Morning Mound Visit: sabermetrics news - 10/2/18
Latin America federal investigation; remembering Joe Mauer; and remembering David Wright; Walker Buehler’s strategy
FanGraphs | Sheryl Ring: All eyes are on the postseason, but maybe more eyes should be on the fact that a federal grand jury is investigating the league for its business practices in Latin America, particularly their dealings in giving illegal payments to foreign officials. The Braves’ front office was already taken down for activities similar, and now a reckoning could be coming for the rest of the league.
Baseball Prospectus | Aaron Gleeman: Coming from a Twins fan himself, it’s nice to see a Joe Mauer retrospective as he concludes his historic career, one that includes a resume greater than almost any catcher in history, and a last-third of his career plagued by the effects of a concussion. He’ll be missed in Minnesota, and writ large.
The Ringer | Katie Baker: Another retrospective, and this time for David Wright, the now-retired New York Met. Jeff Wilpon may have infamously stated that he wasn’t a superstar, but he had a career that essentially defined an era in Queens.
The Athletic | Eno Sarris ($): Walker Buehler threw 6 2⁄3 shutout innings against the Rockies in Game 163, and Sarris chronicles his strategy, namely to give him an “in-between” pitch to alternate the fastball and curve.