All the Cubs can do each day is exactly what they did this afternoon -- come out, swing the bats, come from behind if necessary, make plays in the field... and who knows what might happen in the future?
Jake Fox hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to lead the Cubs to an 11-4 win over the Mets, and now the Cubs have a nice little four-out-of-six run going.
Whatever you think of Fox playing in the field -- and he's obviously only adequate at any of his defensive positions, and wouldn't have come near the nice running catch Sam Fuld made in the 8th after replacing him -- the man can hit, and is a fine player to have on a major league bench. Between Iowa and the Cubs this season, Fox now has 324 at-bats. In those AB, he has combined for 24 doubles, 27 HR and 92 RBI, while hitting .355/.430/.701. Most impressive, and though he won't come close to being voted Rookie of the Year, I could see giving him a third-place vote.
He'll probably play left field again tomorrow, as Lou reported in his postgame press conference that Alfonso Soriano's MRI showed only "inflammation" in his knee, no major damage, and he'll be examined tomorrow and possibly get a "shot" (I suppose Lou meant cortisone, if they still do that), and perhaps Soriano will be available by Monday.
In the meantime, Fox is more than a capable fill-in.
It started out as one of those games that you're glad you're the home team and have the last at-bat; Ryan Dempster got himself in trouble with a walk and a pair of hits leading to two runs in the first inning, and though the Cubs took the lead in the third (thanks in part to Dempster getting the walk back as a hitter), he gave it right back in the fourth. Dempster appeared to be trying to throw as hard as the wind was blowing today; he didn't have good command, though he did register seven strikeouts. The Cubs got a break in what could have been a Mets blowout inning in that fourth; Fernando Tatis tried to score with nobody out and two runs already in when a throw appeared to get away, but Mike Fontenot's relay cut him down. After that Dempster settled down and allowed only two more baserunners, while the offense was bailing him out in the fifth.
Nice game today for Milton Bradley, who had hits in his first three at-bats (making seven straight plate appearances he had reached base, including the four yesterday), and blasted a RBI double off the wall in the third, scoring Dempster. There were some scattered boos early in the game when Bradley was announced, but his play today turned those into cheers by the time he came up and walked in the eighth. I won't boo Bradley -- in fact, I hope he has a great September, because that would truly help the team. Aramis Ramirez also had a nice day today, with a pair of hits and RBI and a nice snag of a hot line drive by Angel Pagan. And Koyie Hill chipped in with two hits, including a RBI double; Hill's triple-slash numbers of .245/.329/.347 aren't great, but they are at least the equal of Geovany Soto's (.215/.322/.377). For now, I think Hill deserves the bulk of the playing time; Soto can get into shape and work hard and win the job back next spring.
Aaron Heilman came in and threw two scoreless innings in what might be his last appearance as a Cub. It was a bit surprising that Lou didn't leave him in to finish the game and get a save, but Sean Marshall hadn't thrown since Tuesday, so I can actually understand Lou's motivation to get Marshall an inning of work.
It was chilly today, and you could see the effects of the strong west-northwest wind in the upper deck seats. The LF upper deck, which was blocked from the wind, stayed full most of the game, but the RF upper deck, fully exposed, emptied out after the seventh inning stretch.
It was 64 degrees at game time and never got much warmer. 64 degrees is the average high temperature in Chicago on October 16. Let's hope this good Cubs play of the last two days keeps up and we have the chance to experience baseball at Wrigley Field on and after that date. Keep the faith.
1 recs | 408 comments
First!
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
I don't care what place we're in
It’s always fun seeing the Cubs tee off against the Mets!
ak123 - August 29, 2009
Al, you made the New York Times
That article someone mentioned in one of the gameday threads got picked up by the Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/sports/baseball/30santo.html?ref=baseball
Blue Heron - August 29, 2009
Cool!
I talked to that AP reporter early last week. Nice article about Santo.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
It was on Sports Illustrated's web site too
Blogger and all-around good guy Rick Kaempfer was also quoted.
ChipSet - August 29, 2009
I don't know Rick.
Where does he blog?
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
http://rickkaempfer.blogspot.com/
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
Also "Just One Bad Century"
I.e., http://www.justonebadcentury.com/
ChipSet - August 30, 2009
This is a bit of a Cubs-themed website...
Isn’t it.
CubsBullsBears - August 29, 2009
A bit.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
our paper picked it up for tomorrow
except i talked to the guy designing that page and asked him to put the name of the web site in.
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
"Al Yellon...
…who also has a Cubs-themed Web site [at www.bleedcubbieblue.com]…"
??
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
no
its the Dubuque Telegraph Herald. I asked them to make it: Al Yellon, who runs bleedcubbieclue.com, a Cubs-centric Web site.
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
Gotcha
FanShot a link to it tomorrow?
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
not sure that worth a fanshot
how about if i just link it here in reply to you?
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
Works for me :)
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
here you go
http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=255028
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
That was a great birthday present!
Chris Dobbertean - August 29, 2009
Happy Birthday!
sue369 - August 29, 2009
we are still in this thing...
with 5 weeks left, 6.5 back…this isnt over
BelieveinBlue2314 - August 29, 2009
Make that 5.5 back
after the Giants smack the Rockies tonight. If the Cubs keep the bats hot, they have good enough pitching to win a LOT of games in September. Let’s win these last two games in August first…
DKT - August 29, 2009
joey gathright has been traded to boston
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
I think he puts them over the top
In all seriousness…isn’t Ellsbury hurt?
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
he was hurt but hes played in the past 2 games
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
over the top of a car,,,maybe
cozmotaylor123 - August 29, 2009
I think you pull Harden back from waivers
if they win tomorrow, and the Rockies lose one of the next two…5.5 back is not insurmountable, especially with the Cubs’ schedule the rest of the way.
Canadian Cubs Fan - August 29, 2009
I'd agree...
If it was just the Rockies. But there’s still SF, FL, and ATL.
CubsBullsBears - August 29, 2009
The Cubs have four games left with the Giants.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
In San Francisco.
Hopefully pitching match-ups will be favourable during that wraparound series. If they are, the Cubs shouldn’t have a problem knocking in runs, and maintaining that lead against the Giants’ anemic offense. Let’s not forget that Brian Wilson has a lot of shades of Gregg — he gets whacked around a lot.
I would like somebody to tell me though, how a guy from Venezuela gets a nickname of “Big Panda.”
LeSaboteur - August 29, 2009
Wikipedia is your friend
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Sandoval:
On defense, the Giants have used [Sandoval] as a starting third baseman, first baseman, and, for a short period, as a catcher for pitcher Barry Zito, who gave Sandoval the nickname Kung Fu Panda. He received the nickname after a play on September 19, 2008, where he scored a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers by jumping over the tag of catcher Danny Ardoin, scoring from second base on a single by Bengie Molina.
See also: Here.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
Rockies & Giants...
…have this weekend series, and then three more games back in Denver. Don’t forget LA, either; all three teams will be beating up on each other, and may allow the Cubs to sneak in. While not nearly as fun as controlling our own destiny, I’d still take that.
5.5 isn’t that much ground to make up.
LeSaboteur - August 29, 2009
not to mention that the braves' and marlins scheduled are just as difficult with Philly
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
Al, question:
Several of us were talking about this in the game threads.
What was going on in the bleacher section where everyone was wearing green shirts? Jake Fox’s grand slam landed in that group.
Vermont Cubs Fan - August 29, 2009
Pat and Ron talked about this
it’s some kind of group memorializing.. a doctor or something? Harry somebody. They’re raising money for research into juvenile leukemmia.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
It's the...
…. Henry Schueler Foundation. They do this every year for fundraising purposes.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
Didn't get into the gamethreads today
but the parts I heard on the radio were good. We need to win tomorrow.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
No nastiness
except when I whined about Buck and McCarver.
Happy birthday!
chilango2 - August 29, 2009
You weren't alone
Other than Buck/McCarver complaints, the only real nastiness was when Demp gave up the lead in the 4th. The strong 5th inning turned attitudes around nicely, though.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
I'd say
it was one of the better game threads of the year.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 29, 2009
How bad is Fox in Left field
Hey Al! You have a good seat for this so who is the better left fielder right now Fox or Soriano (before the cortisone injection). I’d like your assessment. I’m starting to think that Sori is the capable replacement for Fox.
Krug - August 29, 2009
Fox isn't a very good outfielder.
There’s no way I’d want him out there every day, and once you get to the 7th inning with a lead you have to get him out of there for Sam Fuld. (Or, Reed Johnson once he comes back.)
But the man can hit.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
Sounds like Fox
is every bit as good as Sori defensively.
deadcatbounce - August 29, 2009
So what?
That’s not the question… the question is whether Soriano is good enough to justify benching Fox for him for the first 7 innings of a game. Sure, Fuld is superior and probably good enough offensively to make that switch in the later innings. But I’m not seeing how Soriano when not healthy or at the top of his game offensively is a defensible option regardless of his contract.
jameslcrockett - August 29, 2009
That's a good question and...
… you’re right, the health is clearly the issue right now. Let’s see how the latest medical exam goes.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
and...
the fact that Soriano has never been a plus in leftfield anyway. Good arm, but fundamentally unsound. I don’t expect much more from Jake, if we’re contrasting two healthy options, but offensively there’s no contest… right now.
jameslcrockett - August 29, 2009
I realize that I sound something like a broken record
when it comes to Alfonso, but Soriano is a plus outfielder career-wise. Career, in the outfield, with 514 games, Soriano has a 21.5 UZR.
THIS YEAR, he has struggled mightily. Absolutely. But last year, and the year before, especially, he’s a plus defender.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
and i think his struggles this year
are due to injury. He just hasn’t looked himself this year, either in the field or at the plate.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
I agree
at least he finally had the MRI this morning. All they found was swelling. Possibly, he’ll get a cortisone shot.
Why the hell didn’t they do that in the first week of freakin’ July?
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
i know, tell me about it!
and the thing is, we all seemed to mention him hobbling around and grimacing.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
who knows
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
but what does last year, and the year before, have to do with this year?
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
just
making sure the record is straight, and understood.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
That's what managers are for
to play the guys that are actually hitting the ball and driving in runs. Lou has to figure out a way to get Fuld and Fox in there because Sori is a big liability in LF and at bat. Yes he hit a GWHR yesterday, thank you very much. Where was he the other 27 days of August?
If you have a guy raking or semi-raking and another who can’t catch or hasn’t hit a lick for 3 frigging months the defense be damned! We need runs, damnit! The pitching has carried this team all year. Play Fox and figure out how to get Fuld or someone in LF. Sori’s not going to get any better this year, he’s been hobbling since April.
BigJohnAZ - August 29, 2009
The thing is Soriano has been terrible this year in LF. I don't think Fox could be any worse.
Soriano has something up with that knee, best to DL him and just run Fox out there.
Fox and Soriano are both major liabilities in the outfield, but one can hit and one can’t right now, you go with the guy that is hitting. He’s not the long term solution. I still have some faith that Soriano can come back and be decent if he’s healthy next year, but Fox is not the solution in LF for the future.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I didn't want to say how poor Sori was in the field
that’s been argued and debated ad infinitum in about 206 posts lol. Personally, I think he’s horrible out there. There, I’ve said it lol
BigJohnAZ - August 29, 2009
It's an objective fact that he's been bad in the field this year
You would not be correct saying that he is a bad LF overall(bad outfielder, I’ll let that slide as he probably couldn’t play Right or Center very well). He has been a very, very good LF since he moved there with the Nationals.
Also Shawn, does UZR take into account when runners don’t run on an outfielder? I never quite figured that part out.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
Sori in CF
I just threw up in my mouth a little.
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
This doesn't mean anything, but I found it humourous
That in a really, really small sample size Soriano had a decent UZR in CF. he’s not any good in center probably, but he was off to a decent start in 2007.
Again this means nothing I just get a little chuckle and I just saw that while I was looking up other stuff on Soriano’s fangraphs page.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
All stats have their limitations
UZR’s is that it needs a large sample size to be an accurate predictor of value. Outfielders see fewer plays than infielders, and need a correspondingly larger sample size to normalize their UZR. Sure, you can run a player’s UZR in CF based on 15 plays, but to use that to predict anything would be foolhardy at the very least.
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
Right,
Which is why I said this:
and this
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
Skimming bites me in the rear again
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
It's no problem
I do that all the time as well as replying to the wrong message. I’m very good at the last one.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
This year I really don't care about his career stats in LF
I see what I see on the field and I don’t like it. He will never be Billy Williams but you can live with him in LF when he’s hitting. He quit hitting in mid May. Enough of waiting for one of his hot streaks. Do you know how many games we have lost because of that? We can’t calculate it, most likely, but I think you get my meaning.
BigJohnAZ - August 30, 2009
I don't want to get into this again.
But your eyes aren’t what you should be trusting to evaluate defense unless you are scout. To which I would ask, why are you on this site?
Anyways he’s cost the team about (-8.7 UZR) -8.7 runs this season in the field so that’s almost a win but not quite. (.87 of a win).
You can calculate it with some degree of accuracy. It’s not the exact, but it’s pretty damn good.
Overall he’s cost the team about half a win this season. That’s terrible. A good WAR would be 2 or something.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
Fine. I've never looked at UZR, WAR or anything like those.
And if you say he’s cost the Cubs a half a win, I have to take the numbers word for it. But in that vein, for people to say that Fox would be more of a liability is ok, too. Maybe Sori doesn’t cost the team that badly as a defender, ok. But his AB’s have, along with others. I don’t care if Sori is slightly better than another in LF, if the other guy is driving in runs, I’ll roll the dice with the defense for the sake of runs at this point and hope we actually get some leads so I can play my defensive guys.
BigJohnAZ - August 30, 2009
That's fine, but you don't even need to go to the offense vs. defense thing
Fox is the right player to play right now and Soriano needs to be on the DL.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
Frigging Manny is a butcher in LF but he hits a ton. Defense be damned!
It’s not like the Cubs have Murderer’s Row, they need every hit and run they can. If Soto and others were playing at last year’s numbers, NBD. But they aren’t and haven’t all year. You have to go with the hot hand when it’s hot, period.
BigJohnAZ - August 30, 2009
You know what happens when the #1 line isn't scoring in hockey?
They get shuffled or moved to #2 or #3 within a few games, not 2/3 of a season.
Why do managers like Lou and Dusty play guys that are scuffling for weeks on end and not sit them or move them down and get the guys hitting where they can do damage?
BigJohnAZ - August 30, 2009
I don't know I doubt Ovie's, Crosby, Toews, Malkin, or Zetterburg
Are getting moved down a line in 2 or 3 games. But the thing in Hockey is even teh second line and third line plays a lot. What’s an average shift? 45 seconds- 2 minutes at the longest? Very different sport, not really applicable.
The difference between not starting in hockey and not starting in baseball is huge.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
Hockey lines and defensive pairings are *far* more about chemistry than baseball lineups
The only thing that really compares in baseball is a double-play combo or pitcher who has a personal catcher.
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
I was trying to make a point that
when you aren’t scoring, you have to do something. Waiting and hoping for a guy to turn it around over 2 weeks in a long baseball season is normal, but 3 months? C’mon now.
Ok, I overstated that players get moved down in lines like that, but the coaches do shuffle lines constantly, and are always trying to get the right combination. Sure, they have to deal with on ice matchups, but so does a baseball manager when he has to match up with a pitcher. IDK, I was simply trying to point out that Lou has given a few players more than enough time to get going. If it’s due to injury then he’s got to be the guy to decide sit or play more intelligently or quickly.
BigJohnAZ - August 30, 2009
All I know is
Milton Bradley has to got be the hottest Cubs batter right now.
Saturday
3-4 with 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 runs scored
Friday
3-3 with 1 BB, 2 runs scored
Thursday
0-5 (blah)
Wednesday
1-4 with 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 runs scored
Tuesday
4-4 with 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 runs scored
Monday
Day Off
Sunday
0-1 (didn’t start)
That’s 11 for 21. That’s an over .500 batting average, my friends.
For the past 7 days, his OPS is 1.491. For the last 14, it’s .960. And I’m pretty sure those numbers from Baseball-reference.com doesn’t cover today yet. His OBP for the past week is .550, his SLG .941!!!!!
And some of you guys want to trade him?
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
He's thriving in the 2nd spot
And it suits him quite well. Still wish Dome was leading off, but MB seems to have cemented his place in the order.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
hed be even better in the leadoff spot
but that might be my antiFPSM side talking
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
Yes, I still want to trade him.
But I hope he keeps hitting this way the rest of the season.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
Milton Bradley leads the team
in OBP, yet you still want to trade him? That makes no sense whatsoever.
Neifi Puppy - August 29, 2009
He leads the team in distractions, too.
Let’s see: .398 OBP; Ramirez at .391, Fukudome at .390. Not much of a difference there, is there?
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
Al you're representing that as a fact.
When in fact the “leading team in distractions” comment is an opinion. You could say leading team in public outbursts and I would agree.
Alright, lets make this argument more interesting. I’ll even grant you that it’s a fact that he leads the team in distractions, do you have any evidence that these distractions have a negative effect besides some psuedo-psychological nebulous claim about clubhouse chemistry? Because I could claim that his competitive fire is one of the few positive clubhouse things on the team this year and, as far as I know we both have a chance of being right.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Well stated, Buzz.
Neifi Puppy - August 29, 2009
I just don't think you can look at the number of teams
he’s played on over the last few years, and say that his attitude, and the fact that despite putting up decent to great numbers, the teams rarely want him back for a second season.
The last time Bradley played for the same team two straight years was 2002, and 2003
Illicat - August 29, 2009
Your using circumstantial evidence to prove your point.
Just because teams did get rid of him does not mean it actually had an effect on play. I’d guess that the reason most teams didn’t want him was because of injury history not his attitude.
You could, but you’re not providing any evidence on to support your claim. At the point where this Clubhouse Chemistry stuff is a complete unknown I’ll take the objective data that says he’s worth keeping.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
you'd really pay 10 mil for a .260 average
and 35 rbis? I hope you’re not one that was calling for Kosuke’s deportation last year, because that would be quite contradictory.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
I wasn't calling for Kosuke's deportation
And again is his the 70s where we measure value by avg and rbi. He’s been worth 6.5 Million dollars this year. That is pretty damn close to the truth given the strength of the statistic Wins Above Replacement. It’s not capturing his value with 100% accuracy, but it’s not a stretch at all to say 95%+.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=369&position=OF#value
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
*Is this the 70s?
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Both explanations the injury one and the attitude one are completely unsupported
and could be equally true. There’s no point in making personal decisions with a type of evidence (this nebulous attitude stuff) where such a large number of things have an equal chance of being true.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
well, at least one injury
was a direct result of the attitude. so, I tend to think that goes hand in hand.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
no
one injury was the result of being flung to the ground by his manager.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
and why did that even occur, drew?
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
That is also irrelevant
Getting hurt arguing is one of the rarest things ever.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
that's not irrelevant.
that lends to my argument of him being a distraction.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
It's also irrelevant because your making one incident
into a trend.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
It's 2x irrelevant
One that’s not the point. The point is I could claim that Milton Bradley’s in ability to get clutch RBIs are the reason teams didn’t want him and could be right. This is about perceived perception.
Do you realize how absurd this whole conversation is? We’re arguing about getting rid of a player because of how we think team’s perceive a player.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
because his manager
wasn’t being careful.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
I remember that incident, I was watching with wide eyes and that umpire blew the call...
in an important game and MB blew up. He was passionate for winning… which I can totally dig. Granted sometimes he gets in his own way, but all in all I’ll take it- we need some more fire… some more dragons!
smash! - August 30, 2009
That too.
I have never seen a manger fling a player to the ground like that, or have I since. I haven’t seen any of Bradley’s past managers do it and I have not since (and he’s had to be held back by each one of those managers).
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
That's irrelevant. You missed the entire point of my post
The opinion “injuries are why he moves around so much” and “attitude is why he moves around so much” have an equal chance of being right and there is no use making personal decisions on something that is so utterly imprecise and widely varying.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
fair enough.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
Well, I don't know why Al wants to trade him, but here's why I do:
Bradley is getting paid far too much to be a #2 guy who gets on base a lot. If he were a middle infielder, or even a centerfielder, or a catcher, his numbers in the second half would be extremely adequate.
Bradley is playing in a position that is usually a power hitter’s position. He was brought here to be a power hitting corner outfielder, and bat in the middle of the order. That is the kind of player we needed, and he doesn’t fit that bill.
We have plenty of guys in today’s lineup that would do good, to pretty good doing exactly what Bradley has done this season.
It would be a different story if we could count on that run production coming from other spots in the lineup, if we had a power hitting middle infielder, or catcher (two things we had a year ago) or if we could even count on the other outfielders picking up his lack of power, but we didn’t have that this year, and we can’t count on that next year either.
I’m glad Bradley has stepped it up down the stretch. I don’t hate him. I think Hendry and Lou deserve a lot more of the blame for making the Bradley situation untenable than they are getting.
I hope his picking it up down the stretch will make him tradeable this winter, both to free up a spot so we can actually go get a player who provides the power numbers we normally see from a corner outfielder, and to free up his salary space
Illicat - August 29, 2009
I stand by my opinion from last offseason
Bobby Abreu would look good in cubbie blue.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
Abreu is basically Milton with more speed
he still wouldn’t have provided what we needed. Dunn, or Ibanez are the only ones who were available who would have.
And please, stat guys, spare me the “Dunn would have cost us more games than he would have won us” I’ve seen the stats, and those kind of predictors don’t take situations into account.
Illicat - August 29, 2009
abreu so far this year:
.301/12 HR/85 RBI. not to mention the 27 stolen bases. I do agree he has much more speed than Milton, but he brings so much more. he has also played no fewer than 151 games.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
oh, and he's only making $5 mil this year
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
now, his salary I can get behind.
I forgot just how cheap he came
Illicat - August 29, 2009
so
is Bradley.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
and he has 50 less rbi
and a much lower average.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
he scuffled at the beginning of the year.
Abreau has two months this season hitting well below .250. One of them is right now.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
Paying too much for that OBP
Yes he is the hottest hitter on team, right now but for what the Cubs are paying him they could have gotten Dunn (less even) and had a more feared hitter in the line-up. I’d call their defense a wash.
His price is too high, hopefully Bradley tears it the rest of the season, that will increase his trade value in the offseason to a AL team.
gaclaudy - August 29, 2009
Their not paying him too much
In fact they are underpaying him by 1.5 million dollars based on his accrued value this season.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
You know what's really funny
Milton Bradley is probably the most talked about player on the team right now. He has almost become the face of the team, either you like him or hate him, sorta like A-Rod, Sheffield, or Puljos.
gaclaudy - August 29, 2009
The thing is I don't want to talk about him.
He ’s not even in the top 10 of reasons why this team is losing this year.
There are many more important things to talk about in terms of what is going/ went wrong. Fontenot can’t hit, Soto is too fat/ can’t hit/ injured, Soriano is having an awful year, Ramirez’s injury, starting pitching injuries, Carlos Marmol, Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman, Aaron Miles, and then maybe Bradley’s defense.
His hitting has not been the problem.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
this season looked like it was in the tank early because
Ramirez’s injury and Soriano’s extended slump/nagging injury. I don’t think you can blame the pitching, not even Gregg/Marmol/Heilman. Sure, they’ve blown their fair share of leads, but no more than normally get blown over the course of a season. Even with the injuries to the starting pitching, guys from the minors stepped up. If Zambrano hadn’t gotten hurt, would Randy Wells be where he is?
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
I sort of wondered to myself...
… if he isn’t getting off on the “nobody believes in me, they all hate me, i’ll show them” mentality he’s been displaying. Maybe its driving his great play over the last week or so.
AndrewJStone - August 30, 2009
A wash?
Milton is a considerably better defender than Dunn.
Pre - August 29, 2009
their defense
is absolutely NOT a wash. Milton Bradley, in a year that started with a bad fielding stretch, has a UZR of -1.8. Career, he’s got a UZR of 27.9.
This year, for the Nats, Adam Dunn has an OF UZR of -20.7. At first base, he has an UZR of -7.5.
His career UZR at first base is -14.8. His career UZR in the outfield… wait, I need to bold this.
-93.5
To suggest that their defense is a wash is utterly uninformed, so hopefully you’re more informed now. I would argue that Adam Dunn loses as many games as he wins.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
lol you know how much UZR means
who would you rather have defensively, Hanley Ramirez or Theriot? Ramirez= -23.9, theriot = 6.5
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
lol your not putting that in context
Bradley, in his career, is a less talented hitter than Dunn, but it’s not that big of a gap.
Hanley Ramirez is a noted terrible fielder who will likely have to move to centerfield and hits like gangbusters. Theriot’s offensive ability it nowhere near, not even remotely close (over .100 points of wOBA) to Hanley’s. Hanley is worth 7.0 wins already because of how good his bat is at a premium position. You can be good while having a defense, but you have to hit like a god.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
i said once again
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Theriot not even close.
lol your going to say Hanley aren’t you. Please go talk to a scout about this since you won’t believe the statistics.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
first of all learn to read.
secondly, i think most scouts would say that they would take Hanley. Have you even talked to a scout in your life?
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Have you?
Pre - August 29, 2009
nope.
i didn’t say “please go talk to a scout about this since you won’t believe in statistics.” You should probably talk to a scout before you make an assumption about scouts and statistics.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
lol
You haven’t talked to scouts. I haven’t either, but “Scouts” are just a code word for biased subjective analysis. If you talked to an actual scout, they’ll tell you Theriot is better. I’m really quite sure about this.
An experienced scout could not possibly confuse an above average SS with one of the worst in baseball.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
nice pic.
scouts & UZR = match made in heaven. I’d still rather have Hanley btw.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
I agreed with you on this
Despite his defense, he is a much better player than Theriot. Much, much, much, much better.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I think you're having trouble counting.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
you're using the wrong numbers.
Those are heavily slanted by Ramirez’s 2007 season, which was abysmal according to UZR.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
Yeah it's a pretty clear distinction
That’s 2.82 wins he’s chopping off of his offensive value because of his defense. He is a DH, there is no doubt about it.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
he's actually nowhere near that bad...
He’s about average defensively at SS
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
I was talking about Dunn.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
These reply features get confusing I know.
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
Oh, then yes.
Three-loss butcher it is.
I recommend that as our new nickname for Adam Dunn: the 3-loss butcher.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 30, 2009
I like it
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
actually, Bradley's making $9M this year, when you count the $4M signing bonus
From Cot’s
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
If you wanna look at the whole deal when it's over you can add that 9 mil back and evaluate.
But on a yearly basis the question is whether he earned his salary. The signing bonus is not payed to him for services rendered or yet to be rendered it’s for signing. His salary is for his services and that’s 5 mil.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
c'mon Buzz
do you really think Bradley would have agreed to a contract that only pays him $5M the first year if the $4M signing bonus wasn’t part of it?
That’s just the games agents and GMs play and it was probably a cash flow incentive for Bradley.
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
He probably wouldn't have taken the deal but his value vs. salary is still the same.
He’s still earned his salary this year. He wasn’t payed to produce like a 9mil player this year, he was payed to produce like a 5 mil player. Normally, he would be better than this, but he hasn’t.
Oh well, stuff happens.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Ah Buzz... you're the gift that keeps giving...
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
I've tonned down the personal attacks
Just cause you veil yours in ambiguity doesn’t mean their any less of a personal attack
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
but you don't
count that as part of his salary. At best, you run that $4m over the life of the contract. So that would be $1.3M extra per year. So are you saying he hasn’t performed as a $6.3m player? Because the statistics tell you he is. I certainly think he is.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
Fine I can agree with that.
Because it’s not assigned to the first year the split evenly over years makes sense.
Fair enough.
I keep getting away from my main point. Bradley hasn’t been the problem this year. It shouldn’t matter what they’re paying him he has played adequately enough not to be one of the major reasons this team sucks. He hasn’t played well enough to carry this team or be main contributor, but he certainly shouldn’t be the focus of the fans ire.
He has been part of the reason this team hasn’t played well, but as I’ve said before he’s not even in the top 10.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
look at the numbers, drew - does common sense not enter the picture here?
Do you really think he signs a contract like that ($5M/$9M/$12M) without the $4M signing bonus?
Let me backtrack a bit and state that I base my reasoning here on the premise that he gets the entire $4M signing bonus this year (2009). I think that’s how signing bonuses work.
So add the $4M signing bonus to his first year “salary” of $5M, doesn’t that equate to getting paid $9M this year, and shouldn’t that be how you judge him?
If on the other hand, the signing bonus is prorated, i.e. paid, over the length of the contract, then I agree with your numbers.
Either way, I’m not questioning his performance relative to his contract at all. I think he’ll be well worth the $30M for the 3 yrs. I just think it’s a bit misleading to keep trotting out the “he’s only getting paid $5M this year” argument out there.
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
I don't know
if he signs the contract or not. But it’s a bonus for SIGNING. Not performing.
I’m willing to prorate the worth of the signing across the three years — so fine. $6.3m for the first year. He’s still performing at that level.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
wow...
I cannot hope to compete in the face of such steadfastness and literal interpretations. So before I succumb to the Einstein definition of insanity, I shall make a less-than graceful retreat, shaking my head the whole way…
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
I don't see
why that’s not a reasonable interpretation.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
It's a semantics argument...
There’s not really a “right” answer.
But regardless, the $4 million is part of the contract. You can’t not count it somewhere. You can argue whether it should be prorated over the 3 years (meaning he’s making $6.333 million this year) or you can count it as part of this year (meaning $9 million). But ignoring it is inappropriate.
And I actually agree that he’s performing at about the value of his contract this year (slightly above if you say $6.3 million, slightly below if you say $9 million).
SouthernCub - August 30, 2009
Are we still in the 70s?
Why are people so hung up on AVG and RBIs? It seems that fans/beat reporters/broadcasters are the last to realize that those statistics became much less meaningful 10 years ago. Those statistics aren’t indicative of value nor are they predictive.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
say what you will. and whatever decade we happen to be in
I’ll take a .300 hitter with 100 RBI’s any day.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
A .300 hitter with 100 RBI is probably good, yes.
But you don’t really know how good given just those numbers. In 1958 Mickey Mantle batted .304 and had 97 RBI. He got on base at a .447 clip and slugged .592, but had no more RBI opportunities than the average player. In 1985 Jim Rice batted .293 and drove in 103 runs. His OBP and SLG were each about .100 lower than Mantle’s season, but he raked in RBI because he had so many more opportunities. Which is not to say Rice had a bad season or that you wouldn’t “take it” — though you might not take it over, say, what Derrek Lee is producing this year.
These results courtesy of a b-r play index search — it looks like there are more extreme examples than this on the bad end but I can’t see them because of the way the search was limited (I’m not a subscriber). While it appears that it’s rare to hit .300, drive in 100 runs, and have a legitimately bad season, it’s not rare to miss those criteria and have a better season than Rice in ’85, or to exceed them greatly and have a worse season than Mantle in ’58.
aldimond - August 30, 2009
and what stats are?
not being snarky – just curious as to what you think the better stats would be.
Then my follow-up question would be why aren’t those stats the ones they put up on the tv screen or scoreboard when those players come up to bat?
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
There are a lot of better statistics to understand offensive value.
About the TV thing. It’s because a majority of the viewers wouldn’t understand it and it would take away from ratings. Some people want to watch baseball with their AVG/HR/RBIs, but that doesn’t mean those stats are good at indicating value. Just because something is done on a popular level doesn’t mean it’s accurate
I’m going to list a bunch of stats that are better than RBI:
OPS
OBP
SLG
wOBA (weighted on-base average)
EqR (equivalency runs)
EqA (equivalency average)
WAR (Wins Above Replacement)
Offensive Win Shares
and quite a few more.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
To answer the follow-up
most of it is historical, and the fact that most of the “improved” statistics have only been developed over the last two decades…. or it is only until then that people realized their value.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
lol Milton with more speed
Do you know just how bad Abreu is in RF. He is soooo slow it’s unbelievable. His defense in RF is an atrocity -5 runs in the field this year.
And Illicat I enjoy your unsupported claims about stats you clearly don’t understand. Care to delve into the math and prove why instead of just baseless claims that stats lie?
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
he's very servicable in RF
not to mention he has a cannon of an arm.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
You got a scouting report that will say that?
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Because I know you won't believe me when I post his UZR because it disagrees with your point.
And I know you think scouts and stats guys always disagree. Go ask Keith Law (he’s a scout not a statistician btw) what he thinks or someone who is a scout and have him verify it is a legit scout talking and then I’ll believe you.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=945&position=OF#fielding
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
have you even seen him play?
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
He doesn't actually watch baseball...
Just spends his time on fangraphs.com all day.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
i can write one up for you, if you'd like
living in the new york area, i’ve seen him play quite a bit.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
Yes, I have seen him play and he's slow and old.
You and I both aren’t scouts. To suggest that you can do what a scout can in terms of analysis is either the height of ignorance or the height of arrogance
2 Years ago I could have written up a ridiculous scouting report about Ryan Theriot’s defense and I would have been laughed at by any scout. It turns out Theriot is actually a good defender at SS.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Don't tell that to Ronsantoswoodenleg
Pre - August 29, 2009
i agree, theriots a GG snub imo. never double clutches and has great range and a great SS arm
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
I would love to
move Theriot in a trade next year
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
Or move him to second base where he'd be even more valuable
Why give up a good defensive, cost controlled SS? Does he have attitude problems too?
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Relax
did I mention a attitude? Getting a little testy I see
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
See that's the problem
You miss what the scouting reports (like John Dewan’s fielding bible says) about him. You are watching a game as a fan. You are not a scout.
His assets are he’s great going back on pop ups and has decent ability to get balls going to his right and has a very quick release.
His flaws are he has trouble with balls up the middle and has a weak arm.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
having a strong arm is important for a SS
dlee saves many of theriots bad throws, thats something stats doesnt show
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
Uggh, picks are factored in my friend
Over a large sample size that noise will clear up.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Theriot a good defender at SS?
Puke. This is something that you don’t need fangraphs for.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
It has been mentioned
by Angel hitters, Kendrick, Morales and Aybar how much they appreciate Abreu presence in the lineup and in the clubhouse. I read this by one of there beat reporters on MLB.com. I also heard this on the MLB extra innings package there announcer, Rex Hudler, for what it is worth.
I still think The Cubs should try to trade Bradley. Never happen no one will take that contract for OBP of .390 and 35 RBI’s
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
Lineup protection is a myth
A player, given a large enough sample size will hit just about his career norm regardless of who hits behind or ahead of him.
The players quotes about how good it is to have abreu in the lineup is nothing. Are they scouts? Are they stats guys? No, they play baseball. Just because you play baseball doesn’t mean you know everything about it (see Joe Morgan).
When players, beat reporters, and broadcasters are your sources that’s a problem.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Oh really?
So Aramis’ impact on the rest of the lineup when he was out, that was just a figment of our imagination? And when he came back, that positive impact was… mythical?
I’ll take a teammates opinion of Abreu over a “stat guy” any day of the week. Because they, you know, PLAY BASEBALL. There’s another element to the game besides just numbers.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
I'm not sure that's what he's talking about
lineup protection usually means that a pitcher will treat a batter differently because of who is batting behind him — because Rami bats behind Lee, Lee doesn’t get bad pitches, because you’d rather have him put the ball in play and maybe make an out then have to face Rami with the man on. It’s one of the things that makes a batter like Bradley so important — he’s able to take walks and get on base even in front of Lee.
drewishdrewid - August 30, 2009
Any stats to support that Abreu is slow?
Got a 40 time? Or is that just a baseless claim?
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
Rec'd.
Exactly how I feel. Thanks for expressing it better than I could.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
I like you a lot.
chilango2 - August 29, 2009
Small sample size...
He’s SLG .413 for the season. But he’s a good #2 hitter, hopefully for another team next year.
CubsBullsBears - August 29, 2009
I hear an AL team calling....
gaclaudy - August 29, 2009
And unless there are good prospects coming back,
JH will hang up the phone.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
He's underperformed yes.
but don’t use the “he’s supposed to be a middle of the lineup guy”. His value is what is value is regardless of how he gets it. 1.4 wins above replacement is 1.4 wins above replacement.
It doesn’t matter where he hits in the lineup, it matters that he’s produced. Not to the level they expected him to, but more than what they payed him for.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
"It doesn't matter where he hits... he's produced..."
Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but aren’t the 3-5 spots in the lineup (where he’s hit) supposed to be big RBI spots? He’s got 36 RBI, and is hitting .230 with RISP. Not exactly what I’d call “production” from a middle of the order run-producer.
Is he a decent #2 hitter? Sure. But to say he’s produced anywhere he’s hit, is just not the case.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
No question
If the Cubs can get out from under the commitment to his contract, then they should do that for sure. The Cubs can find a player who can provide his production with fewer distractions, less attitude, more consistency, more reliability… and many, many less dollars. Bobby Abreu shows how paying a player such as Bradley for multiple years should be out of a smart GM’s playbook… at least one that doesn’t want to get fired.
And it’s not like the Cubs really know how to utilize him anyway… or pretty much anyone else on their roster. This isn’t all Milton’s fault (except the attitude, injuries and distractions), but if someone other team wants him, they can have him without any objection from me.
jameslcrockett - August 29, 2009
Drew, it's not his hot streak that makes me want to trade him
it’s the overall attitude and controversy that surrounds him. And, I’ll even give in to you and won’t assume it’s his fault. Fact is, it’s there, and the black cloud has unquestionably affected the team in a negative way.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
Rec'd.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
Totally disagreed.
Now your are blaming the rest of the team’s hitting and pitching woes on Milton Bradley?!?! Give me a bloody break. I suppose its Milton’s fault the economy went south.
MLB has an entire history of players with attitudes that don’t meat your lofty standards and yet they still win championships.
Your argument holds no merit at all.
Neifi Puppy - August 29, 2009
it does hold merit because it's my opinion.
And, for what it’s worth, go look at Milton’s track record and the teams he was on. You look at Texas, who had a decent year last year (and he was an all star). They figured they were 1-2 years away from making a playoff run. Don’t you find it odd that they didn’t bring him back?
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
I would think the number of teams the guy has been on would make anyone take pause
but apparently not
Illicat - August 29, 2009
+1
last 7 deals have been for one year. To me, that’s a HUGE red flag.
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
I'm just going to start making one line posts to these types of posts:
Psuedo-Pyschology
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
sorry *Psychology
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Milton could have played another year for the Rangers
but he chose the Cubs because they offered more money
Pre - August 29, 2009
are you sure the Rangers offered him a deal??
ambrosiadreams - August 29, 2009
I just searched mlbtraderumors for something about it
It seems that he was offered arbitration and declined.
Pre - August 29, 2009
Found another post that said that the Rangers were interested in signing him to a one or two-year deal
Pre - August 29, 2009
And if I'm the Rangers...
…his bat would have been quite helpful in this duel with the Halos, and, by extension, the Red Sox.
LeSaboteur - August 29, 2009
not odd at all.
Texas had a glut of outfielders
burncruisin - August 30, 2009
It's not Milton's fault the economy went south.
That’s Theriot’s fault, for hitting all those deep fly balls, getting lucky on cheap home runs in May, then when the luck ran out in June watching his ISO/SLG fall back to career norms without improvement in his normal areas of strength. The collapse of Theriot’s home run bubble sent shockwaves through the economy, destroying the slugging default swap markets. Derrek Lee and Jake Fox set up a program to buy out the troubled power assets, but much of the power ultimately fell to short middle infielders on other teams (see Hill, Aaron).
aldimond - August 30, 2009
Right
I mean Milton injured Lilly, Dempster, and Zambrano. He injured Geo and ripped Rami’s shoulder out in a fit of rage. He pushed Soriano into that wall to injure his knee and he scared Carlos Marmol into not being able to throw strikes. He made Lou not be as good a manager.
Milton Bradley did all of this which is why the Cubs are having a bad season.
nji232 - August 29, 2009
prove it.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
I agree
Think of it as the “DeRosa Trade Proces”. Trade him after a good season and hope for the best return.
gaclaudy - August 29, 2009
Why's it always gotta be a *black* cloud?
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
latent racism
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
SWL do you believe that
racism exists in America? and do you believe that racism can be racism if it’s not the n-word or black guy as monkey reference?
Good racial humor is one thing, that mocks stereotypes. Bad racial humor perpetuates them and just makes fun of other races (see Carlos Mencia)
Cause I know your joking and from anyone else I’d pass this up, but I think you don’t take the possibility of racism that doesn’t jump up and hit you in the face seriously.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I know racism exists...
but sometimes the people who are always looking for it are worse than the actual racists.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
No, pretending it doesn't exist is always worse.
In what way can over analyzing racism bring as much harm as ignoring it.
Potentially ignoring it lets it happen, pointing it out where it isn’t just makes people mad. I’ll take the chance of making a few people mad at me rather than just letting it go and letting it continue.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Pointing it out in every possible instance where it MIGHT exist only causes people to tune it out eventually.
The boy who cried racism.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
Ok fair enough. That's the Jessie Jackson/Al Sharpton argument as I feel Jackson and Sharpton find valid examples of racism and then handle them poorly. I don't buy that argument as racism never become non-serious.
But I feel like it isn’t a rare thing in this world and when reasonable people point it out they rarely are doing it in a way that makes people immune to it. Some if it might be subtle and when you find racism rarely are you pointing it out incorrectly. I feel like it would take a lot of incorrect cries for people to stop listening to racism
The only time your going to run into this is benign racism. Stuff that doesn’t do much damage, but doesn’t make things better either. Saying nothing here isn’t that big of a deal.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Can we also start getting outraged at people who are latenly rude? Rudeness in our world is far and away more prevelant than racism.
Just today I was a victim of rudeness on 3 separate occasions.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
Whatever SWL you can stuff our fingers in your ears
and go along on your merry way. I really don’t care to convince you anymore.
You are incapable of taking anything seriously, there’s really no point in arguing with you because it just becomes one meaningless quip after another. That’s fine when it comes to useless things like baseball or baseball statistics, but when it comes to something serious like racism or injustice there it’s just absurd.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
to it SWL, I beat you
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
HOW DARE YOU!
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
How can I go anywhere with your fingers in my ears?
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
And that was the plural, too
How big are your ears, anyway? Even if we were all in a BK commercial, I think that would get uncomfortable after a while.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
* your
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Racism and injustice
are not topics to be discussed on a baseball blog anyway. To dismiss these subjects with quips is called defusing a possibly incendiary topic before it overruns a baseball discussion.
Goodie1969 - August 30, 2009
This.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
lol
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
If only
he had shown up at all the first four months of the season.
qccub - August 29, 2009
It's amazing what two wins can do
for people’s attitudes….I love it
cubswgnrocks - August 29, 2009
Driving home from
New Hampshire, taking my oldest daughter to college, a senior, goodness I am getting old.
Had the Mets radio team, Howie Rose, Wayne Hagen, good announcers. They mentioned about Dempster child, also mention how Santo specifically sought out David Wright to talk to him about getting hit in the head. Howie Rose talked about how Santo got hit in the cheek bone in 1966, eye swelled shut instantly. Then Santo sat out for 5 games and the first game back hit a homerun on his first AB to keep a 28 game hitting streak alive
I thought for the Mets announcers to come up with that information was pretty neat.
Just keep on winning Cubs, who knows what can happen. I still recall the Mets having a 7 game lead with 17 to go and blowing it, so funny things happen in this game.
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
The Mets announcers are good
Wayne Hagin used to do White Sox games with John Rooney, then did Cardinals games for a few years. Ironically, Rooney replaced Hagin on Cards games.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 29, 2009
The Cards essentially screwed Hagin
when Rooney tired of another “White Sox Winner” and got the job he coveted.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - August 29, 2009
I know I shouldn't say this
Ronnie Woo-Woo makes me laugh! How long has been coming to Cubs games? I seem to remember him from 30 years ago. Part of what I enjoy about going to a Cubs game is the characters.
Ronnie Woo-Woo is a character and is certainly a part of the texture that goes with being at Cubs games.
Cub Fan Mike - August 29, 2009
Oh, God, no
I love characters as much as the next guy, but not this guy. He makes my flesh crawl.
Not Bruce Froemming - August 29, 2009
You're not going to make any friends here by saying that.
Particularly me. That person is a self-promoter, not a Cubs fan. He’s all about him.
Enough. Don’t mention him again.
Al Yellon - August 29, 2009
Uh...
You don’t like someone and thus no one is allowed to mention his name? Not that I disagree with your assessment, but telling someone not to mention him again seems harsh.
Pre - August 29, 2009
Dude, you're gonna get banned so fast...
chilango2 - August 29, 2009
As Ronnie would say...
ohhhh, noooooo…
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - August 29, 2009
god the cubs suck so much it's amazing. suck suck suck
wink wink
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
I want to keep Milton
He’s go the best hitting eye on the team and is an OBP machine. He’s great at driving the ball to the gap and plays solid defense for the most part. He’s one of the league’s best switch hitters. He can hit for power.
His skill set is very useful, and I think that this whole year (this week in particular) has taught him a lot about how to handle things. If he can learn to not to give the media so much to work with and be less uptight around the fans (like when he bowed after catching that fly ball), I think that things will cool down and he can be a popular and productive member of this team.
Pre - August 29, 2009
I'd like to
keep him too and especially agree with your second paragraph.
sue369 - August 29, 2009
I really hope this year has taught him some things...
I hope so because I think he’s a good player that can help the team, and because I have a lot of sympathy for what he’s faced from the media and some fans. He seems to be an extreme introvert, and dealing with the fans, media, and even teammates will always be hard for him. I am very introverted myself and have a bit of experience performing in front of crowds that are yelling at me (fortunately on a much smaller scale than MLB). I’ve never even had to deal with a hostile crowd… sometimes crowds that want to help are just as bad. I don’t think Bradley will ever be a smash with the media. Probably the best we can hope for is something like Frank Thomas (remember his problems, for a time?). But to get even to that point Bradley will have to grow a thicker skin toward the fans, and be more shrewd about what he says. Starting next season at the plate the way he’s finished this one would go a long way, too.
(When Thomas was with the As I lived in the Bay Area, and it seemed like everyone loved him there — I think getting away from all the people that he’d sparred with over the years helped him, and he really was more mature by that time and willing to accept his role and his limitations. At the same time… say what you will about Oakland baseball fans, they mostly save the booing and heckling for opposing players. That goes a long way towards making a guy feel at home.)
aldimond - August 30, 2009
i want to keep milton if he keeps hitting like this
but i think you can find another hitter like this without the distractions that come along
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Can you find a hitter like this that gets on base as often and plays adequete defense?
Pre - August 29, 2009
OBP of .390, 11 HRS, and 35 RBI's
for 10 Million, sure I could find somebody, give me a offseason like Hendry had.
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
You can't really.
The RBIs are irrelevant. You just don’t find a ton of people with .390 OBPs for 5 Mil.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
The obession
of OBP, and driving in runs don’t mean a thing. Great I guess Fox’s 5 RBI’s had nothing to do with the win today?
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
What he means is that RBI don't reflect solely on you
It’s very much a team-dependent stat. If three guys hadn’t gotten on base, it would have been only one RBI.
Pre - August 29, 2009
But it still would've been the game winner.
Goodie1969 - August 30, 2009
RBIs are two wide sweeping of a stat.
RBI assume that the person driving in the run did all the work to make that run come in. The way you are using RBI assume is that the frequency upon which player comes to the plate with men on base is under his control and what type of hit he has when there are men on base is under his control. There are way, way, way too many other factors with RBI to be able to extrapolate that statistic to a players production level.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Sure it is dependent
on other players I get that. However give me a guy who comes through in that spot. April through mid July, Bradley, Soriano, Soto, Fontenot did not step it up and drive in runs in situations they were needed. Earlier part of the year Bradley was more concerned on taking a walk then trying to drive in a run or even drive the ball.
This teams failure has not been OBP, their failure is to drive in runs in clutch spots, 2 outs with runners in scoring position, bases loaded and less than two outs, runner on third with less than two outs. I have seen enough games this year to realize that Lee and Ramirez are our two best hitters because they get the hits when the Cubs need them. Ask yourself would you want Bradley up with the game on the line to drive a run home or Lee/Ramirez?
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
I don't think that anyone is arguing that Milton is on DLee or Aramis' level as a hitter
Pre - August 29, 2009
No he's not
But his defense would make his value equal if not slightly less than Ramirez if he was having a normal defensive year.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
There is no evidence that Bradley is more concerned about walking than hitting in the clutch.
Just because a player is really patience doesn’t mean he “doesn’t want to drive in runs”. That is just fairy tale type stuff right there. Clutch is a very minimal skill that has such minimal effect on the game it makes little difference.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
no
you want Bradley up BEFORE THEM. SO SOMEONE IS ON BASE TO BE DRIVEN IN.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
ironically
one of those guys that Jake Fox drove in?
Milton Bradley. Because he’s got AMAZING OBP.
He scored twice today. Twice yesterday. Twice on wednesday. Twice on tuesday. It’s because HE GETS ON BASE. EIGHT RUNS IN FIVE DAYS.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
$9M - see above
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
i think it's more about driving in runs. If you want obp and defense, sam fuld is pretty good at both things.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Fuld isn't as good a hitter or on base player as Milton
Pre - August 29, 2009
you asked if i can find a hitter that gets on base as often and plays adequete defense
Sam fuld is a better defender than bradley and obviously bradley is a better hitter. For the short amount of time fuld has been in the big leagues, he has showed the ability to take walks and get on base.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
His OBP will not anywhere close to as high as MBs though.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Yeah, for the short amount of time he has been in the big leagues
Meaning that it’s a small sample size and we don’t know what would happen if he was a full-time starter. I really do like Sam Fuld, but I’d rather put Milton out there. Sam is perfect as a defensive replacement and as platoon guy, though.
Pre - August 29, 2009
and also don't get me wrong, i dont think Sam fuld is god
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Here's hoping Fuld improves his hitting during the off-season
so he can become an everyday player.
Blue Heron - August 30, 2009
Driving in runs?
so situational hitting? The statistic that has no consistent trend from year to year? Yeah I’ll bank on that one. Instead of wOBA, OPS, OBP, SLG, and UZR. I’ll focus on who drives in runs
Again are you guys stuck in the 70s. No teams use RBI as a determining factor in baseball decisions. No GM will pick a player because of RBIs alone. This statistic has limited usefulness. It tells you a little about about someone’s ability to “drive in runs” but SLG would tell you that better.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
RBIs and SLG go hand in hand
lol and yeah the rbi stat is still quite useful these days
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Mike Fontenot has more RBI than Milton this season
Does that mean that he’s a better hitter?
Pre - August 29, 2009
define a good hitter for me please
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Depends on position, but probably a .340ish wOBA.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Well, I'm just saying
Having more RBI than someone doesn’t mean anything in terms of how good a player you are. Mike has more RBI despite the fact that Milton is hitting roughly fifty points higher than him and has a full one hundred-point advantage in OBP.
Hell, Jason Giambi had 40 RBI this season despite hitting .193. RBI is a really awful way to determine someone’s true value.
Pre - August 29, 2009
which season would you rather have
104 rbis, .285 average, .342 obp, .483 slg or 77 rbis, .321 avg, .436 obp, .563 slg, my opinion, i’d rather take the first.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
lol it's not even close the second. That is why you aren't a GM quiet frankly.
You do realize that that OPS is in Pujols territory? It would take absurd amounts of suckatude by the team around you to not reach 100 RBIs with that high of a SLG.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
*quite
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
lol i think you read it wrong
not which player i would have, which season
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
If I were a player, I'd rather have the second one
Pre - August 29, 2009
that team led the league in scoring last year
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
and btw the second is bradley
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Out of curiosity, who is the first?
Pre - August 29, 2009
melvin mora
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
So lets use a better stat to see who's right on this.
wOBA or weight on base average.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=157&position=3B/OF#advanced
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=369&position=OF#advanced
.350 wOBA for Mora
.423 wOBA for Bradley last year.
Factoring in defense that makes Bradley a whole 2 wins better than Mora last year.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
hmmm
OK first in runs means “absurd amount of suckatude.” Yeah, that’s where you’re wrong. What does that say about Bradley when he only drives in 77 runs, which is the most he’s ever had in a year.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
That's because he isn't a run producer
He’s the guy that’s getting driven in.
Pre - August 29, 2009
yeah so that goes back to the Cubs and how they were
stupid enough to believe this guy was run producer.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
alright.
so, they scouted him wrong — or they presented him wrong. But if Milton Bradley could keep up his production for this month across a season, he would be a very big asset to ANY team, the Cubs certainly among them.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
I said absurd amount of suckatude by the team around you.
Not by that player.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
yeah and you were wrong.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
That's indicative of how badly RBIs lie as a stat
You thought a player who had twice the value of another was worse.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Someone wanna back me up here
Because it feels like I’m talking to a wall here.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Don't look at me - every time I see RBIs, I think of Ribbies...
…as in nice, smoked, bbq sauce covered ribs… ;-)
mmm…..
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
And how delicious they are
=)
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
have stats won the A's a WS or even a pennant?
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
lol Is this me posting as a joke again
I used almost that exact line as a joke.
You know who has won in part because of advanced statistics? The Red Sox and the Red Sox. TWICE!
Do you any of you get now why I did that whole Buzz on the Moon thing. People like this really do exist.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
The Red Sox used statistics? What about their really good baseball players?
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
Don't you know that they actually have animated spreadsheets playing?
But seriously, how do you think they decided to get all those good players?
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Stats can help you determine which players might perform better than others...
winning the WS takes an enormous amount of talent, a well thought out strategy, and luck.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
Spoken like someone
Who has read and understood every word of “Moneyball”.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
I only believe what Joe Morgan says.
santoswoodenlegs - August 29, 2009
The Red Sox manager?
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
Right, but it was an enormous factor
in why they picked the players they did. It was a big reason why they were so good in the regular season and playoffs. It wasn’t even the single biggest reason, but it was a big reason.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
stats only go so far.
Did you think David Ortiz could hit the way he has hit? Probably not. That was amazing luck.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
That's why Epstein also employs a legion of scouts.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
or luck.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
luck is part of the game
but don’t pretend like the Sox success is just that.
The Yanks also employ advanced statistics, as do the Rays, as do the Dodgers, as do the Indians, as do just about every team in baseball.
This stats vs. subjective debate hasn’t existed in front offices for about 4 or 5 years now. They realize value of both scouting and statistics and employ both sides.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Here's the thing on "luck"
You can even quantify that to a certain extent. There’s stats for it! Look at a guy’s LD% and BABIP as a hitter, or the HR/FB allowed by a pitcher. When we looked at Rich Harden a few months back and he was struggling, we found out that he was probably getting hit with some bad luck and that his HR rate would decrease… and it has!
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
... and that's why Ramirez's career
UZR rating is misleading. If you use his career UZR/150 you get a much better representation of his talent level.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
I didn't care to look at it.
I was just talking with him about the hypothetical.
Defensively you still want Theriot. Offensively and overall it’s Hanley clearly.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
btw soriano uzr lol is 20.3 in LF
NICEY!
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
What's his latest UZR/150?
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
6.0...
and that sounds about right to me.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
this year...
it’s -10.1
That’s pretty bad, as it should be.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
That's a big swing
Especially for an outfielder. Indicates a severe change in…something.
A lingering injury since late April could explain it.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
His range is down...
but it’s his arm that’s had the biggest dropoff. I think a few things have caused it: his bum knee, people running on him less, and a couple times he’s seemed to have been caught off-guard when people run on him (becuase they’ve more or less stopped doing it).
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
Makes sense to me
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
career is 6. last year he had a 19.7. this year no stat.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Until this year he was a good defender in LF
Using selective end points and a single example really doesn’t prove your point whatsoever.
I know you think your clever and whatnot, but stop arguing about things you don’t understand. I don’t even fully understand them, but I know more about statistics in baseball obviously as is evidenced by the argument were having, but I’m a dumb ass compared to Shawn.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I'd like to try something...
without looking up numbers, give me your impression of Soriano as a fielder over the past few years. Tell me what he’s good, bad, and average at.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
good at throwing
bad: at going back on a ball, going in on a ball, cutting the ball off
average: idk, maybe catching the ball?
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
OK, here's what UZR says:
He’s above average, range-wise (but not by much).
He’s below average at fielding, catching (again, not by much).
He’s terrific at throwing the ball – i.e. above average by a LOT.
That sounds about right, doesn’t it?
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
check that.
He’s actually pretty bad at catching the ball… or at least he’s more below average at that than he is above average at getting to them.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
i think his range is average. Above average, maybe.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
Exactly!
So you and UZR agree on Soriano’s abilities as a fielder!
When you use the metric properly, it does a very good job. It still has a lot of error in it, but that’s largely because any measurement of fielding (including scouting) is going to have a lot of variance.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
When healthy
His legs could make up for his initial indecision while tracking a hit ball.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
FWIW,
the fan’s scouting report says ramirez is the better defender. I’m not sure which one i’d take, but it’s definitely close. They seem to be the same overall defensively +/- a win over the course of a year..
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
I have this notion that theriot is as good as he's been this year.
Your right to point out that he’s likely playing over his head. But given the examples it was a clear choice.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I agree with that.
The problem is the example was using the wrong set of numbers and weren’t filly labeled.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
the other thing about luck...
is you know about how much the variances in a stat are. So even if you don’t have a direct measurement of luck you can estimate how well you know a certain player by the expected variance (degree to which their numbers will vary) in their future performance. And you also know how large a sample you need before considering that something has changed in a player’s talent level.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
as for the wins
stats can say whatever. You can’t predict wins.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
lol
lol lol lol lol.
You can predict them with a reasonable amount of accuracy. That is a really ignorant thing to say.
Tom Tango disagrees and he work for Mariners right now. Do you?
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I actually don't work for the Mariners.
As for Tango, talk to me when they win a WS.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
The M's are doing very well.
Since the regime change they’ve improved a heck of a lot in one season, both in terms of the on-field product and the organizational depth.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
yes i agree. But stats only go so far.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
also...
Tango is one of the people that’s been advancing incorporating scouting into analysis in a statistical fashion. Google “fan’s scouting report” and you’ll see what I mean.
I think you’d like a lot of his work.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
Everything only goes so far.
And in today’s game you can’t go anywhere without a good stats department.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
aye
That argument comes off as “stats are meaningless and I am right.”
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
yeah you would take it that way.
in fact, i never said that stats should be gone. I just disagree with you because you’ve only mentioned stats as a measuring point to how good a player is.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
But unless you're a scout.
… or talk to one, that’s the best measurment you’re going to get. The only substitute for a scout is the fan’s scouting report.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
And even that has the issue of people watching on TV or trying to remember what they think about players.
The large sample size helps, but it’s not as good as having a giant collection of scouts reports compiled and analyzed.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
No doubt.
I worded that wrongly. It should say:
The best substitute for a scout is the “fan’s scouting report,” and i’d wager (though i don’t know since i’ve never talked to a scout) is that even that is not a suitable replacement.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
Because that's the only way I have available to me
I’m not a scout. And neither are you. Making these opinions on my own I’m using what I can.
And these statistics are very, very good statistics.
What your doing is saying your eyes are good enough to over come statistical analysis.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Besides...
here’s another example of your argument:
Buzz: Apple pie is great!
Lex: There’s more to the world than just aplle pie.
See how silly that is? Sure there’s other stuff in the world, but that doesn’t mean cherry pie isn’t great.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
gah...
it doesn’t mean apple pie isn’t great, either.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
How dare you suggest cherry pie is great!
I haven’t finished compiling the TORP 2.3 (Taste over Replacement Pie) yet, I can’t make a informed decision. You shouldn’t be so reckless when talking about pie!!!
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
It's okay
Best part of the album is the cover, IMHO.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
But what happens if you judge an album by it's cover
We could be arguing about cherry pie, but then the songs really about apple pie?
Hmmmm? What then?
Riddle me that =P
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Judging that album by its cover
I give it a definitive, umm…thumb’s up.
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
You can?
Then why didn’t you predict this year’s disaster? Did you predict the Rays’ season last year, and them going to the World Series? Did you predict 97 wins for the Cubs last year? What’s your accuracy, +/- 20 wins?
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
it's not about predicting "wins"
it’s about realizing that adding 10 runs to a team’s total over the course of a season will, on average, make that team 1 run better. Every time you see “y-win player” just think that having them on your roster will make the team 10 times y better in terms of runs scored.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
No, stats cannot say whatever.
YOU and your eyes can say whatever. Maybe you looked at Ryan Freel one day and saw a future hall of famer. But the stats wouldn’t have ever said anything like that.
The stats are constrained by the metrics through which they are created. There’s no such constraint on human opinion.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
farney is a HOFer
freel… not so much
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
lol
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
did a scout tell you that?
Shawn Domagal-Goldman - August 29, 2009
Who needs scouts?
In Farney’s case, numbers are enough. BA: .750, UZR: 79.4
Unanimous first-ballot HOFer, no doubt about it.
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
thats classified
sorry amigo
jesus christos - August 30, 2009
lol
Is that because Farney’s OPS is infinity?
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
I'd take the second
And there’s room for both run producers and on base people. Someone has to be on base for the run producers to knock in.
Pre - August 29, 2009
I'd want to know
which season scored more runs. Because that’s the stat that helps the team the most, offensively.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
and also i never once said that rbi is a determining stat on who is the better hitter
but sure if you think i did, then i did. As for those two, Milton is the better hitter.
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
It's even worse at determing how much a player should be payed.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
RBI and SLG are related, but it's not even close to 1:1
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
So Jim and Lou
sat down and said" we want Milton so by August he will have a .390 OBP , 11 HR’s and 35 RBI’s" and Lou looks at Jim and says " Yeah another Dome" sure Jim lets give him 30 Million for 3 years.
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
No because they wouldn't look at it that way.
They would look at it the kind of production he would have over the length of the contract. You don’t evaluate a deal after 1 year. Especially, with a player with an established track record.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Established Track record?
Wow, the guy has been hurt his whole career. Enough. Milton is a average ballplayer. It is amazing he has played this many games.
One last thing, Jim and Lou looked at his track record and knew the guy was a pain in the rear and spends time on the DL more than not. Lou wanted Ibanez not Milton, that was brought up today on the radio side of the game today by the Mets announcers who interviewed Lou today.
Grockcubs - August 29, 2009
So injuries prevent you from having an established track record?
Al, do you see why so many people get banned due to frustration? I’m not responding to this because it would just be a curse filled rant.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Childish...
If you can’t express yourself without cursing or crying out to AL… then GTFO.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
So tell me
How can you establish a track record when Milton may play 100 games out of 162? This year for Milton is a rare occurrence.
It really doesn’t matter want Milton does for the Bradley lovers, he could play 80 games and say he is a star.
In 10 seasons, 3 years over 120 games including this year, 3 times over 500AB including this season, So how in the world can you magically say he has a track record when he is hurt 40% of a season.
The love for this guy is astounding.
Go ahead curse at me, I am a big boy.
Grockcubs - August 30, 2009
average?
are you saying a player who is a career 27.0 WAR is an average player??? Career 27.9 UZR? Career .825 OPS???
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
It's at this point I have to believe people are convinced that Bradley is no good
And no amount of objective evidence will prove otherwise. It’s not like anyone is asking you to believe MB is a good person. We’re just asking you to admit the very readily available fact an above average-very good baseball player.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
*fact that Bradley is
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
Yes I can
Because for the most part of his career He is freaking hurt. When you don’t play you can’t produce, so all of those wonderful numbers are for the most part in 100 game seasons, the problem is the league is 162
Grockcubs - August 30, 2009
Exactly...
Milton’s track record has showed injuries, DL stints, never playing a full-season, and distractions. If anything, they went against his track record and hoped he’d be something he’s clearly not.
CubsBullsBears - August 30, 2009
Sam Fuld's UZR
is 4.6, and his OBP is .372 in pretty limited playing time. His bat does not outweigh Bradley’s, not even close, and frankly, I don’t think the UZR difference makes THAT much of a difference.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
Well every 10 runs above replacement both offensively and defensively are worth a win
In that small amount of playing time he has not accrued very much defensive value. Also know that UZR stabilizes over a period of 3 years. We don’t even know how good Fuld’s true defensive talent is at this point. We have a good idea about Bradley.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
I agree
it’s a pretty small sample size on Fuld.
I do love how he throws himself at the ball, tho.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
I like the guy, I really do.
The whole statistics background and the effort he displays. But without some sudden jump in power or big spike in OBP he’s a fourth outfielder at best. If he can become an above average everyday outfielder I will all the happier.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
who?
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
He's on second!
Vermont Cubs Fan - August 29, 2009
Maybe we
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
Blah - Try #2
Maybe we’re thinking about this the wrong way
MB is very, very useful as a lightning rod. When every media eye is turned to MB, the coaching staff can make adjustments free from the type of scrutiny they would normally receive. MB gives them and everyone else some breathing room to quietly go about their business, and we may see positive results from that.
Example: Mike Fontenot had a fine game today offensively and defensively. True, he was (technically) only in there as a sub for an injured Baker, but if MB is taking up every microphone after the game, perhaps Lou can quietly start platooning Fontenot into the lineup when it makes sense and when he needs to rest the regulars. And he can do it without the first question out of reporters’ mouths being, “I saw you didn’t start Fontenot today – is he hurt? Sick? Heartbroken? WTF, Lou?!?”
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
actually Fontenot was going to be in the lineup today regardless.
ARam was supposed to have the day off, but when Baker got hurt during BP, Lou put ARam back in the lineup.
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
You're right
I was forgetting that detail. Of course, I never think that Rami needs a day off…
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
lol
drewishdrewid - August 30, 2009
I have decided that it is time to pretend that this team was 15 games back at one time
If this Giants game stands up we are 5.5 out. Florida lost. We will be 4 back in the loss column. What else do we have to do? Ride Milton and his hot bat. Hold on to Harden so we have the draft picks. We have a chance to have fun the last month. I hope the Cubs give everyone a giant shit burger to eat. Just a thought. I am not getting too far out over my skis, but Sept baseball with a contrived purposed is better than a worthless month with nothing at all to even think about.
louslovechild - August 29, 2009
I love picking out your mistakes Al.
The throw that cut down Tatis was a relay from Ryan Theriot not Mike Fontenot.
Devin B - August 29, 2009
yeah
fontenot might have thrown the ball at the ground instead of k hill
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
But did Theriot
Double-clutch the relay throw?
Clutch16 - August 29, 2009
i want to say no
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
Let's just focus on how awesome Jake Fox is
He is so awesome, I forgot there’s a dude out there called DeRosa (almost).
chilango2 - August 29, 2009
yeah, lets do that
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
Jake Fox, Obama (icon) and Jesus Christos?
IT’S HAPPENING!!!!
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
i dont follow
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
just a tongue-in-cheek observation of the perfect-stormness combination of
your user name (representing a significant historical figure),
a popular graphic style (representing a significant current-day figure), and
our latest Cub well on his way to sainthood.
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
oh
jesus christos - August 29, 2009
HELL YEAH!
lexmarklover - August 29, 2009
The Giants may blow this game
Colorado has the tying run at bat with two outs in the ninth after already having scored two this inning.
Brian Wilson is coming in to save the game.
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
Who do we want to win?
chilango2 - August 29, 2009
The Giants
You always want the first place team to lose.
Helton singles and the winning run is now batting…
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
oboy...
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
At this point - Giants
ballhawk - August 29, 2009
Fly out to center and game over
Giants win 5-3
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
whew.
w00t!
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
Yep!
Cubs are 5.5 back and 4 back in the loss column.
St Louis won today but that doesn’t really matter…if the Cubs are getting into the playoffs it’s going to be through the WC
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
maybe
we can do that. It ain’t over yet.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
At this point, I'll believe until they put the little X next to the Cubs name in the standings
Curtain Jerker - August 29, 2009
It's possible just not likely.
But there is still a chance. I might as well hang on and see where it goes.
Buzz on the Moon - August 29, 2009
You might as well
You’ve followed this team this far, might as well see how the movie ends.
Curtain Jerker - August 30, 2009
The boat sinks, Rose lives a long life, but Leo dies
Wait…what?
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
for a recap...
try this
cubnational - August 30, 2009
and houston
got SPANKED, 9-0.
drewishdrewid - August 29, 2009
Keep it up!
Pre - August 29, 2009
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messages/chrono/16891255
reading that made me sad and a bit angry
jesus christos - August 30, 2009
The replies made me laugh.
santoswoodenlegs - August 30, 2009
they made me laugh with anger
jesus christos - August 30, 2009
you didn't read them all....
santoswoodenlegs - August 30, 2009
he strikes again!
jesus christos - August 30, 2009
HE'S EVERYWHERE!
Clutch16 - August 30, 2009
Oh u
BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness - August 30, 2009 via mobile
Eric Hanna is an unstopable force!!!!
Buzz on the Moon - August 30, 2009
these new comments make me even more angry
jesus christos - August 30, 2009
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