Sell High on Wade Miley
no word though on the efficacy of "flurry" duck hunting

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Bill somehow got this answer up within an hour or two of the event.  LOL.  Bill James Online is still only $3 per month.  No idea why; he must have several thousand readers and a buck more per month is a free several thousand dollars a month.  Can't think of another website that just shrugs and says, "I don't think I'll monetize this."

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Hey, Bill, Seattle (and former Red Sox) pitcher Wade Miley just pitched a gem against the Cubs, and at Wrigley Field no less. He was perfect through 5, ended up pitching 7 innings, one hit, one walk, one run, 9 strikeouts; pretty dominating stuff, especially for a guy who normally isn't dominating. And against a strong team. Is this the kind of thing you expect once in a while or is it really extraordinary?
Asked by: flyingfish

Answered: 7/30/2016
 What does that have to do with Politics?              
 
   Well, let’s see; Wade Miley is now 7-8 with a 4.98 ERA, which means he is headed for a season that would rank about the 30th percentile among all starting pitchers, and he had a Game Score of 79, which would rank about the 91st percentile among all starts, so I would say that a fair characterization of your question is "How many times a year does a starting pitcher who ranks in the bottom third of all starting pitchers pitch a game which is in the top 10% of all starts?"   The answer to that question is that it happens about 30 times a year in the major leagues, or once per season per team.  

               I am sorry I don’t have 2014-2015 examples to give you, but in 2013 Aaron Harang (5-12 with a 5.40 ERA) pitched a 2-hit complete game shutout in which he struck out 10, and also pitched a 4-hit shutout with 8 strikeouts.   Also in 2013 Andrew Alberts (2-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 10 starts) pitched a 2-hit shutout with no walks, and Ryan Vogelson (4-6, 5.73 ERA) pitched 8 shutout innings, giving up only 2 hits.   

               In 2012 Philip Humber Humber, 5-5 with a 6.44 ERA, pitched a perfect game.   Also in 2012 Ervin Santana (9-13 with a 5.16 ERA and a silly looking haircut), pitched a 1-hit shutout, and Luke Hochever (8-16 with a 5.73 ERA) but 8 innings of 1-hit shutout baseball, striking out 10 batters.

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RESUME DR. D

(1) It is interesting that Bill takes Miley to be a 30th-percentile starter, based on his 2016 stats.  In the Starting Pitcher Rankings, which capture both this year and a pitcher's career, Miley is #62 out of 150 - the 60th percentile.

Could be that Bill uses 2016 only because he's working very quickly.  (Or, the power of suggestion imposed by Miley's own barrage pitching style ..... )  Personally (living in Seattle) I'd slot Miley about the 40th or 50th percentile among all starting pitchers, after you factor in the churn among pitchers who can't even hold their jobs.

Miley is throwing the same three pitches he always has.  It's a Kendrys Morales situation here in Seattle with Miley.

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(2) Interesting, too, the implication that James doesn't think overly highly of Jase -- even though James had him in Boston last year.  Food for thought.

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(3) Quite remarkable that Miley had -- basically -- his best two starts, right before the trade deadline.  If you didn't know better, you'd think he (consciously or unconsciously) wanted out.  As in, back to the National League.

There's nobody so educated that they don't have feelings.  Though Dr. Grumpy took 20 years of school, there was no Kohlinar class offered.  He's smart, but just as sensitive as if he hadn't become a surgeon.

A picture's worth 1,000 words.  And the NL scouts just watched Wade Miley beat Jake blinkin' Arietta.  A kid might have "spit the bit" with Arietta throwing dimes against him.  Ergo, Miley is capable of helping you in August, neh?

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In the real world, scouts love love love SP's who work quickly and in rhythm.  Their minds figure to whirr, "This guy's a real pro."  Thumb on the scale in terms of a subconscious feeling like "you'd be proud to throw him out there in the 5 slot."

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If it's me, I'm not chiseling value here.  Miley's gone for the best NL offer.  Whatever that offer is.  Like Aoki, Miley has served his purpose in tacking down the tent spikes over the new regime.

BABVA,

Dr D

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