This article is part of our Umpire Analysis series.
We know how to check the season stats for a given umpire, but it is worth pointing out that we can also see each individual performance, with help from TexasLeaguers.com. By typing a pitcher's name and the date from which you would like to get data in the search field, you can see a visual representation of what the zone looked like for the ump while said pitcher was on the mound. This can help get a handle on how much of the wildness (or control) of a pitcher was his own doing, and how much was due to the eye of the man behind the catcher. I linked an example below of a pitching performance last week where the hurler saw numerous clear strikes called balls, which led to an understandably short outing.
LAST WEEK'S PICKS
TUESDAY
Game: NYY at DET
Umpire: Will Little
Player Recommendation: Nathan Eovaldi, RHP: 7 IP, 8 H, ER, BB, 4 K
Eovaldi had his best start of the season Tuesday, and while the low strikeout total is a bit disappointing, he picked up a win, giving owners some decent scarcity points. Despite a good performance from our starter, Little has been a hitter's umpire in his three games this season, seeing a 5.40 ERA in 56.7 innings. We will continue to watch him as the weeks progress.
Game: CIN at MIL
Umpire: Ted Barrett
Player Recommendation: Adam Lind, 1B: O-4, RBI
I may have recommended the one player in the entire game who didn't produce, as the game yielded 26 runs in a 16-10 Brewers victory. Lind aside, owners who went with a stack likely were pretty happy, as Barrett kept his zone tight for Brewers starter Mike Fiers, who had just six of his pitches called for strikes.
WEDNESDAY
Game: CIN at MIL
Umpire: Sean Barber
Player Recommendation: Joey Votto, 1B: 2-for-4, RBI
Despite a solid performance from Votto, the game was disappointing for our purposes, yielding just three runs. Barber has kept a high walk total (3.5 BB/9) and ERA (4.14) overall this season, so he IS definitely someone to target, despite the low-scoring game.
THURSDAY
Game: CHC at PIT
Umpire: Kerwin Danley
Player Recommendation: Kyle Hendricks, RHP: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 K
Danley saw nine runs cross the plate with neither pitcher lasting more than 5.1 innings. Hendricks didn't walk a batter and had a season-high 10 groundballs, which may indicate that he had a bit of bad fortune. But Danley is trending as a hitter's umpire just the same, with a 4.5 BB/9 rate and a 4.82 ERA in three games.
Game: SD at COL
Umpire: Greg Gibson
Player Recommendation: Charlie Blackmon: 1-5, SB
It wasn't reflected in the final score, but Tyson Ross was squeezed, leading to four walks (including one with the bases loaded) and 106 pitches in five innings. It's unfortunate the Rockies couldn't do more with the tight zone, but it should encourage us to look at taking a shot at Gibson again, as he has a 4.2 BB/9 rate in three starts.
PICKS FOR THIS WEEK
TUESDAY
Game: HOU at SD
Umpire: Jim Reynolds
Player Recommendation: Tyson Ross, RHP
Ross will go from a foe to an ally Tuesday, as he will see an umpire in Jim Reynolds who tallied a 2.7 BB/9 rate last season with a 3.36 ERA. A wider zone for Ross, combined with a team that has a propensity to strike out, should make for a smoother trip to the mound.
Game: KC at CLE
Umpire: Andy Fletcher
Player Recommendation: Lorenzo Cain, OF
Trevor Bauer is off to a hot start, allowing just two earned runs in 19 innings, but he can still lose the zone, as evidenced by his 11 walks over that span. Fletcher has a 3.6 BB/9 in his three starts this season after notching a 3.1/9 mark in 544.3 innings in 2014, which might present a problem for the young strikeout artist.
WEDNESDAY
Game: WAS at ATL
Umpire: John Tumpane
Player Recommendation: Ian Desmond, SS
Tumpane was one of the league's friendliest umpires for hitters last season and has kept pace in 2015, tallying a 6.4 K/9 and a 3.3 BB/9 in two outings. Jordan Zimmermann and Alex Wood are both looking to find their form, but they are unlikely to get help from Tumpane, which could turn this one into a sneaky high-scoring affair.
Game: PHI at STL
Umpire: Jeff Nelson
Player Recommendation: Carlos Martinez, RHP
While he hasn't quite kept pace so far in 2015, Nelson was stingy about calling ball four last season, leading to a walk rate of 2.7/9. This could work in our favor Wednesday, as Carlos Martinez has had trouble with the free pass in his first 20 innings, allowing seven over that span.
