Let Me Be Your Ruler June 1, 2014 Weekend Links

Hopefully we have another winning streak in the making, but it will get tougher as the Jays head to the Motor City for a series against the tough Tigres.

JAYS LINKS

Edwin Encarnacion is Hunting | FanGraphs Baseball
Springer’s gone deep nine times, ahead of Yasiel Puig, Giancarlo Stanton, and Troy Tulowitzki. Springer’s been one of the best power hitters in the world, and over that month, he’s also hit 40% fewer home runs than Edwin Encarnacion.

Intent, Execution, and Edwin Encarnacion | FanGraphs Baseball
Thursday afternoon, I wrote something up regarding Edwin Encarnacion‘s power-hitting hot streak. Within a few hours of publishing, Encarnacion hit another home run, and within an hour or so of that home run, Encarnacion hit another home run. Twice, he went deep against Royals ace James Shields, and though the Blue Jays ultimately lost the contest, Encarnacion further demonstrated that he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.

The Blue Jay Hunter: Flashback Friday: The Birth of Edwin Encarnacion's Chicken Wing Home Run Trot
Ever wonder how Edwin Encarnacion started his home run trot? Here's how his "walk the parrot" signature move began.

Edwin Encarnacion Hits Homers As They Were Meant To Be Hit
Remember 10 days ago, when Toronto first baseman Edwin Encarnacion hit the crap out of a baseball? Before that monstrous shot, he had already hit the crap out of seven baseballs in the month of May. Since that homer, he has hit the crap out of eight additional baseballs. According to math, Edwin Encarnacion loves hitting home runs more than anybody loves anything.

The Buehrle Way: Don’t rely on analytics, rely on your catcher - The Globe and Mail
Mark Buehrle, the hottest pitcher in the majors, doesn’t rely on analytics. The veteran prefers to rely on his catcher, rather than detailed scouting reports.

Blue Jays’ rotation now earning respect - Sportsnet.ca
The Jays’ rotation seemed like a weakness entering the year. But their starters rank fifth in the American League in ERA. Ben Nicholson-Smith takes stock of the team’s rotation.

‘I would pitch every day’: Toronto Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup enjoys being club’s most-used arm | National Post
In May, he has appeared in 15 games, posting an ERA of 1.72

The true Melky Cabrera, so the Blue Jays hope - The Globe and Mail
Manager John Gibbons sat in the Toronto Blue Jays’ dugout at Fenway Park on Tuesday and motioned toward the Green Monster, where the American League East standings are updated daily.

Will Toronto Blue Jays’ payroll be affected by Rogers reorganization? | National Post
Anthopoulos himself may not have the definitive answer

Toronto Blue Jays’ Dioner Navarro having too much fun to let an injury keep him on the bench | National Post
'I just love to play, man'

Toronto Blue Jays promote Bobby Korecky, who gets to stay with them for one day | National Post
TORONTO – Over 13 years, Bobby Korecky has appeared in 500 professional games. All but 22 were in the minor leagues, where he was a reliable but unremarkable reliever whose big-league prospects were minimal, especially as he pitched into his 30s.

Gibbons optimistic Blue Jays can keep pace - Sportsnet.ca
Despite watching his team's nine-game win streak snapped Thursday night, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons thinks his squad has what it takes to avoid a post-streak swoon.

MLB LINKS

“I Wish We Could Get Guys Like That” | FanGraphs Baseball
Weird things about baseball fascinate me. One of those things is the concept of discarded players. Every once in awhile, you’ll see a player doing well and think to yourself, “Hey, wasn’t he on our team at one point?”

The Best and Worst Teams, Two Months In | FanGraphs Baseball
Four weeks ago, I introduced Expected Run Differentials, using the various linear weights tools we have on the site to construct a metric to evaluate a team’s performance without any timing or sequencing factors.

Three Red Sox managers ejected as feud with Rays continues | Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
From Yahoo Sports: John Farrell and coaches Torey Lovullo and Brian Butterfield were all tossed while serving as manager.

Tommy John surgery: MLB’s new-age epidemic | Toronto Star
The St. Louis Cardinals’ four starting pitchers without the tell-tale scar of membership on their pitching elbow sat recently on their side of the Busch Stadium clubhouse discussing with a reporter something they hope they never have.

Bat dogs fetching attention around baseball | Toronto Star
Miss Lou Lou Gehrig big hit at ACC championship. Minor league lab experiment popular with fans.

Eephus Ain’t Nothin’ – The Hardball Times
There is no pitch in baseball quite like the eephus. Both statistically and aesthetically, the pitch is a complete and utter anomaly. While other pitches are thrown at menacing speeds with pinpoint control and devastating movement, the eephus is the antithesis of modern pitching.

Tools: Game and Series Win Probabilities – The Hardball Times
Last month, FanGraphs implemented its very cool Game Odds system, which estimates the chance of a team winning a particular game while factoring in the fact that home teams win about 54 percent of the time.

A Letter To Derek Jeter's Possibly Born Children
Fox Sports 1's Katie Nolan, who has previously busted on Rick Reilly, has set her sights on the ol' Rickster once again.

YESTERDAY IN SPEEDY AND IRONIC BLUE JAY HISTORY

Baseball History May 31st - National Pastime - Baseball History
2007 In a crisp one-hour and fifty minute contest at Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays beat Chicago, 2-0. Roy Halladay becomes the quickest pitcher in franchise history to record 100 victories, needing just 200 starts to reach the milestone. Note: Jays Manager was John Gibbons and Losing Pitcher was Mark Buehrle who left no LOB as both runs scored on solo home runs.