Not too surprising actually given the way he struggled at the plate for most of the season. I'm also guessing the defensive value is the most unreliable of everything that goes into the WAR calculation. I just checked BR and dWAR is based on total zone rating. I'm guess that's only for the current year so it's probably pretty volatile.
On another note, how about the run Cliff Lee is on? 2-hit shutout against Boston. 1 run given up over the last 40+ IP.
Things like that last inning really bother me and worry me. It's one thing if the team is bad but they have been making a number of mental mistakes lately and that's a sign of a team about to quit. Bourn...WOW, best leadoff man in the game? Edit - Wait does Reyes lead off? Second best then?
This is the reason (not to get off on The Rockets) people wanting The Rockets to tank I think are wrong. It so demoralizes a team to be this bad, just to get a top pick. I suppose some could say that is what the Stros are doing. But in truth, tanking, imo, is a choice. The Stros got this way through negligence (depleting the farm) and some fouled up trades. They didnt intend to be bad. In fact, they got bad by trying to stay good. They just went about it the wrong way.
McCutchen has hit leadoff for most of his career so far and about half of this season. He's basically a younger version of Bourn with slugging ability.
Yep, bad call. Speaking of Keppinger, I saw somebody asking the other day why we would need to look elsewhere for a 2B. I've mentioned this in the past but the two biggest reasons are A) he's lousy against RHP (for his career and even this season). If his splits were reversed, he'd be a good everyday player. And despite the fact that he's made some nice plays defensively this season, he isn't anything special there either. Ideally, he's a situational hitter that comes off your bench to face LHP and fill in occasional on the infield. 2011 OPS vs RHP: .667 Career OPS vs RHP: .671 http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=keppije01&year=Career&t=b
Good post. I agree with most of it but it should be noted that having a top pick in the NBA is a lot more valuable than in baseball. MLB teams don't generally even think about tanking because of the difficulty in projecting young talent. There is also the factor of unenforced slot allowances which scare mid and small market teams from going after certain players, regardless of draft position.
Halladay and Hamels have been unbelievable as well, better than advertised. Their offense has come around but I am sure they will still be in the hunt for Pence come the deadline.
It's kind of crazy to think that the Phillies weren't even playing close to their potential for much of the season. Lee struggled early on, Utley was out for most of the season, Oswalt has been injured or has pitched poorly, Victorino was out for a while, the offense was struggling in general, Lidge has been out, etc...
That being said, he is hitting .294 vs righties this season. So he basically is a slap hitter vs RH and has little more pop vs Lefties. Time to move him for sure.
Bourg just can't stay healthy.... this sucks. Bogey has taken a step backward at AAA this year. At least Martinez and Goebbert should provide some real OF prospects there next year.
Yea I get that. A Oswalt type pitcher would help a lot, but not like the Rockets getting a Lebron would.
holy crap!! you know you suck when... repped for the delicious irony. and, i'd like to add Rick Smith and Frank Bush into this conversation.
Only because they can't combine Corporan and Towles into one player. And to be fair to CJ, like Carlos, he started slow but has picked it up the last couple of months. OPS for June is over .800. I've said this before, but he reminds me of Joe Crede, though Crede was better defensively (who isn't), and did strikeout less, but their numbers fit closely.
