OrangeAndBlackMetal
Dark Wizard of the Black Cascade
We could add Trout and Harper, but at this point it wouldn't matter much with our starting pitching lol, we'd have to drive in 10 runs a game on any night Nola isn't on the mound...
Perhaps I am reading it wrong, but in 2017 it appears that Joe Mauer was the best 1B in the league from a defensive standpoint and Brian Dozier was 11th, while Byron Buxton was 5th (this was using default sorting in fangraphs and UZR, I am not an advanced stats guy so if this is wrong let me know what the rankings should be).
Yeah that is one of my biggest problem with advanced stats is the need to quantify everything. I just can't wrap my ahead around where these stats come from and when asking for explanations you really only get references to other advanced stats that go into formula for whatever advanced stats your asking about. They have value for sure, but I am sorry I just can't accept that player A who lacks in every single major category by a relatively high number is a drastically better player overall because he is a better fielder. Fielding is important. No question. But offense is and always will be king.One thing that may help you in a general sense is that it's often suggested to use UZR in 3 year windows rather than a single season due to sample size issues.
As others have said, defensive abilities are harder to measure. We've had the methodology behind Linear Weights (which is behind a lot of the more famous newer batting metrics) for ~35 years while having tracking data is only a recent development. UZR or DRS or whatever other public measure you choose is not nearly as refined as our quantification of the offensive side of the game and should not be taken as gospel, but rather far more accurate than what we had previously.
Fielding is important. No question. But offense is and always will be king.
Yeah that is one of my biggest problem with advanced stats is the need to quantify everything. I just can't wrap my ahead around where these stats come from and when asking for explanations you really only get references to other advanced stats that go into formula for whatever advanced stats your asking about. They have value for sure, but I am sorry I just can't accept that player A who lacks in every single major category by a relatively high number is a drastically better player overall because he is a better fielder. Fielding is important. No question. But offense is and always will be king.
We could add Trout and Harper, but at this point it wouldn't matter much with our starting pitching lol, we'd have to drive in 10 runs a game on any night Nola isn't on the mound...
What's wrong with our starting pitching?
Velasquez, Eflin and Pivetta all had FIP around 3.80, with better defense they could be solid 2/3 starters. We had the worst defense in the majors by a wide margin last year, which is why we traded Santana and signed McCutchen.
Arrieta is probably our worst SP, Eickhoff is our 6th starter, with Suarez, De Los Santos, Romero, Irvin and Anderson in AAA ball this summer.
And the bullpen is as deep as they come, biggest question is SD and Neris, but both have closer stuff.
I just don't trust it. It always feels like a ticking time bomb. I have no faith in anyone except Nola.What's wrong with our starting pitching?
Velasquez, Eflin and Pivetta all had FIP around 3.80, with better defense they could be solid 2/3 starters. We had the worst defense in the majors by a wide margin last year, which is why we traded Santana and signed McCutchen.
Arrieta is probably our worst SP, Eickhoff is our 6th starter, with Suarez, De Los Santos, Romero, Irvin and Anderson in AAA ball this summer.
And the bullpen is as deep as they come, biggest question is SD and Neris, but both have closer stuff.
Why?
Ok, let's say offense is more important than defense across the board and we magically know this to be a fundamental law of baseball somehow.
Now let's say you're a baseball professional, not just a guy watching a ballgame on a Saturday. At what point does putting Rhys Hoskins in Left Field to get Santana in the lineup actually add value?
Mickey Mantle Moniak is off the table now and forever
I just like calling him Mickey Mantle Moniak.Not a fan. Upside is a slap hitter. I don't see any power there nor do I see him adding the strength to become a power hitter.
That's a case by case question. You'd have to look at the whole picture. Santana wasn't bringing any real impressive offense last season so having a worse bat at first and a worse fielder in LF is a no-brainer to make that switch. But, if let's say the rumors were true about getting Goldschmidt and leaving him Rhys in LF, then I would take the hit in defense for the added offense. And don't get me wrong, I am not saying that defense is not important or irrelevant, but having the best fielder at a position vs. having the best hitter I'd take the best hitter. Obviously you want the guy with the best mix and it isn't always a hitter that sucks at fielding or vice-versa, but there is a reason that guys like Rey Ordonez don't have stellar careers (they couldn't hit).
Getting a feeling we're getting shut out of Machado and Harper. What a disaster
I just like calling him Mickey Mantle Moniak.
What do you mean why? If you have a choice at any position to have a player that will bat .330 and smack 35+hrs with OBP over .400 but sucks in the field or a player that will bad .200 and strikeout 150+ times but he'll win a gold glove every year, who are you taking?
That's a case by case question. You'd have to look at the whole picture. Santana wasn't bringing any real impressive offense last season so having a worse bat at first and a worse fielder in LF is a no-brainer to make that switch. But, if let's say the rumors were true about getting Goldschmidt and leaving him Rhys in LF, then I would take the hit in defense for the added offense. And don't get me wrong, I am not saying that defense is not important or irrelevant, but having the best fielder at a position vs. having the best hitter I'd take the best hitter. Obviously you want the guy with the best mix and it isn't always a hitter that sucks at fielding or vice-versa, but there is a reason that guys like Rey Ordonez don't have stellar careers (they couldn't hit).
That’s a lot of info, Captain.I heard a guy this morning from USA Today, something (Bob?) Nightengale, who still thinks the Phils are leading the chase for Harper. He's the one who reported, I think during the Series, that Harper's agent said his client knew where he would be going, that it was a "done deal." No idea how much credence to give this guy, though. I think he said that the Dodgers wanted him, but on like a five-year deal, and it would leave too much money on the table. It sounded like the Yankees met with Machado and really liked him.
That’s a lot of info, Captain.
If you’re wrong, Bunnaman will never play an NHL game.
Interesting.Fart, I am just repeating what I heard - this should have no adverse effect on Bunny's bright future.
Fart, I am just repeating what I heard - this should have no adverse effect on Bunny's bright future.
I heard a guy this morning from USA Today, something (Bob?) Nightengale, who still thinks the Phils are leading the chase for Harper. He's the one who reported, I think during the Series, that Harper's agent said his client knew where he would be going, that it was a "done deal." No idea how much credence to give this guy, though. I think he said that the Dodgers wanted him, but on like a five-year deal, and it would leave too much money on the table. It sounded like the Yankees met with Machado and really liked him.