The ESPN baseball commentators are idiots
So far today I have heard Buster Olney and John Kruk both say that Sammy Sosa has been the Rangers' best player this year, and Karl Ravich say that few players in the A.L. have had as good a season as Sosa has this year
Stupid.
Sosa hasn't been one of the Rangers' 1half-dozen best players this year, and hasn't been one of the 50 best offensive players in the American League this year.
Update [2007-7-1 22:47:53 by Adam J. Morris]: -- John Kruk just said, AGAIN, that Sammy Sosa is the best player on the Rangers.
Anyone who says that Sosa is the best player on the Rangers is either 1) joking, 2) someone who hasn't bothered to actually look at what the players on the Rangers have done this year, or 3) an idiot.
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blah blah blah
by kumar75150 on Jul 1, 2007 6:47 PM CDT 0 recs
if you hate him for steroids or something
because youve suggested its all about performance, and if you actually dislike him this much for a .784 ops and 63 rbi, and blocking botts for the last couple weeks once botts has gotten himself going again....
overkill.
by DSheppard on Jul 1, 2007 6:50 PM CDT 0 recs
I wasn't going to say anything else about it...
zywica will be blogging from the 4th thru the 7th, and he luvs Sosa, so there will be more balance then.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 1, 2007 6:51 PM CDT
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it was ridiculous
by SteveP on Jul 1, 2007 6:52 PM CDT 0 recs
Yea
That being said, that's probably somewhat true
Lofton, Teix, Blalock (smaller sample), MY (only because he is a shortstop), Byrd (smaller sample size)
have all been better, with Kinsler probably being a push.
by badradiorules on Jul 1, 2007 6:54 PM CDT 0 recs
Kinsler isn't a push
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 1, 2007 6:58 PM CDT
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How
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 7:00 PM CDT
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No
OPS+ underweights OBP.
Kinsler's been better offensively, as reflected in his EQA, because he has a higher OBP and has been a great basestealer.
And even a bad defensive second baseman has more value than a DH, if their offensive production is equal.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 1, 2007 7:02 PM CDT
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Well
So RBI have absolutely no value whatsoever by any means, but 23 steals is a good measure of a player.
So, if you played Sammy in center everyday, he would be more valueable even though he would be terrible. That doesn't make any sense to me.
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 7:10 PM CDT
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basestealer
by rentz on
Jul 1, 2007 7:12 PM CDT
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Yea
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 7:15 PM CDT
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I'm confused
How so?
So, if you played Sammy in center everyday, he would be more valueable even though he would be terrible.
No. Sosa would be a far, far, far worse centerfielder, defensively, than Kinsler is a second baseman, defensively.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 1, 2007 7:14 PM CDT
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EQA
I still want to know why RBI's have no value, but suddenly SB's are very valuable.
My point is if you are bad at a premium position, you aren't valuable at that position.
You haven't made a point that tells me that Kinsler is "pretty clearly better" than Sosa.
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 7:21 PM CDT
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Alright
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 7:25 PM CDT
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well
by Lonerangers on
Jul 1, 2007 7:39 PM CDT
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So
I love Kinsler, but the guy has been the biggest butcher I have ever seen the Ranger put at 2B.
by Mike Simonek on
Jul 1, 2007 8:50 PM CDT
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Defense isn't irrelevant
However, Kinsler hasn't been as bad this season as people are making him out to be.
He's still better defensively at second base than Soriano was.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 1, 2007 9:14 PM CDT
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Better defensively
by nirvana on
Jul 1, 2007 9:17 PM CDT
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The thing is
by coolaid on Jul 1, 2007 6:56 PM CDT 0 recs
Cat
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 1, 2007 6:59 PM CDT
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I get what
by coolaid on
Jul 1, 2007 7:03 PM CDT
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Cat
by chase1971 on
Jul 1, 2007 7:20 PM CDT
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Well, you can move byrd
by coolaid on
Jul 1, 2007 7:24 PM CDT
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Don't see Cat doing anything
by DJCahill on
Jul 1, 2007 7:41 PM CDT
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I think its likely he is done
by DJCahill on
Jul 2, 2007 6:27 AM CDT
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Still going to give him...
by chase1971 on
Jul 2, 2007 12:21 PM CDT
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Actually
by nirvana on
Jul 1, 2007 8:22 PM CDT
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or laird...
In fact, I'm pretty sure that Adam has never mentioned that Gerald Laird has a .219 EqA
by tricer on
Jul 1, 2007 8:18 PM CDT
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That's because
by t ball on
Jul 1, 2007 8:21 PM CDT
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Maybe someday
by DJCahill on
Jul 1, 2007 9:05 PM CDT
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Laird
by t ball on
Jul 1, 2007 9:09 PM CDT
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Well how about a change of pace
For instance maybe we could point out that Sammy Sosa is worth 5.4 RARP, while Laird is worth 0.4 RARP - which ranks 46th among big league catchers.
by tricer on
Jul 1, 2007 10:50 PM CDT
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I hear ya,
by t ball on
Jul 1, 2007 10:56 PM CDT
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Laird...
by chase1971 on
Jul 2, 2007 2:17 AM CDT
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OK
Now can we start bagging on Laird and get off of Sosa's ass?
by cgolden on
Jul 2, 2007 9:54 AM CDT
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If you think...
by mgb5 on
Jul 2, 2007 11:32 AM CDT
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no one to replace Laird...
When you have a starter that is performing at replacement level, it's not a big deal to find someone to replace them. That is the whole concept.
Heck, we could call up Salomon Manriquez from Frisco and get similar production. Maybe we should try that.
by tricer on
Jul 2, 2007 12:24 PM CDT
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I'd like to see
by badradiorules on
Jul 2, 2007 12:39 PM CDT
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Do you really think...
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 2, 2007 12:49 PM CDT
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I think...
All the Sosa talk has distracted us from discussing one of the worst starting position players in major league baseball.
This is a lost season anyway, so I think taking a look at some of the catchers in our minor league system might be a good idea. It would be almost impossible for them to be any worse at the plate than what Laird has been.
by tricer on
Jul 2, 2007 1:39 PM CDT
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Given...
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 2, 2007 1:53 PM CDT
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Laird's minor league track record...
And now he has 750+ plate appearances at the big league level with the following line:
.254 / .307 / .384 / .690
I don't see any evidence that he can handle being an everyday starter. I don't have any problem letting him play out the rest of the year, but I also don't have any problem if they want to bring in somebody else and give them a shot.
In either case, we need to find a catcher for next year's team. Maybe a veteran guy that can start 4-5 times a week and then hang around to tutor Teagarden in 2009 in beyond. Somebody like Barajas maybe.
by tricer on
Jul 2, 2007 2:10 PM CDT
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Catcher
If they are going to bring in someone to look at the rest of the season instead, it needs to be someone better than the options we have currently in the system.
And Laird wasn't a great offensive player in the minors, but he was also relatively young at each level.
He's a good defensive catcher who has shown in the past he can hit some. I think you ride it out with him for a while.
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 2, 2007 2:28 PM CDT
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I believe that Laird
We don't need him to be Pudge in his prime, we just need him to be average with the bat and good at defense. It seems like he still has a good shot at playing that well. I like your recent idea, though, of putting up with Laird until the middle of next season when Teagarden is hopefully ready. Cross your fingers.
by t ball on
Jul 2, 2007 3:07 PM CDT
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getting a handle on the pitching staff
It was a perfect opportunity for Laird to pick up on all that stuff, and apparently he didn't take advantage of his chance to learn those lessons.
I like Laird, and I want him to do well, but to be honest I'm starting to think he ain't that bright.
by tricer on
Jul 2, 2007 6:31 PM CDT
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You can see
by DJCahill on
Jul 2, 2007 6:51 PM CDT
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I thought...
by Adam J. Morris on
Jul 2, 2007 7:05 PM CDT
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I don't put much stock into it
Maybe Laird really is that inept.
There certainly don't seem to be a whole lot of plus signs in Lairds favor, other than the fairly trivial ability to throw out runners.
by DJCahill on
Jul 3, 2007 7:11 AM CDT
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Good defensive catcher?
He is good against stolen bases, but considering how few stolen bases occur in baseball, I'm not sure that is such a critical metric.
by DJCahill on
Jul 2, 2007 3:23 PM CDT
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Laird should be the AL starter
by cgolden on
Jul 2, 2007 9:54 AM CDT
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Adam
On the other hand, Im not a big Sosa fan but when Sosa was signed, did anyone honestly expect him to do much better than he has done? I dont think Sosa is great. Im just sick of seeing daily threads about how much he sucks when those thoughts dont translate to the other guys.
by kumar75150 on
Jul 1, 2007 8:42 PM CDT
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Someone
thx.
by nirvana on
Jul 1, 2007 9:07 PM CDT
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projection thread
the average LSB prediction: .246/.310/.452
remarkably accurate =p
hes beating it by a bit though.
by DSheppard on
Jul 1, 2007 9:14 PM CDT
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oh, and..
.225/.280/.410
so hes been much better than AJM though he would be =p although he said 215 at bats which would be DFA'd by now.
not that i think that was a bad prediction, its better than his baltimore numbers
by DSheppard on
Jul 1, 2007 9:17 PM CDT
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GMs
by BCanfield on Jul 1, 2007 7:04 PM CDT 0 recs
Yes
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 7:11 PM CDT
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x
I think it's just that the guys in Bristol are making television that's not designed for me. They cater to the sports-talk listening, cliché-slinging casual fan. 95% of of baseball viewers have never heard of and don't care about OPS+ or park-adjusted statistics, and ESPN makes lowest-common-denominator TV shows.
I mean, any network that pays John Kruk and Joe Morgan to analyze baseball is pretty much not worth paying attention to. I'll continue to consume my sports analysis and highlights through the Internet, thank you very much.
by alon91 on Jul 1, 2007 7:22 PM CDT 0 recs
list the half dozen
just wondering.
i can only imagine it includes 2-3 relievers. which i just have a hard time doing since relievers just dont have the same impact on the team that starting pitchers and everyday players do.
by DSheppard on Jul 1, 2007 7:28 PM CDT 0 recs
Yep, that crappy bullpen has had ...
by Athos on
Jul 1, 2007 7:30 PM CDT
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got that covered
I'll rephrase: don't make idiotic sarcastic posts to perfectly reasonable ones.
I've never said the bullpen was meaningless. I praise the bullpen to no, end and say how much i enjoy watching gagne pretty much every time he pitches. I said gagne would be my choice for the all star game. I praise BGL to no end. To sarcastically say i tihnk the bullpen has no impact is idiotic.
But the fact is, Eric gagne has pitched 24 innings. many of them in losses just to get work. Saying its hard for me to put that level of contribution, no matter how good, on equal level with every day performances is not idiotic.
But I would actually probably put gagne above sosa since he has simply been THAT good when in.
its aki and CJ with the mid 2s ERA that i have a hard time putting above sosa.
I didnt say they wernt valuable, i said they wernt on the same level as starters and positions.
Which is simply the case. 45 to 70 innings in relief just doesnt equat to 600 at bats or 180 to 220 innings as a starter in impact.
and if you are the stathead you seem to think you are (if im remembering old posts correctly) then you should know that.
but again, dont confuse less important with not being important. i love the rangers having a good pen. but if i could trade it for a good starting staff id sure as hell do it.
by DSheppard on
Jul 1, 2007 7:52 PM CDT
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Great. Glad to know the pen isn't meaningless.
by Athos on
Jul 1, 2007 8:03 PM CDT
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intellectually dishonest? at the least?
jesus christ, the relief comment wasnt meant to say he couldnt put them on there. it was meant to say I wouldnt put too many personally and would disagree with his if he did. i was listing off in my head who i would put above sosa, and was contemplating what relievers to put ahead of him. i thoguht about all the guys with 2s ERAs in my head (as listed below like eyre and mahay) and was thinking I wouldnt put them above sosa, and made a comment about it.
it was thinking out loud.
there are some relief roles that I would put on equal level. scott shields throwing 90 to 100 innings of suht down relief year after year. a shut down closer. but a middle reliever with a 2.5 ERA who has been technically above average vs sosa who can be argued has been below average? i was just trying to relate my thoughts on it.
if he disagrees, he can argue against my point. like you could of. just dont do it by posting insane sarcastic posts that misrepresent what ive said.
although it looks like hes left for now anyway.
anyway...........
hell i didnt even really disagree that there were 6, i just wanted to see who he would list. ive got 5 i would have no big argument with over sosa and could probably be convinced for at least one more now that im thinking about it more.
if ive somehow given you the impression i think sosa has been truly above average and all star worthy you are way off the mark. i just like him and dont think hes been anywhere near as bad as AJM does.
by DSheppard on
Jul 1, 2007 8:23 PM CDT
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Dont ask the impossible.
by DJCahill on
Jul 1, 2007 7:48 PM CDT
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is this sarcasm
by nirvana on
Jul 1, 2007 7:44 PM CDT
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Pardon the hell out of me.
So I'll tell you what, I'll quit being sarcastic when some of you Sosa disciples quit being stupid.
by Athos on
Jul 1, 2007 7:49 PM CDT
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How
I've never said that he is really good. I've actually said a number of times that there is no way that he can keep up the pace and that we should deal him as soon as possible.
But to put in the same category as Cat, Wilk, Cruz, Vazquez, etc. is insane.
The guy makes a good point. Individual bullpen members are never as valuable as everyday players. I thought you guys learned that in Stathead 101.
by badradiorules on
Jul 1, 2007 8:07 PM CDT
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I don't recall saying anything about you.
by Athos on
Jul 1, 2007 8:12 PM CDT
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Wait
A great reliever is, without doubt, more valuable than a mediocre positional player.
Sosa is a mediocre positional player. Thus, there are relievers more valuable than him.


