Fungoes: Need for Left Feilder...
There is a great analysis over at Fungoes I think everone here should read.
Pip breaks down win shares above bench by position as shown below. The two tables below show win shares by position (left) and win shares above bench (right) by position. His analysis is enlightened. I quote him below.
"So the platoon of left fielders was the team's best investment in 2006. The unheralded bunch led by Chris Duncan, Scott Spiezio and John Rodriguez produced the third-most WSAB of any position (behind 1B and 3B, naturally) but cost less than $4 million. That amounted to a better buy than the team's first basemen, which essentially was the best player in the game, who isn't exactly overpaid.
In this light, it's indeed strange that the cacophony of voices in the blogosphere and online media have zeroed in on the Cardinals' perceived need of a leftfielder and/or dealing Chris Duncan, who, bad leather and all, stands to provide the bulk of value again in 2007. In addition, given what we know from Bill James:
*The chance of getting a good player with a high draft pick is substantial enough that it is clearly a disastrous strategy to give up a first round draft choice to sign a mediocre free agent.
*True shortage of talent almost never occurs at the left end of the defensive spectrum (read: LF).
... signing an A-class free-agent leftfielder -- including Bonds, Catalanotto, Dellucci, Floyd, Luis Gonzalez, Carlos Lee and Soriano -- would be an unwise move for this Cardinal team this winter. Duncan and Rodriguez can get the job done well enough, and at a cost that makes an FA alternative not worthwhile."
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6 comments
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i disagree
by erik on Nov 9, 2006 10:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
teams no longer lose draft picks
that doesn't mean it's a good idea to sign a mediocre free-agent, but it doesn't cost you a draft pick.
by lboros on Nov 9, 2006 10:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Actually...
Thanks for the link, btw.
by pip on Nov 9, 2006 11:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
While it's great that they're producing value
Take a look at where the money is being spent. The corner outfield spots are traditionally big production areas, and I suspect that their overall production for the Cards lags far behind what it is for most other contenders.
Now admittedly St. Louis gets some SERIOUS production from traditional power spots 1B and 3B, and likely well more than average at CF as well. It just seems to me that looking at the corner OF spots and saying "hey, we're getting a good deal for what we're spending" ignores reality. What you need from at least one, and usually both of those spots is big time numbers. Raw production, not proportional value.
by Zack Morris on Nov 10, 2006 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I cought this too
by Zubin on Nov 10, 2006 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs






















