tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212873806212061378.post3309791168642903669..comments2023-10-28T04:23:07.201-04:00Comments on Get Untracked: Wait Till Next YearScott D. Simonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14155410767840944055noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212873806212061378.post-60427277208394858102006-12-01T17:58:00.000-05:002006-12-01T17:58:00.000-05:00Perhaps the term "Gold Glove defense" needs to be ...Perhaps the term "Gold Glove defense" needs to be further clarified. I was using it as an adjective to describe the ability of Wells as a CF rather than as a factual matter ("he has won a Gold Glove" - a "fact" of which I'm not even positive). <br /><br />Great advances have been made in objectively rating fielders. Look at Clay Davenport at BP, John Dewan's plus-minus system or Dave Pinto's Probabilistic Model of Range. Those systems all rate Pierre as an average fielder. <br /><br />My point still stands: You don't want to pay $$$ to guys on the wrong side of 30 who don't bring much to the table aside from speed. Pierre doesn't walk or hit for power, so his league-leading hit total is rather meaningless. Less so is Pierre's propensity to make 500 outs in a season.Scott D. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14155410767840944055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212873806212061378.post-8506549989763568742006-11-25T17:40:00.000-05:002006-11-25T17:40:00.000-05:00I'm a Met fan but I have to say the American Leagu...I'm a Met fan but I have to say the American League East's pitching is better than than or at the very least equal to any National League division's pitching. The AL central is the strongest division with the Tigers, Twins, White Sox, and Indians but I certainly wouldn't put the AL East that far down the list. The Orioles and the Ray's staffs stink, but though it pains me to defend the Yankees, you can't throw their staff in with them. Wang is very, very good, Mussina is still pretty good, Randy Johnson is good 50% of the time and they still have Rivera. Sad to say that staff would dominate in the NL. I agree with you with regard to Gold Gloves, they are overrated (see Derek Jeter) (ahh that makes up for defending the Yanks). But Wells is an excellent fielder and I hope for the Cubs sake they don't put Soriano in center.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212873806212061378.post-24970433922663584862006-11-25T17:18:00.000-05:002006-11-25T17:18:00.000-05:00Playing the outfield at Wrigley ain't rocket scien...Playing the outfield at Wrigley ain't rocket science. If the ball is within the walls, you should be able to get to it, especially in left or right. Also on the subject of the cubs, Pierre is a stud. I was there. Often. The interesting thing to me is why the Dodgers were so intent on bringing him in? They've already got a similar leadoff man in Furcal (who i guess goes to 2 hole now). Is $50 million worth it, when you consider you are bringing in something you already have? (Not to mention Lofton...but he's well over his life exp...)<br /><br />A gold glove in the outfield is overrated. Further, I'd love to see Wells put up numbers in a division with at least some pitching. Facing the Oriole/Devil Ray/Yankee staffs 50 times per year makes for a nice buffer. <br /><br />David Wright & Jose Reyes are the rarest of young talent. Easier said than done to just 'extend contracts to young talent...like the mets did with Wright & Reyes'. Cubs young talent, that isn't signed...lets see...yeah...not much coming to mind. Rich Hill is the most promising MLB-ready young talent. Otherwise...yowza.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212873806212061378.post-3631818479318779312006-11-25T17:00:00.000-05:002006-11-25T17:00:00.000-05:00Hmm not sure I agree with your examples either but...Hmm not sure I agree with your examples either but I agree with your overall argument that this years crop of free agents is weak and you should look to invest your budget in the future. Milton Bradley is certifiable, but the guy who was sweatin Juan Pierre didn't watch him last year. He's a good player, but if I were a GM I would not want to commit to a long term deal with a guy who's game is dependent on his legs who is almost 30. As for Soriano, please watch him play defense and do not just look at outfield assist stats. Wells is a gold glover because he does everything a fielder is supposed to do. Soriano first of all plays left field which is less valuable, but also is an adventure on fly balls. He often takes poor routes to balls and they drop (something that doesn't show up in the box score). I will give Soriano credit for being adequate in the field considering he had been a career infielder, but to compare him to Wells is ridiculous. As for Wells offensively since he became an every day player in 2002 he has been extremely consistent. 2004 was his worst year when he missed some time (134 games) batted 272, 23 HR, 67 RBI. Every other year was more like .285, 28 HR, and 100 RBI. Very good CF #'s. I think if I were a GM I would look within my organization and extend contracts of existing young talent now several years before they become eligible for free agency (Like the Mets did with Wright and Reyes those contracts look like bargains now).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9212873806212061378.post-22937143841947539642006-11-25T15:47:00.000-05:002006-11-25T15:47:00.000-05:00this is mindless. You just don't get it.
Milto...this is mindless. You just don't get it. <br /><br />Milton Bradley? Seriously? Do you think a team brings in Juan Pierre for his OPS, or even more ridiculous, his home run totals??? He led the NL in hits last year, can steal bases at will, and is a tireless worker in the off-season. Bradley certainly hits more homeruns than Pierre...but he's a cancer to any team he's been on. He doesn't steal. He's a free swinger. Not someone you could even by the greatest stretch of the imagination compare to Pierre. <br /><br />Andruw Jones - will cost more than $10m per year. <br /><br />Soriano/Wells - "Gold Glove Defense"...Soriano led the majors in outfield assists, in his first year out there...compiling 22...the next closest total in the majors was 16. Not to mention, Soriano's OPS has climbed each year for the past 3 years. Wells has done nothing outside of this past year. <br /><br />"Wait until next year"...just tell the fans that. I'm sure they'll line up to buy tickets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com