With Lopez Activated, Skip Should Still Start at the Keystone
by bgh on May 17, 2010 5:59 PM EDT
Email
Print
Skip Schumaker's batting average is low. There is no denying. As of the activation of Felipe Lopez, this the 17 day of May, 2010, Schumaker is hitting .232 (with his OBP only just this weekend creeping over the Izturis line to .305). He was the leadoff batter and those first inning PAs, like Opening Day's game, often stick in one's memory more than they ought to, especially if the PA is unsuccessful. And the GOB know that Schumaker has had more than a few bad outcomes this young season.
Folks have rumbled about Skip's early results, and when you have a sub-.250 BA and sub-.300 OBP displayed across the television screen for every one of your team-leading plate appearances, as leadoff man, fans notice. And it makes us wince. We think, "He has a .273 OBP* in front of Pujols? Ugh." Or, the tradiitionalists among us think: "He has a .217 BA in the leadoff spot? Ugh."
*These are hypothetical thoughts during the bad luck streak of April and early May. (Knock on wood that is all the longer it lasts.)
The slash stats are ugly. There is no denying it. .232/.305/.290 is hideous. Like, gorgan ugly. Low average and no pop. It is, essentially, nothing anyone would want to see from any player in a Major League lineup, let alone a leadoff hitter--that gritty sparkplug spot in the lineup that makes the whole offense go, go, go. Skip's troubles, and to a lesser extent, Brendan Ryan's, have become emblematic for the offense's struggles and have stoked the fires of doubt that have been kindled early this season about Mark McGwire as hitting coach. After all, Big Mac has helped Ryan and Schumaker for multiple years. They, more than any other players, are his hitting pupils.*
*Even if they don't hit a lot of dingers.
So, Skip has been shifted by the ever-meddlesome mad scientist that is TLR, from leadoff to bottom-third of the order. And, his numbers have seen an uptick, which is good. But, the problem with Skip likely wasn't anything much more than luck. To be sure, he has been much more aggressive at the plate this season. His Swing % is up almost 2 percent from his career average. He is swinging at nearly 4 percent more of the pitches he sees in the strike zone, so far in 2010, and at about 5 percent more of the pitches he sees outside of the zone. So, perhaps aggression is to blame, but to blame for what exactly?
Skip's walk rate, 9.1 percent, is slightly above his career high from last season, which was 8.9 percent. So, Skip isn't walking any less. Skip's strikeout rate of 14.5 percent is almost 2.5 percent higher than his career average, and 1.5 percent higher than last season's career high. So, there's that. I guess he is swinging more often--at everything, inside and outside of the zone--and he is, in turn, striking out more often, which is always the most glaring example of hitter futility to we the fans. But, Skip's swinging is also producing better contact than in years past.
Skip has a LD% of 29.1 percent, which is pretty high, especially for him. Skip's LD% for his career is 21.6, and was 21.7 and 21.6 in each of the last two seasons. His GB% has dropped 8 percent from 2009 and 4.5 points from his career levels. His FB% is about the same as it was in 2009 and is about 3 percent below his career rate. So, in 2010, Skip is hitting a lot more line drives. This is the best kind of contact a hitter can make when striking the ball. Unfortunately, his BABIP has not reflected this better contact. This season, it is a paltry .263, which is 60 points below his career BABIP of .325 and roughly 80 points below his 2009 BABIP of .341.
It is no small wonder then that his ZiPS Rest of Season projection is the slash line of .288/.345/.382 (with a .321 BABIP), which adjusts his ZiPS 2010 updated projection to .273/.334/.358 (with an end of season BABIP of .306). Sure, these lines are not ideal when we think of a leadoff man, but there is no reason to think that Skip will not attain a .270 BA in the months ahead. With a little luck--and the GOB know Skip has earned it these first six weeks--maybe even .280. Skip is being more aggressive, but he is making good contact. It's only a matter of time before his hits start finding the Scotts outfield turf and not the opposing fielders' mitts. As it does so, Skip's average and OBP will climb. And with their rise, hopefully some of Cardinal Nation's frustration will fade.
140 comments
|
5 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm thinking the best thing to do right now
is to give Lopex, Skip, and Boog all equal playing time. it’s the only way Skip and Brendan will get out of their respective funks, and Lopez needs playing time, but he shouldn’t really be filling in for Freese much except when David needs a day off. but since Lopez is a far superior hitter to either Skip or Boog, he should get to play pretty often. sort of a dilemma going on, because if Boog sits too long he’s not going to figure out what his hitting problems are.
he is a bit eccentric
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 17, 2010 7:26 PM EDT reply actions
skip is actually hitting well,
just not getting results. agreed on freese. he’s actually the best hitter on the team right now (!)
at this point, i think i’d rather see lopez start at SS mire than boog and let boog start against lefties and PH otherwise, plus late game defensive replacement
"Moneyball: It's kind of like communism."
Lopez should be playing every day
but what sucks is that shortstop has been his worst position in the past out of 2b, 3b, and short. Boog has so much defensive value at short that he makes up some for his hitting, and I just can’t see him being this bad all season… y2s had mentioned that maybe everyone should just leave him alone and let him hit instead of meddling with his swing. If I were managing I would probably be sitting Skip the most often.
baseball enthusiast
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 18, 2010 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Why would you play Lopez every day?
Let me first state that I really enjoy watching Felipe Lopez play. Because the 1980s were my formative years as a baseball fan, I have an appreciation for players who can hit right- or left-handed, especially those who can do so with equal potency. What’s more, Lopez has some pop in his bat for a MIFer. Last year, Lopez had an amazing season, without question. This year, his slash line is .250/.316/.442. (Naturally, I’m asking this question the day after he jacked a 2-run dinger.) Skip has shown no power whatsoever this young season, but he is hitting .236/.311/.292. I don’t think that Lopez has been that much better than Skip. The power may be your determining factor. I can certainly understand that. Even so, Ryan has struggled very much and, right now, I’d probably do what TLR is doing, if I were the field manager: play Skip and Floppy.*
*I have not included physical appearance in my analysis. I will leave that to spants, IHeartBoog, and ClemsonGirl.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
the power and the on base percentage from Lopez in recent years far overshadows Skip's offensive capabilies
and Lopez’s best defensive position is at 2nd base, where his defense plays better than Skip’s. There’s absolutely no question that Lopez should be starting at second base over Schu.
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 20, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
*
I actually confused Lopez’s 3rd base defense with his 2nd base defense, he’s actually better at third than at second, but Felipe is an average 2nd baseman, and Skip is well below average defensively.
Here’s Felipe’s defense: above average at 3rd (but Freese has shown he deserves to start there). average at 2nd base (Skip is not holding down his position), and well below average at SS, which I think is where Lopez’s bad reputation for defense comes from (and Boog is our best SS hand’s down at defense, his only competition should be T. Greene, who has not won much playing time yet).
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 20, 2010 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Lopez's (not unreasonable) bad rep for defence
comes from the fact that he makes quite a lot of mistakes, although he makes up for that by having good range for a 2B or 3B – he gets to a lot of balls and is athletic, but sometimes his concentration and/or handling has let him down.
The way Boog’s been hitting I honestly don’t mind Lopez taking a few starts at SS, with Schu at 2B, against right-handed starters. And, obviously, Lopez should make every single start at 2B vs LHP. I think Lopez should be playing 5 or 6 games a week, and the other two should start as when the matchups allow.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 21, 2010 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Lopez's defensive rep.
I think it comes from the mental errors he makes as well as a carryover from the days when he was primarily a shortstop. As unfair as it is to paint him with a poor glove brush after he has changed positions, no one has ever accused scouts or front offices of being rational and not applying a halo effect of sorts.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
fwiw
he played really well at second yesterday, and from my memory he seems to do well as a cardinal
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 21, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't see the game yesterday, so I can't comment.
And, he has played so little at second base this year, UZR is of no use, IMO. I think he and Skip look pretty close to equal at second base this season, in the games I have seen. It’s not like, say, Ryan vs. Lopez at SS, where Ryan is obviously head and shoulders above Lopez, to the eye.
We need to put the “does well as a Cardinal” thing to rest. The birds on the bat do not have magical powers for everyone. Lopez did resurrect his career as a Cardinal in 2008, without question, but he has had his two best seasons as a Red and as a Diamondback/Brewer. This year, he has been quite good at the plate. Hopefully, it continues. But, I don’t think it is because he is a Cardinal.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
from just seeing him play at second a few times last year
and a few times this year, I am confident in saying that he is better than skip at 2b. and the numbers back it up too. just saying that he has always played well at second in the time I have watched him as a cardinal
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 22, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Lopez
The Lopez signing was perhaps the most astute signing the Cards pulled off in the offseason bcuz of his versality….more than a safety net to cover for our lack of offense at short and second which r somewhat unexpected he is not a bad pitcher either (see 20 inning game Vs Mets…lol)…on a real note im really glad we got Felipe on d team…..Lets Go Cards.
by Kevin Castillo on May 21, 2010 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions
And third base.
I actually believe this was an insurance signing for David Freese at its inception. It’s easy to forget that now that Freese is hitting like AAA Freese, but a lot of people on VEB and elsewhere were concerned about the club relying solely on him at third.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
i still think lopex is a better hitter and fielder at second
schu seems a tony favorite, so i don’t think he has to worry about playing time. and his numbers will undoubtedly improve – they have to, right?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
yeah
lopez should probably be starting at second imo… and there’s stats to back that up
baseball enthusiast
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 18, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Lopez's slash stats aren't that different
And he’s arguable a bit better at 2B. Skip’s got a few more OBP points than Lopez, and you’re right, the walk rate increase for Skip is certainly encouraging.
I’m all for Lopez playing 2B against lefties though.
Jobu needs a refill
oddly enough
Skip seems to have shed his weakness vs lefties, right?
baseball enthusiast
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 18, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Very early in the year.
I probably should have added the parenthetical (against righthanded starters) to my headline and talked about this a little bit, but I didn’t. I probably wouldn’t start Skip against that many lefthanded starters, if I were the manager.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Big Mac has worked with them for multiple years
After all, Big Mac has helped Ryan and Schumaker for multiple years. They, more than any other players, are his hitting pupils.
It’s up for debate whether he’s helped them.
If I ran the zoo, I would have regarded Skip as a, “It ain’t broke so don’t try to fix it,” kind of deal.
I guess I look at the interviews with Skip,
where he talks about how McGwire has helped him prior to McGwire being hired as hitting coach, and defer to Skip.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Skip and Flip
I think that’s a pretty damned disastrous defensive combination.
My god, just put Skip on waivers and see who bites or if anyone bites at all. You have to send either he or Brendan Ryan to Memphis. Ryan is the most likely to be claimed, so the obvious answer is Skip.
He’s hitting in the .230’s and he can’t play defense. He has no value to the team whatsoever right now.
Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than graveling at his feet.
your sentiment is fine
but, in your sig, i thought it was “groveling”?
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Yes
You are correct about the spelling error, and I have made the proper corrections within my user profile.
But the important question is: Did you appreciate the alliteration in the first sentence?
Quite frankly, as soon as a typed “damned disastrous defensive” I immediately achieved erection.
Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than groveling at his feet.
yes, i am alliterate myself
you missed an opportunity – “combination” could have been “duo”
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Did you mean illiterate?
or was that a joke? I don’t see any alliteration there – opportunity missed!
And in any case, isn’t it “grovelling”? I.e. with a double-L.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 21, 2010 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
joke
and it’s one “L” here, two where you are.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
I still use two L's,
especially in cancelled.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Are you sure you like the sentiment?
I imagine Lohse is on CoolCat’s cut list as well.
Jobu needs a refill
What
has Skip Schumaker accomplished exactly over the span of his career as a major league outfielder/middle infielder, that has warranted such loyalty from certain parts of the fanbase? Which makes those certain members of the fanbase react so acrimoniously when the value of Skip Schumaker to the team isn’t worth either the amount of playing time or respect as a player he receives?
He has always a mediocre defensive player. He never has and never will hit for any sort of power. He’s very much an average runner. And his career on base percentages are quite mediocre themselves or aren’t the appropriate levels that a team should be looking for, when you subtract for the previously stated liabilities.
What is the fascination? Does the cliche of the St. Louis Cardinals fans affinity for short white men that play at a replacement level, have truth in it?
Second base is not a position where you should be relying on major offensive production. Which is why the ones that do produce at an allstar level are so valuable. But that doesn’t mean you should have to put up with mediocrity either.
His career ISO is .094. His career slugging percentage is .388. His OBP has been adequate at .351. But like I said, that does not make up for the rest of his short comings as a player.
And as for Kyle Lohse. He’s a fifth starter. He’s pitching like how you would expect a fifth starter would pitch . Do I think that the Cardinals probably have a pitcher or two at Memphis that could produce at the same level or better. Probably. But of course this is a case where the contract outweighs the benefits that could be obtained by youth.
Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than groveling at his feet.
by CoolCat23 on May 20, 2010 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
love how you don't mention average - been consistenly .300
not sure which Memphis starter does better either than Lohse….
Ottavino? No… Walters? He has seemed to turn the corner but that sparkling 9.48 ERA he had last year indicates no. anybody else?
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
by stlcardsfan4 on May 20, 2010 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure he hits .300
But of course its probably one of the most empty .300 batting averages in the major leagues.
He’d have to be winning batting titles every season to make up for the fact that, he doesn’t hit for power, doesn’t steal bases, and plays below average defense.
He’s a below average major league player, regardless of that sparkling .300 average you seem to want to use as a cudgel against my argument.
Right now he’s basically replacement level.
Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than groveling at his feet.
And yes
I do think either Lance Lynn or Adam Ottavino could adequately replace Kyle Lohse if need be.
Its not hard to replace a starter that averages five innings, three or for walks, and one or two strikeouts per game. While allowing four or more runs.
Kyle Lohse’s contract is probably the only things that will keep him in the Cardinals rotation for the foreseeable future.
Maybe that can pull a Carlos Silva type of deal this next winter.
Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than groveling at his feet.
since you're talking about per start rather than per 9
lohse is averaging 5.5 innings per start, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 4 runs, though only 3 earned runs (there have been 8 unearned in his 8 starts). if he ups his ip/9 slightly, to 6, that would be averaging what people like to call a quality start.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
He’s a below average major league player, regardless of that sparkling .300 average you seem to want to use as a cudgel against my argument.
Right now he’s basically replacement level.
He is a below average major league player. Do we have an average or better major league player down in Memphis who could come up and play second base? I’d so no.
He might’ve been essentially replacement level this year but he’s been unlucky on balls in play and he has played less than 2 months. You’re putting more stock in the 2 months of replacement-level baseball he’s played in 2010 than the 2 years of basically average baseball he played preceding it? I’m glad you’re not running the team.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 21, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
“I’d say no.” is what I meant.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 21, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes
His name is Felipe Lopez.
Albert Pujols is a god, and you my friend should be doing no less than groveling at his feet.
so you play boog everyday at short, still?
i agree that lopez is better than schu fwiw
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 22, 2010 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I would definitely do that
boog is that good at short. we can afford to have one weak hitter in the lineup, not two. and it might as well be brendan instead of skip
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 22, 2010 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
This is just not true.
His walk rate is over 8 percent. That is not extraordinary, but it certainly makes his OBP less hollow than many a player in this league.
Right now, he is at replacement level—almost exactly. But, over the last two seasons, he has been worth 2.3 and 1.5 WAR. If he continues to play roughly average defense and his luck changes, he’ll likely against be a 1.5-WAR player this season. Last season, Lopez was a 3.9-WAR player. In the years before that, he had WARs of 0.9 (below Schumaker that season), 0.6 (below Schumaker that season), 1.8 (higher than Schumaker, but Schumaker only got 1/6 the total number of PAs that Lopez did), 4.7 (which was an incredible offensive season), 0.3, -1.0, and 0.1. The last three were in part-time duty. This year, Lopez has been worth 0.4 to date and Skip has been exactly replacement at 0.0 WAR. The two are much closer than you represent and Skip has certainly had a more consistent career, which is probably why Lopez was available during Spring Training and could be signed at such a bargain contract.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Sorry to be annoying
but what if Felipe didn’t get injured? I think you are underestimating what he can do. It’s rough for a player to have his playing time rhythm interrupted. Look at Lohse 2009, and arguably Ludwick 2009. Injuries broke their rhythm, and the play suffered.
“which is probably why Lopez was available during Spring Training and could be signed at such a bargain contract.”
But you don’t know that. What’s to say that Boras was asking for 8 million a year, and shut off all people interested in him, while his new agent understood the market and got him at least a guaranteed deal? He did the same with Beltre in asking for ludicrous demands.
In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
couldn't help myself
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
by stlcardsfan4 on May 21, 2010 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions
WCBW, is that you?
Seriously, Mo has stated the team is monitoring the MIF. If nothing improves with Floppy back, moves will be made. I don’t think a trade would be out of the question. The Cards aren’t going to let this year go to waste.
I’d also remind everybody to look at the NL standings today (5/21):
PHI 25 – 15
SD 24 – 17
STL 24 -18
That’s right. As crappy as the last two weeks have been, we have the 3rd best record.
"They're so stunned they didn't even boo!"
John Rooney 5/3/10 referring to Philly fans on Cards 5-run 7th inning
Skip's OBP ranked sixth in all of MLB last season among second basemen.
Those who finished ahead of him: Ben Zobrist, Chase Utley, Luis Castillo, Felipe Lopez, and Dustin Pedroia. Would I like a higher walk rate? Sure. His OBP is a bit BA heavy, but he did walk at over an 8% clip last season and is doing so again this season.
For what it’s worth, I was kind of hoping that we would let Skip go and sign Lopez to play second base. We didn’t do that. Given Skip’s peripherals, there’s no reason to think that he won’t put up the same line the rest of the season that he has for the last three.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
these are the second baseman i would take without question above skip:
the entire AL east: zobrist, cano, hill, pedroia, roberts; hudson and beckham from the central, and kinsler, kendrick and figgins from the west. in the NL, utley, prado, uggla, phillips, weeks, lopez, johnson. so i’d say he’s in the bottom third of second baseman in the bigs, despite his obp ranking of six. but the only name that really matters on that list is lopez.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Right,
but you seem to have missed the point of my citing his OBP ranking. I’m not using to say that I want Skip Schumaker on the Cardinals so badly that I would pass every other second baseman in the big leagues to get him. CoolCat attacked Skip’s OBP as being “adequate” and his BA as being “one of the most empty” in baseball. This is a comparative critique, relative to other players of his position, so I looked at it in that context. I don’t understand why we are even talking about this in the context of which second baseman one would select in some sort of Fantasy draft or something.
The only name on the list that does matter is Lopez, as you point out. Lopez is slugging .500, which is pretty sweet for a Cardinal MIFer. (In fact, I can’t recall a Cardinal MIFer slugging .500 since Hornsby. Am I wrong?) I’m actually liking the new triangle MIF rotation with Lopez playing every day and Boog and Skip rotating to the bench. If Lopez keeps hitting like he is, then he should play. Of course, Lopez hadn’t slugged above .400 since 2005 until last season in the hitter friendly desert and Milwaukee, so I doubt he’ll continue to slug .500 throughout the season. If Lopez continues to walk at an 11+% rate, then he should continue to play.
It’s incredible to me how similar Lopez and Skip were as players: mediocre defense; 7-to-8% walk rate; mid-300s OBP; high-.300s-to-low-.400s SLG—in fact, Lopez has a career wOBA of .326 and Skip has one of .329. This was part of my reasoning, including Skip being under contract for an additional season. They are largely identical offensive players for their careers—until last season when Felipe had a .359 wOBA. Felipe is building on that with a .373 wOBA this season. I don’t know if he can sustain it, but why not ride the hot bat?
For what it’s worth, the ZiPS Rest of Season projection has skip wOBAing .327 and Lopez wOBAing .317. That probably gives Lopez’s pre-2009 more weight than you would (and maybe it shouldn’t). If Lopez has gotten better or has again tapped into the talent he displayed in Cincy, he might be a high wOBA player. As long as he is that player, play him. I had previously looked at his early season input and saw the offensive player that Lopez has been in terms of his career average—which is basically Skip Schumaker. Lopez has come off the DL and hit, hit, and hit, so we might as well let him keep doing it. I withdraw the title of my Fanpost, but reserve the right to re-introduce it once Felipe falls back down to earth.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
to me
it just seems like you like Schu more than Lopez and are trying to create a reason that Skip should start there over Felipe. I just dont’ buy it.
but it’s not the worst thing in the world to try and give more playing time to both boog and skip, they both still have great potential, but Skip just isn’t hitting all that well, and I’m not convinced he’s going to be that good of a second baseman going forward.
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 22, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
This is the irony of the post and discussion.
I don’t like Skip more than Lopez. I tend to find short, gritty white guys annoying, especially when they slide headfirst into first base (oh, how I hate that). I like Lopez as a player. He is a switch hitter who also draws walks. I think where we differ is that I put less stock in Lopez’s 2009 being his true talent level and more stock in his career numbers. I also put less stock in Skip’s unlucky start and more in his career numbers. As discussed in other comments, their numbers are quite similar for their careers. Again, if Lopez keeps walking like this, I hope he plays.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
well, you are correct
i mistook your citing skip’s obp as sort of elevating him amongst the ranks of second-basemen. i’d probably attribute that to reading new comments and forgetting the context in which they were written, often a day or two after what they are responding to. i agree on the triangle-concept – i’d just prefer boog to get more run in that formation than i believe he will. if it is closer to 50-50 than 75-25, i’d be fine.
also, i think lopex has improved over time – oms, happiness, and such – and i’ll put more credence in trending than historical on that.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
he's been an average to slightly above-average hitter 3 straight years
I don’t think you cut him after a bad (and luck-affected) month and a half.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 20, 2010 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions
C'mon, Felonius.
He has three errors in two games, so he obviously cannot play defense in any way, shape or form. What’s more, why look at his peripherals at all to see why he is hitting in the .230s? He is hitting in the .230s! This means that we should DFA him today because he is obviously incapable of striking a pitched baseball with a bat. So what if his career BA is .294 and he has had bad luck this season! He is hitting in the .230s through 38 games! DFA him now! Here, I brought you a pitchfork and a torch to carry. We’re going to Skip’s flat and we’re going to DFA him!
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
HE'S A WITCH! BURN HIM!!!!!
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 21, 2010 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions
He turned me into a newt!
In football, the object is for the quarterback, otherwise known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his recievers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home! And to be safe! "I hope I'll be safe at home!"
-George Carlin (RIP)
wait a minute...
is that tongue in cheek?
you said earlier that you put more stock in skip’s career numbers than in this unlucky start but now say that he can’t play defense because he has 3 errors in 2 games and is hitting in the 230’s.
which numbers should we use here?
How about Albert? He’s not been setting the world on fire lately either, but I’d use his career stats as a guide and not want to DFA him because he’s not doing it NOW.
It’s tongue in cheek, right?
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 23, 2010 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, it's tongue in cheek.
Hence the reference to pitchforks and torches in my comment the replies with Monty Python references after it.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Whew!
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 24, 2010 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
career UZR for Lopez at second is quite a bit better than Skip's
granted, Skip still might improve there, but so far this season it sure doesn’t look like it. at this point I’d be much more comfortable with Lopez’s defense at second base than Skip’s, who’s been atrocious lately defensively at the keystone. and I think we all know that Lopez has better on base skills and more power than Schu.
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 20, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
lol
he would be the idiot to drop Aramis Ramirez (what happened to me!)
altho skip provides next to no fantasy value on most leagues
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
by stlcardsfan4 on May 20, 2010 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions
a leadoff hitter who's hit over .300 the last 3 seasons
in a deepish mixed league I’d say he’d be useful, especially one with a MIF spot or bench stats counting. That said, I wouldn’t be rostering him this season.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 21, 2010 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd play Skip everyday...
I’m not ready at all to throw him or Ryan on the scrap heap. Skip did just fine last year as a first year 2nd baseman. He NEEDS all the playing time he can get.
This team just has not gelled for whatever reason.
There are several players that are just not doing what they should.
I think the bigger problem is the bullpen….and believe it or not…..centerfield.
Rasmus can hit but after that he’s pretty ordinary. I’d run on him almost every time and he’s not going to burn up the highlight reels. I think he’s a pretty one dimensional player. Ankiel was by far a better outfielder. But Rasmus can hit, no doubt about that.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
Make that 2 dimensional....
he can run.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 21, 2010 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Ankiel was not and is not a better outfielder than Colby Rasmus.
Ankiel had and has a better arm, but he had or has a better arm than any other outfielder in baseball, so that isn’t saying much about Rasmus so much as it is stating that, unsurprisingly, one of the best pitching prospects in Cardinals’ history has terrific arm strength. Just watching the two track down fly balls, I don’t think there is a remote comparison. Rasmus tends to get a good jump and track a ball well off the bat. Rick Ankiel decidedly does not take very good routes. If you want to go by metrics, Rasmus is also better than Ankiel in the outfield. Rasmus’s career UZR/150 in the outfield is 5.8 while Ankiel’s is -7.7.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I don't put as much stock in those numbers as some do.
I just know what I see. I trust my eyes more than the numbers…I know…that’s a whole new can of worms to open and I’m not going there.
I don’t know that Ank doesn’t get as good a read as Colby. Colby has his moments as well, he’s misjudged as many or more than Ank…and Ank uses 2 hands…I like that…and he plays with a little more intensity…but I admit that it’s just a matter of style.
As far as staying on his feet….he gets to the ball and if he’s not on his feet when he catches it he has enough arm to get up and still have a chance at a good throw….no cutoff man needed. Colby might make that catch at the wall standing up but he has little chance of turning it into a double play, whereas Ank can dive for it and then throw a runner out. We’ve all seen that. Colby may actually have a decent arm but I really haven’t seen it yet…not all of last season and not much this season. I’d think twice about running on Ank but I’d test Colby every time till he proves he has an arm to worry about.
I don’t dislike Colby at all but so far I haven’t seen that much to be impressed with in the outfield. It may be a visual thing but there are times when he just seems to be too lax. He’s never brought me out of my seat with a real dazzler…well, maybe once.
I’ll have to go back and look it up but I think Colby has been playing centerfield longer than Ankiel. Over time, If Ank keeps playing, I think he’ll turn out to be a better outfielder….I’m only talking defensively, here.
And I still think he’s a better outfielder already.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 23, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
The reason Colby's arm has been iffy
is because the organizational preference was for him to one-hop the ball to second base. I think it messed up Colby’s approach a bit. They are no longer requiring him to one-hop his throws. You should expect to see better things from Colby and his arm. Perhaps he will never show the flash that Ankiel showed with his arm, but I could care less as long as he has fantastic range.
As for the rest of what you said, I think you were just more excited watching Ankiel. What he’s done is pretty remarkable. But every fly ball is not supposed to be an adventure, and with Ankiel they were.
You can read it in any tone you like.
also, taking age into account
i see no way ank improves at some faster rate than colby in order to surpass him in defensive prowess. ank might improve in center with time, but at the same time his physical abilities will be declining, which makes it sort of a push for him. colby will be on the upswing in both categories – both age and playing time will benefit him at this point.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
I concede.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 24, 2010 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Best comment ever.
You can read it in any tone you like.
by spants on May 24, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thanks.
Just out of curiosity, each at the top of their defensive game, who would you choose……..Rasmus or Edmunds?
Rasmus looks a lot smoother while Jimmy could look adventurous.
Both of them could surely track it down. two totally different styles.
I’d go for Jim. He was definitely more exciting to watch but that doesn’t equate to being an adventure.
Maybe not a fair comparison, since Colby is still young and learning. Jim could run either in or back on a ball. LOTS of times he tracked down a ball that I never thought he’d get to and then snag it. That’s what I saw in Ankiel.
Colby has speed going for him, probably the fastest of the three, but he’s shown a little trouble with balls hit over his head and a few times running in on a ball, more so last year than this year. He’s getting better at both.
I see a little of two players in Colby….Mantle and Dimaggio.
Mantle for his swing, power and laid back style, and the POTENTIAL to be a little like Dimaggio in the field…a little. Dimaggio had the speed and the read. He always seemed to be waiting under the ball. If Colby could learn to read better he could be similar.
As far as being an “adventure” in the outfield….remember Lonnie Smith?
Oh Man!!! there was an adventure to be sure.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 24, 2010 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
His name is Edmonds.
There’s only UZR data back to 2002. What do you consider his peak? His years with us or his years with the Angels?
Between 2002 and 2005, Edmonds UZR ranged from 5.8 to 8.9. UZR/150 in that same time frame was 5.9 to 9.9. He was very good to very, very good. Was this his defensive peak, though or did it happen before then?
As for Colby, he put up a 10.9 UZR last season, 14 UZR/150. He’s already got a higher rating than any years we have for Edmonds. And he’s young and not near his peak yet. So… with just that limited data, and just on defense, I’ll pick Colby. It stands to reason he could improve.
If you assume that Edmonds was already declining in those years after 2001, then it’s a safe bet to assume he was probably even better in the years prior. It becomes a much tougher call, and I’d lean Edmonds.
Even further, neither of them is a one-dimensional player. Once you add offense into the mix, it’s hard not to take Edmonds. He had 4 monster years with the bat.
But can Colby match him? I sure hope so. This season is shaping up nicely for Colby offensively, though defensively it’s been uneven so far. There’s time to right that ship, though. And this is only Colby’s second season and, again, he’s not near his peak. He could end up being a better player than Edmonds, but he may not. Hell, I’d be happy with a push. :)
You can read it in any tone you like.
I'd have to agree just in the fact that Colby is so much faster than Edmonds
but UZR is far from perfect, so just by eye I would say they are closer together rather than colby being that much better than jim. but it’s pretty hard to tell with rasmus..
I doubt, though, that he will ever have a play like that one edmonds made on the angels
David Freese, LOBster killer
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 25, 2010 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry about the spelling...
I have a friend with the last name Edmunds. It just kind of rolls off the keyboard.
Edmonds…Edmonds…Edmonds (just practicing).
I hope there aren’t a lot of Spelling Police here.
I look for Colby to put up some very impressive numbers with the stick as his career progresses and his defense should just get better and better.
Let me give you all something to really hammer me about…
Numbers
I started a huge debate last year on another blog about this and it went on and on and on. It was about numbers vs. reality and the tangibles vs. intangibles.
It turned out to be pretty much a tie among everybody that weighed in on the matter. Mostly, it was the fantasy folks that favored the numbers.
my stance was something like this:
although numbers have some extreme value, they don’t always produce the definitive proof and can sometimes be deceiving. Sometimes it depends on what numbers you use and what answer you’re looking for.
A very small example is a box score. For those who like numbers and use them as their proof, a box score can be very misleading.
You might conclude that the winning team was played better baseball that day…if you rely solely on the numbers. But if you actually saw the game you might have an entirely different point of view.
Numbers can tell a lot but they can’t tell everything.
If you’re 25 years old and are into fantasy baseball and are asked who was the better outfielder…Mays or Dimaggio?….you’d have to go crunch the numbers and come up with an answer….and you may be right or maybe not. All you have to go by are what the numbers tell you, based on how you used them.
You’d get lots of differing opinions from the 70 year old guys that know the numbers and also watched them play.
Baseball scholars can’t come up with a definitive answer to that question because there is just more to it than numbers.
Sometimes a manager makes a decision on nothing more than a hunch…totally disregarding what the numbers say because he knows his players. There are reasons beyond the numbers that are telling him something.
Numbers don’t say anything about baseball savvy, intelligence, instinct, vision, guts, heart or boneheadedness…or being a poison player.
Numbers are perfect for board games and fantasy leagues because that’s what they’re designed for but on a real team there are more factors that come into play.
So that’s why I don’t totally rely on what the numbers say. I don’t disregard them but they’re one tool in my evaluation toolbox.
I could go on and on about this but based on last year’s conversation I think I know how this is going to go over….BUT….there are different people here than the other blog. There may be FAR MORE fantasy players here, in which case I’ll take a more brutal drubbing.
Let the beating begin!
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 25, 2010 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
the problem with going by eye is it is entirely subjective to cognitive bias
David Freese, LOBster killer
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 25, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldn't say that.
Some people are capable of being non-biased in what they’re looking at and some aren’t. Scouts do it all the time, they can’t allow themselves to be biased.
If you want to see something then it’s likely you will, but it IS possible to observe with an unbiased eye.
I’m not saying that your eyes can always be trusted. They can’t. I am saying though that neither can numbers. It’s good to use both, not just one.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 1:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Back in the day....
when the ALL STAR game was a real ALL STAR game the players and managers voted on who was deserving to be named an ALL STAR, managers and players OFTEN voted for players that weren’t on their team, or they never played with. Managers didn’t vote for their own ace or their star SS. They voted for who they actually thought was the best player at that position in the league.
I’d call that unbiased. There were exceptions, of course, but I wouldn’t say that no one is unbiased. That’s a pretty broad statement.
I respectfully disagree.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions
a scout can obviously be unbiased
he’s looking at say two kids he doesn’t know from adam, what is there to be biased about? however, i will say that bias can come in, as some guys are drawn to particular “types” of players, or certain styles or tools – and with pitchers it can be even more prevalent – some love the big hard-throwing righties, some like a crafty lefty. his higher-ups sort of have to weed through that because, if we’re talking about high school kids, any meaningful numbers simply don’t exist – it is talent alone that is being evaluated. college numbers are a bit more meaningful, because you can guage the quality of competition better. but it’s not until the minors that numbers really begin to have any signifcance, imo, as far as a projection tool. up until then it is largely talent evaluation – which scouts are for – and after the draft, once players begin their careers, then numbers begin to get scrutinized.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
there is also "bias"
in terms of how much scouts/you/me would intrinsically value certain skills over ones. I might really like scrappy, fast guys who try to steal a lot of bases and play a lot of small ball, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any good, or that I’m any good at appropriately valuing their worth to the team in terms of runs, wins and losses… Perhaps “personal preference” would be a better term.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 26, 2010 5:32 AM EDT up reply actions
personal preference...
I prefer that over bias. It has a different meaning.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions
i think i covered all those
as far as “types” and tools above, but if you want to separate them from the player, that’s cool – i just assume it’s in valuing those things more than others that one is drawn to a certain player who has them.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
By human nature we are all biased, whether it's conscious or not.
Sometimes those biases are correct (i.e. A speedy outfielder who gets good jumps and takes good routes to the ball should be a good defender) and sometimes they aren’t (i.e. that same speedy outfielder should be a good basestealer…but he gets caught 50% of the time).
Not that there’s anything wrong with being biased all the time, just that it doesn’t do a lot of good when comparing players based on different scouting reports from different scouts, it doesn’t help us determine how good a player compared to the competition he’s playing against, and so on.
The point of sabermetrics is to take some of the noise out of advanced scouting and player performance and try to narrow down the things that really should matter to teams: scoring runs and preventing runs.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I kinda hear what you are saying
the best thing though is to go by personal observation mixed with objective statistical analysis. everyone knows that , VEP is the biggest stats guy I know and he would say the same thing I think
I'll leave this to Lao Tzu
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 26, 2010 2:36 AM EDT up reply actions
what formatting?
what does it look like?
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 25, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
are you using a different kind of device?
or just a regular computer?
David Freese, LOBster killer
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 25, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
If you're talking to me...
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
everything looks normal to me.
Yea, I use a regular PC. I just typed my comment and clicked POST as normal. I don’t see what you see apparently. It all looks normal to me.
Oh! I get it!!!
It’s another way of saying that you see things differently than me, Is that it? LOL
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Nope.
The post is so disjointed and erratic that I didn’t bother reading it.
You can read it in any tone you like.
well
i don’t know what happened. I’m not seeing what you’re seeing. I wish I could. It took awhile to type it.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions
lots of carriage returns
and possibly the formatting (centering of “numbers”?) is copied and pasted from elsewhere.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 26, 2010 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions
no
your way of typing is just different, and is showing up different. maybe you just hit enter after every sentence I guess
I'll leave this to Lao Tzu
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 26, 2010 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions
no, none of that.
as far as I know it’s just like any other post and no copy paste.
It looks just fine to me when I look at it.
Oh well.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 6:10 AM EDT up reply actions
well, could i just suggest
if you are making paragraphs (and that’s an if, because it does look more formatted like a poem), but if you are, just leave a space between separate paragraphs? just makes it easier to read is all.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
That's probaly what did it.
Sorry all.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't have to crunch any numbers to answer this:
If you’re 25 years old and are into fantasy baseball and are asked who was the better outfielder…Mays or Dimaggio?
Defensively? It’s Mays — and it probably isn’t all that close. If we want to go by subjective analysis and not statistical analysis, it’s Mays by a mile — mainly because he patrolled one of the bigger centerfields in the history of the game for a lot of years and made a ton of plays. DiMaggio was great, but playing CF at Yankee Stadium doesn’t give you a ton of ground to cover.
Overall? It’s still Mays, and still not close. Willie’s one of the top 5 best players ever to play the game — the first true 5 tool guy I can think of.
I don’t need stats to tell me this, Mays is just better than DiMaggio at all phases except for the ability to hit .350+, and his 660 dingers more than make up for that.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I would take Edmonds over Rasmus in CF.
For excitement value as much as anything, but from my imperfect point of view, I think Jimmy was a better CF, marginally, at his peak.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 25, 2010 7:01 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
it will depend on if Colby improves with experience which he probably will. he’s probably a slightly better CF just because he has a lot more speed, not sure if his reaction time is faster though
David Freese, LOBster killer
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 25, 2010 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
It's close
Rasmus is pretty damn smooth.
by vivaelpujols on May 26, 2010 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions
and he does have that flat bill
you know, to shield the sun.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 26, 2010 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions
colby has a horrible arm
but we all over-rate ankiel based on those two throws against colorado in 2008.
Being a good thrower is not just about arm strength – it’s about accuracy and knowing where to throw, as well. I actually don’t think Ankiel was very good in that regard, although obviously he had more power than just about any CF I’ve ever seen.
And you’re dead wrong about the reads off the bat. Rasmus is worlds ahead of Ankiel in that regard.
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 25, 2010 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Edmonds
He did not have a great arm, but it was strong. Most importantly, his throws were very accurate.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
he had good instincts too
i.e. when to throw to the cut-off man, when to throw to 3B to prevent the runner taking an extra base, when to go home. I always thought that was one area that Ankiel really struggled in. In 2009 he threw the ball away quite a few times from the OF (I remember him airmailing the backstop once or twice too).
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 25, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
well, I said it.
Whatcha gonna do about it???? EH?
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 26, 2010 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I eat your mom for breakfast, elevenses, lunch, high tea, dinner....
Chris Carpenter doesn't give a fuck about your fantasy team.
by Felonius_Monk on May 26, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
dude
Ankiel is not, I repeat, not a better outfielder than Rasmus. Rasmus is much faster and more fluid, Ank misread the ball a lot and had to make diving catches to make for not getting good reads. and I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have someone that catches it standing than someone who is diving at a ball and has a 50% chance of catching.
Ank does have a good arm though, but it’s not consistently accurate either. plus he sucks pitch recognition while hitting and doesn’t get on base much (albeit, he does have a little more power than Colby, but not that much more)
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 22, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
fwiw, i think colby has more power
anyway, that’s nit-picking and not pertinent. seems some people last year made this same argument about ank being better defensively than colby, and it made as little sense then as it does now.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
well
I think that the only sense that ank has more power than colby is that he is such a free swinger that when he does connect with the ball, he is going to hit it hard. colby has a more nuanced offensive attack.
colby this year: .270 ISO, .548 SLG
rick this year: .210/.419
so definitely more power for colby this year, you’re right. last year colby didn’t show quite so much pop, and ank is not doing very well at all this year after a hot start
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 22, 2010 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions
colby lost a lot of power with weight last year
just saying i think colby can hit a ball as far as anyone on the team.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
I'll be happy if he can hit 25 of them that just clear the wall.
The long ones are fun to watch. Unfortunately, they have the same value as any other HR.
But they’re fun to watch.
Mike Laga (remember him?) is the only player to hit one completely out of the stadium (Busch II). I was at that game. It went right over my head.
It was a foul that went straight back and out of the park. It was a neat thing to see.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 23, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
by the same token
Ank’s plays are fun to watch, but it doesn’t mean he’s anywhere near as good as Colby in the outfield
RFL
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 23, 2010 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions
watching yadi steal a base is fun, too; it doesn't mean i want him for a pinch runner.
"We were men - flesh and blood - and we played baseball in the sunshine. We hit doubles off the wall, slid hard into second base. We had fights, and we made love. We sang songs and prayed on Sundays. . . . We felt pain. And we felt joy. There was a lot wrong with the world. But we weren't sad, man. We had the times of our lives." Buck O'Neil, from "The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O'Neil's America."
just wait, tom
you’ll get him, and you’ll want him – staring down the bench at stav.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
Last season's average HR distance
According to Hit Tracker Online (a fun website), the NL average was 398.8 feet and Rasmus’s average was 413.25 feet. The site also classifies homers into three categories, with the longest being “no doubters.” Rasmus hit 8 “no doubters” last year, out of 16 total home runs. For comparison, Pujols hit 14 “no doubters” out of 47 homers, which was second in total no doubters to Adam Dunn, who had 15 out of 38. Rasmus has 2 no doubters this season and the NL leader is Mark Reynolds with 5. Rasmus has the longest homer by a Cardinal this year with a true distance of 447 feet and it averaging 404.1 feet per homer this year. Pujols is averaging 394.1 feet per homer. Rasmus has a powerfully smooth swing.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
If you want to switch to offense...
I’ll take Colby.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions
dude
Colby is an elite defender in center field. that about sums it up.
I'll leave this to Lao Tzu
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 26, 2010 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions
DUDE!
Everybody’s entitled to his opinion. Isn’t it great?
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 6:17 AM EDT up reply actions
like your sig, btw
that’s my order, though you needn’t even include agents – i think that’s a consensus. the other three people definitely prioritize differently – mine just happens to coincide with yours.
"Some days I feel like the hypotenuse in a love triangle; others as if my lucky number is pi."
It's just there to show to the agents no respect. Thanx.
Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.
by Dave Pendleton on May 26, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
so you're saying that colby is not an elite defender?
I agree that his arm is not that great though
I'll leave this to Lao Tzu
by Cards Fan in Chitown on May 26, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
You are entitled to your opinion
And we’re entitled to point out that your opinion on the matter seems factually inaccurate based on what we know about center field defense.
There’s only one guy in the bigs right now I’d take over Colby defensively in center field and that’s Franklin Gutierrez of the Mariners.
Ankiel isn’t a center fielder. If he could hit the ball with power consistently, he could probably be a league average RF with plus defense — but Ludwick fills that role for the Cardinals pretty well I’d say.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Viva El Birdos
Related FanShots on Viva El Birdos
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
