Michael Cecchini
@zeitheist.bsky.social
write about baseball and fantasy baseball @ Rotoballer and @ https://michaelcecchini.substack.com | disability | music | baseball | music
Plotz = favorite verb
Plotz = favorite verb
A prematurely chunky infielder with a good hit tool, less power than you think, and catcher speed?
That is the Tigers MO
Generally I want them to spend but this just blocks McGonigle and Anderson
Bo or Gleyber?
That is the Tigers MO
Generally I want them to spend but this just blocks McGonigle and Anderson
Bo or Gleyber?
November 12, 2025 at 12:30 AM
A prematurely chunky infielder with a good hit tool, less power than you think, and catcher speed?
That is the Tigers MO
Generally I want them to spend but this just blocks McGonigle and Anderson
Bo or Gleyber?
That is the Tigers MO
Generally I want them to spend but this just blocks McGonigle and Anderson
Bo or Gleyber?
Yamamoto full season professional WHIP’s:
.96, .94, .85, .93, .88, 1.11, .99
Steamer says…
1.19!
Please just plug in that value and draft accordingly
.96, .94, .85, .93, .88, 1.11, .99
Steamer says…
1.19!
Please just plug in that value and draft accordingly
November 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Yamamoto full season professional WHIP’s:
.96, .94, .85, .93, .88, 1.11, .99
Steamer says…
1.19!
Please just plug in that value and draft accordingly
.96, .94, .85, .93, .88, 1.11, .99
Steamer says…
1.19!
Please just plug in that value and draft accordingly
Okay, I — or rather ai — tried but point stands that this may matter tonight
November 1, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Okay, I — or rather ai — tried but point stands that this may matter tonight
Dodgers mocking Yankees fundamentals a karmic twist now
LA looking and playing old
Season: 18th in baserunning value, 16th in FRV
Why are Teo & Edman locked up til age 35?
Kiké a FA
Muncy team option- Freeland time?
Betts in decline
In the youth/athletic meta they are behind for once
LA looking and playing old
Season: 18th in baserunning value, 16th in FRV
Why are Teo & Edman locked up til age 35?
Kiké a FA
Muncy team option- Freeland time?
Betts in decline
In the youth/athletic meta they are behind for once
October 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Dodgers mocking Yankees fundamentals a karmic twist now
LA looking and playing old
Season: 18th in baserunning value, 16th in FRV
Why are Teo & Edman locked up til age 35?
Kiké a FA
Muncy team option- Freeland time?
Betts in decline
In the youth/athletic meta they are behind for once
LA looking and playing old
Season: 18th in baserunning value, 16th in FRV
Why are Teo & Edman locked up til age 35?
Kiké a FA
Muncy team option- Freeland time?
Betts in decline
In the youth/athletic meta they are behind for once
Every time we get a glimpse of ol Ken behind the scenes he seems like a mean little guy
Maybe hang up the bow tie
Maybe hang up the bow tie
October 28, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Every time we get a glimpse of ol Ken behind the scenes he seems like a mean little guy
Maybe hang up the bow tie
Maybe hang up the bow tie
Questions for 2026 fantasy SP4 contenders
Gilbert: K% ⬆️ but 1.37 HR/9
Sale: health/IP?
Woo: ditto
Greene: double ditto
deGrom: inj. risk/age
Sanchez: hits/whip
Yamamoto: 6 day/few 2 steps/BB%
Brown: one *elite* year
Snell: 6 day/IP/whip
Gilbert: K% ⬆️ but 1.37 HR/9
Sale: health/IP?
Woo: ditto
Greene: double ditto
deGrom: inj. risk/age
Sanchez: hits/whip
Yamamoto: 6 day/few 2 steps/BB%
Brown: one *elite* year
Snell: 6 day/IP/whip
October 23, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Questions for 2026 fantasy SP4 contenders
Gilbert: K% ⬆️ but 1.37 HR/9
Sale: health/IP?
Woo: ditto
Greene: double ditto
deGrom: inj. risk/age
Sanchez: hits/whip
Yamamoto: 6 day/few 2 steps/BB%
Brown: one *elite* year
Snell: 6 day/IP/whip
Gilbert: K% ⬆️ but 1.37 HR/9
Sale: health/IP?
Woo: ditto
Greene: double ditto
deGrom: inj. risk/age
Sanchez: hits/whip
Yamamoto: 6 day/few 2 steps/BB%
Brown: one *elite* year
Snell: 6 day/IP/whip
Ah, the NBA. Let’s play foul not a foul
Foul
Foul
October 23, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Ah, the NBA. Let’s play foul not a foul
Foul
Foul
The 2025 rankings are still up on FanGraphs.
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
October 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The 2025 rankings are still up on FanGraphs.
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
The 2025 rankings are still up on FanGraphs.
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
October 14, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The 2025 rankings are still up on FanGraphs.
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
Not calling anyone out - as I do some review of my own process, what I missed and why
Lesson: Rankings are hard
There’s no way and no one else who could’ve possibly ever reached a deal before all this was accomplished—
October 12, 2025 at 1:26 AM
There’s no way and no one else who could’ve possibly ever reached a deal before all this was accomplished—
The Mariners deserved to win
Seattle had lineup holes and plugged them- Naylor was the game 5 MVP
Harris/Ilitch went cheap and added 7 middling pitchers
- one was DFA’d
- 3 were left off the ALDS roster
- 2 weren’t trusted enough to use
- Finnegan allowed a run in game 2, 4 and 5.
Seattle had lineup holes and plugged them- Naylor was the game 5 MVP
Harris/Ilitch went cheap and added 7 middling pitchers
- one was DFA’d
- 3 were left off the ALDS roster
- 2 weren’t trusted enough to use
- Finnegan allowed a run in game 2, 4 and 5.
October 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The Mariners deserved to win
Seattle had lineup holes and plugged them- Naylor was the game 5 MVP
Harris/Ilitch went cheap and added 7 middling pitchers
- one was DFA’d
- 3 were left off the ALDS roster
- 2 weren’t trusted enough to use
- Finnegan allowed a run in game 2, 4 and 5.
Seattle had lineup holes and plugged them- Naylor was the game 5 MVP
Harris/Ilitch went cheap and added 7 middling pitchers
- one was DFA’d
- 3 were left off the ALDS roster
- 2 weren’t trusted enough to use
- Finnegan allowed a run in game 2, 4 and 5.
Skubal threw fewest changeups in a game on Sunday (22%)
This was intentional by DET
Mariners were 3rd in wOBA & wRC+ vs LH CH
They also K’d 3rd most vs LH CH
Polanco HR came on a slider and sinker; the latter is only Skubal pitch with a .208+ BAA
Dance with the pitch that brought ya
This was intentional by DET
Mariners were 3rd in wOBA & wRC+ vs LH CH
They also K’d 3rd most vs LH CH
Polanco HR came on a slider and sinker; the latter is only Skubal pitch with a .208+ BAA
Dance with the pitch that brought ya
October 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Skubal threw fewest changeups in a game on Sunday (22%)
This was intentional by DET
Mariners were 3rd in wOBA & wRC+ vs LH CH
They also K’d 3rd most vs LH CH
Polanco HR came on a slider and sinker; the latter is only Skubal pitch with a .208+ BAA
Dance with the pitch that brought ya
This was intentional by DET
Mariners were 3rd in wOBA & wRC+ vs LH CH
They also K’d 3rd most vs LH CH
Polanco HR came on a slider and sinker; the latter is only Skubal pitch with a .208+ BAA
Dance with the pitch that brought ya
Shota HR issues this season
FB% up 10%
HR/FB% up 1.4%
Brl% up 3%
More fly balls and more of them went out
FF down 1 mph (91.9 -> 90.8)
FF SLG: .470 -> .578
Splitter location = didn’t drop as much (‘24 v ‘25 heat maps)
SLG up 100 pts
Splitter SwStr%: 26% -> 19%
Watch for spring velo
FB% up 10%
HR/FB% up 1.4%
Brl% up 3%
More fly balls and more of them went out
FF down 1 mph (91.9 -> 90.8)
FF SLG: .470 -> .578
Splitter location = didn’t drop as much (‘24 v ‘25 heat maps)
SLG up 100 pts
Splitter SwStr%: 26% -> 19%
Watch for spring velo
October 7, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Shota HR issues this season
FB% up 10%
HR/FB% up 1.4%
Brl% up 3%
More fly balls and more of them went out
FF down 1 mph (91.9 -> 90.8)
FF SLG: .470 -> .578
Splitter location = didn’t drop as much (‘24 v ‘25 heat maps)
SLG up 100 pts
Splitter SwStr%: 26% -> 19%
Watch for spring velo
FB% up 10%
HR/FB% up 1.4%
Brl% up 3%
More fly balls and more of them went out
FF down 1 mph (91.9 -> 90.8)
FF SLG: .470 -> .578
Splitter location = didn’t drop as much (‘24 v ‘25 heat maps)
SLG up 100 pts
Splitter SwStr%: 26% -> 19%
Watch for spring velo
Ohtani struck out looking on a L v L changeup
We wrote about his susceptibility to this pitch in a (still relevant!) playoff preview:
open.substack.com/pub/michaelc...
We wrote about his susceptibility to this pitch in a (still relevant!) playoff preview:
open.substack.com/pub/michaelc...
October 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Ohtani struck out looking on a L v L changeup
We wrote about his susceptibility to this pitch in a (still relevant!) playoff preview:
open.substack.com/pub/michaelc...
We wrote about his susceptibility to this pitch in a (still relevant!) playoff preview:
open.substack.com/pub/michaelc...
I’m confident McGonigle will hit, but I’ll be damned if every Tigers prospect isn’t modeled on Gleyber Torres’ frame/fitness plan.
Detroit’s 77 SB attempts last by a mile (Giants 92)
Hinch teams ran with Houston but they had the personnel to do it
Detroit’s 77 SB attempts last by a mile (Giants 92)
Hinch teams ran with Houston but they had the personnel to do it
October 6, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I’m confident McGonigle will hit, but I’ll be damned if every Tigers prospect isn’t modeled on Gleyber Torres’ frame/fitness plan.
Detroit’s 77 SB attempts last by a mile (Giants 92)
Hinch teams ran with Houston but they had the personnel to do it
Detroit’s 77 SB attempts last by a mile (Giants 92)
Hinch teams ran with Houston but they had the personnel to do it
Ok but listen, Egbuka’s separation score only ranked 53rd this week
October 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Ok but listen, Egbuka’s separation score only ranked 53rd this week
I know 80s mustaches, jeans, whatever are new again
But why are we recycling the (questionable) Aurelio Lopez nickname for Andres Munoz just because he’s Mexican and throws hard
But why are we recycling the (questionable) Aurelio Lopez nickname for Andres Munoz just because he’s Mexican and throws hard
October 5, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I know 80s mustaches, jeans, whatever are new again
But why are we recycling the (questionable) Aurelio Lopez nickname for Andres Munoz just because he’s Mexican and throws hard
But why are we recycling the (questionable) Aurelio Lopez nickname for Andres Munoz just because he’s Mexican and throws hard
October 5, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Love Sanchez but is it even the best changeup in the world?
Phillies SP have 3 of top 13 CH
Phillies SP have 3 of top 13 CH
October 4, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Love Sanchez but is it even the best changeup in the world?
Phillies SP have 3 of top 13 CH
Phillies SP have 3 of top 13 CH
October 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
So the @theathletic.com and @fangraphs.com staff picks have Philly v Seattle as a WS near inevitability
1/25 FG writer picked LAD to win WS
Almost like Philly didn’t lose a 6-WAR starter (some Wheeler guy)
Dodgers had the best team ERA in 2nd half and are fully healthy
1/25 FG writer picked LAD to win WS
Almost like Philly didn’t lose a 6-WAR starter (some Wheeler guy)
Dodgers had the best team ERA in 2nd half and are fully healthy
October 2, 2025 at 3:13 AM
So the @theathletic.com and @fangraphs.com staff picks have Philly v Seattle as a WS near inevitability
1/25 FG writer picked LAD to win WS
Almost like Philly didn’t lose a 6-WAR starter (some Wheeler guy)
Dodgers had the best team ERA in 2nd half and are fully healthy
1/25 FG writer picked LAD to win WS
Almost like Philly didn’t lose a 6-WAR starter (some Wheeler guy)
Dodgers had the best team ERA in 2nd half and are fully healthy
Yes, James Wood strikes out too much (32%)
But 12.3% SwK and 27% o-swing% indicate better skills
The plate discipline looks a lot like… Roman Anthony
Letting hittable pitches pass:
Wood 20th%
Anthony 21st%
Both 12%+ BB, 49%+ GB
Anthony HR/FB: 15%
Wood: 31%
But 12.3% SwK and 27% o-swing% indicate better skills
The plate discipline looks a lot like… Roman Anthony
Letting hittable pitches pass:
Wood 20th%
Anthony 21st%
Both 12%+ BB, 49%+ GB
Anthony HR/FB: 15%
Wood: 31%
September 30, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Yes, James Wood strikes out too much (32%)
But 12.3% SwK and 27% o-swing% indicate better skills
The plate discipline looks a lot like… Roman Anthony
Letting hittable pitches pass:
Wood 20th%
Anthony 21st%
Both 12%+ BB, 49%+ GB
Anthony HR/FB: 15%
Wood: 31%
But 12.3% SwK and 27% o-swing% indicate better skills
The plate discipline looks a lot like… Roman Anthony
Letting hittable pitches pass:
Wood 20th%
Anthony 21st%
Both 12%+ BB, 49%+ GB
Anthony HR/FB: 15%
Wood: 31%
Tirico and Collinsworth with this cap drivel about “backup linemen is how you win in the playoffs” to justify Jerrah not signing Parsons
And saying oh, it’s the secondary… you think they’d cover better with a top 3 edge?
“I dunno Mike, it gets expensive” 🙄
And saying oh, it’s the secondary… you think they’d cover better with a top 3 edge?
“I dunno Mike, it gets expensive” 🙄
September 29, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Tirico and Collinsworth with this cap drivel about “backup linemen is how you win in the playoffs” to justify Jerrah not signing Parsons
And saying oh, it’s the secondary… you think they’d cover better with a top 3 edge?
“I dunno Mike, it gets expensive” 🙄
And saying oh, it’s the secondary… you think they’d cover better with a top 3 edge?
“I dunno Mike, it gets expensive” 🙄
The most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen
September 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
The most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen