Sabermetrics news: How the Astros became The MVP Machine
Mike Trout’s strike zone adjustment; Austin Meadow ditches the crouch; The MVP Machine
FanGraphs | Ben Clemens: Mike Trout is having another incredible season, and that is once again due to his ability to make adjustments. As pitchers continuously pitch him away, traditionally his weakest spot, he has made it the spot he is most productive at in 2019.
Baseball Prospectus | Matthew Trueblood ($): Another player having a fantastic year atop new adjustments is none other than Austin Meadows, who has been the best player on a resurgent Rays team. Instead of putting his body in a crouch position he’s moved more upright, allowing him to take a more direct, line-drive-based approach to the ball.
The Ringer | Ben Lindbergh & Travis Sawchik: This is an excerpt from The MVP Machine: How Baseball’s New Nonconformists Are Using Data to Build Better Players. It details how the Astros changed the game on player development, and how targeted meetings with the likes of José Altuve, Ryan Pressly, Justin Verlander, and Gerrit Cole turned into mechanical and structural changes in their game to unlock even more potential. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the book, for sure.