner and friend.
open.spotify.com/episode/5w7Y...
Episode 5: Von Spalding - International Leaderboards
open.spotify.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Check it out. Adam and Von chopping it up on the pod
Adam and Von Spalding helping expand our understanding of baseball history
ICYMI from this morning, we finally found hit #4,000 (and all the way up to 4,099—so far) for Mexican 2B Vinicio “Chico” García. This new research article at the SABR site documents the process.
September 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Adam and Von Spalding helping expand our understanding of baseball history
Old school analysis of yesterday's Cubs acquisition: Michael Soroka is 3-18 with a 4.81 era the last two years. That's bad. Is there a modern metric that pretties this up a bit? The whip (1.26) doesn't help, nor does the BB9 (3.8). He's 27, this is his athletic peak.
July 31, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Old school analysis of yesterday's Cubs acquisition: Michael Soroka is 3-18 with a 4.81 era the last two years. That's bad. Is there a modern metric that pretties this up a bit? The whip (1.26) doesn't help, nor does the BB9 (3.8). He's 27, this is his athletic peak.
Just because: Bobby Witt Jr was born 7 years AFTER George Brett retired. Never saw him play. Not even close. If it wasn't for his father, who played against Brett in the 80s, I doubt Jr (or any player born in 2000, for that matter) would know much about Brett at all. Different eras.
July 22, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Just because: Bobby Witt Jr was born 7 years AFTER George Brett retired. Never saw him play. Not even close. If it wasn't for his father, who played against Brett in the 80s, I doubt Jr (or any player born in 2000, for that matter) would know much about Brett at all. Different eras.
Until Ohtani, the only Japanese power hitter to have had an impact here was Hideki Matsui. I think Seiya Suzuki is going to surpass Matsui, moving into the #2 slot, the 2nd best Japanese slugger to play here. Breakout year for Seiya in Chicago. Incidentally, "Seiya in Chicago" sounds like a sitcom.
July 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Until Ohtani, the only Japanese power hitter to have had an impact here was Hideki Matsui. I think Seiya Suzuki is going to surpass Matsui, moving into the #2 slot, the 2nd best Japanese slugger to play here. Breakout year for Seiya in Chicago. Incidentally, "Seiya in Chicago" sounds like a sitcom.
Jacob Misioroski is awesome, fun to watch, and he's only 23 years old. What blows my mind is remembering back in 1984, Dwight Gooden was doing this same exact shit for the Mets. He dominated: AT JUST 19 YEARS OLD! It was the same kind of must-see baseball with Gooden as it is with Misiorowski today
July 9, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Jacob Misioroski is awesome, fun to watch, and he's only 23 years old. What blows my mind is remembering back in 1984, Dwight Gooden was doing this same exact shit for the Mets. He dominated: AT JUST 19 YEARS OLD! It was the same kind of must-see baseball with Gooden as it is with Misiorowski today
I've followed baseball since the mid-1970s. Fifty years. And sometimes, when I'm alone on the couch, looking at Pete Crow-Armstrong stealing second base, I tell myself, "I can't believe I'm still watching this shit." It's seemingly impossible for me to get sick of this big, dumb, beautiful game.
July 3, 2025 at 1:20 AM
I've followed baseball since the mid-1970s. Fifty years. And sometimes, when I'm alone on the couch, looking at Pete Crow-Armstrong stealing second base, I tell myself, "I can't believe I'm still watching this shit." It's seemingly impossible for me to get sick of this big, dumb, beautiful game.
For years, I've watched That Guy on various MLB Network shows and just recently learned his name is "Greg Amsinger."
I'd flip on MLB Network after dinner and say, "Oh, look, it's Harold Reynolds and... That Guy."
Or "It's Dan Plesac and..That Guy."
Or, occasionally, "It's That Guy and Al Leiter."
I'd flip on MLB Network after dinner and say, "Oh, look, it's Harold Reynolds and... That Guy."
Or "It's Dan Plesac and..That Guy."
Or, occasionally, "It's That Guy and Al Leiter."
July 2, 2025 at 11:30 PM
For years, I've watched That Guy on various MLB Network shows and just recently learned his name is "Greg Amsinger."
I'd flip on MLB Network after dinner and say, "Oh, look, it's Harold Reynolds and... That Guy."
Or "It's Dan Plesac and..That Guy."
Or, occasionally, "It's That Guy and Al Leiter."
I'd flip on MLB Network after dinner and say, "Oh, look, it's Harold Reynolds and... That Guy."
Or "It's Dan Plesac and..That Guy."
Or, occasionally, "It's That Guy and Al Leiter."
Family/Baseball Note: My Aunt Lynn (she's 75 years old) married longtime partner David Bessent in Florida today. David's Uncle is the late Don Bessent, who pitched for Brooklyn in the 1950s. Congrats to Aunt Lynn and David!
July 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Family/Baseball Note: My Aunt Lynn (she's 75 years old) married longtime partner David Bessent in Florida today. David's Uncle is the late Don Bessent, who pitched for Brooklyn in the 1950s. Congrats to Aunt Lynn and David!
Reposted by Scott Simkus
In an odd way, the Covid Summer of 2020, with its shortened @mlb schedule of 60 games, played a role in the decision to absorb Negro Leagues stats of 1920-1948 into the historical record. If we could count the stats from 2020 (or 1877-1878), why not these? www.cbsnews.com/news/ken-bur...
Ken Burns: "Baseball is a mirror of our country"
The documentary filmmaker talks about the role the sport has played in American society, especially in times of crisis
www.cbsnews.com
June 28, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In an odd way, the Covid Summer of 2020, with its shortened @mlb schedule of 60 games, played a role in the decision to absorb Negro Leagues stats of 1920-1948 into the historical record. If we could count the stats from 2020 (or 1877-1878), why not these? www.cbsnews.com/news/ken-bur...
Lucky to have Adam as the point man, and Von as the muscle. Wish I could have been there to see Adam crush it!
It was an honor to present the work that I collaborated on with @scottsimkus.bsky.social and Von Spalding. They’re the muscle here, I’m just the presentation layer. The 4000 hit club has been super fun to work on. What’s next… 400 wins? 600 homers?
Put Abreu in the hall. Presentation by @adarowski.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Lucky to have Adam as the point man, and Von as the muscle. Wish I could have been there to see Adam crush it!
August 1945: During a traffic stop, a Washington DC cop punched Satchel Paige in the face a couple times. Satch had just thrown 3 innings, striking out 6 Homestead Grays batters. (New Journal and Guide, Norfolk VA)
June 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
August 1945: During a traffic stop, a Washington DC cop punched Satchel Paige in the face a couple times. Satch had just thrown 3 innings, striking out 6 Homestead Grays batters. (New Journal and Guide, Norfolk VA)
A Dead Pool, but instead of people passing away, a competition based on who will have to have Tommy John surgery this year. Pick 10 MLBers who you suspect will blow their elbows out...
June 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A Dead Pool, but instead of people passing away, a competition based on who will have to have Tommy John surgery this year. Pick 10 MLBers who you suspect will blow their elbows out...
Kyle Schwarber might be the most popular .240 hitter in the history of baseball. Hits bombs and just has a good baseball vibe about him. You want the dude on your team, in your dugout, hitting clean-up, because he's there to win.
June 20, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Kyle Schwarber might be the most popular .240 hitter in the history of baseball. Hits bombs and just has a good baseball vibe about him. You want the dude on your team, in your dugout, hitting clean-up, because he's there to win.
An Amish lifestyle colony, but 1970s instead of 1870s
June 19, 2025 at 11:42 PM
An Amish lifestyle colony, but 1970s instead of 1870s
The Boone family (Grandpa Ray, Dad Bob, sons Bret & Aaron) has been involved in professional baseball, nearly uninterrupted, (with at least one of the Boone men still active as a player or manager), since 1946. There's maybe one 12 year gap w/o out a Boone, out of the last 79 years. Baseball family
June 17, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The Boone family (Grandpa Ray, Dad Bob, sons Bret & Aaron) has been involved in professional baseball, nearly uninterrupted, (with at least one of the Boone men still active as a player or manager), since 1946. There's maybe one 12 year gap w/o out a Boone, out of the last 79 years. Baseball family