What's the difference between Borbon and Andrus?
by cgolden on Mar 10, 2010 8:22 AM CST
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PrintI'm sure this will get more sarcastic responses than anything else but one thing has been bugging me for a while. Last year Wash protected Elvis Andrus by stashing him at the bottom of the order for basically the entire season and most of the explanation centered around keeping pressure off the young kid. This year though it seems like Julio Borbon is in a similar situation but he's already been handed the top spot in lineup and much of our expectations for the season center around him being able to get on base often enough to jump start the offense.
While I'm not questioning whether or not Borbon is capable of filling the lead off role, I just don't understand why Wash went so far out of his way to protect Andrus last year but Borbon is basically being thrown to the wolves. Is it just because Borbon is older and has more experience because he played at the college level? Is he just a better offensive weapon so the pressure wouldn't be as great? Is it just inconsistency from Wash or do they just not have any other options?
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Biggest difference
age and experience. Borbon was already in the majors for a while and is 24. Andrus was moving up directly from AA at age 20. Borbon also has consistenly had a higher avg. and OBP in his minor league career compared to Andrus. I’m not expecting Borbon to be a great leadoff hitter, and I think you could make a case for platooning these two in the leadoff role.
Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
Tochter aus Elysium,
Wir betreten feuertrunken,
Himmlische dein Heiligtum.
I have given up hope that RW would swap them in the lineup based on the SP.
Would it be too much to ask for him to strategically give Borbon days off vs a LHP and let Andrus lead off?
Vladimir Guererro - 2010 AL MVP
Who plays CF that day becomes the problem
Until Endy comes back or you put Murphy or worst case Josh
"Hell's frozen over, Pigs are flying! The Saints have won the Super Bowl"
Borbon will need some off days
right now Hamilton is the likely back up CF
Vladimir Guererro - 2010 AL MVP
Probably comes fromt the same decision making process
That lead Wash to complain about having Kinsler hit leadoff in ‘08 (’08 OBP: 375), then proclaim that he wanted to keep Kinsler leading off in ’09 (OBP: 327).
Minor, I know, but that always bugged me.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
The '08 quote to which I refer
“I’d like a bona fide leadoff hitter…I’m talking about a high-on-base, steal-bases, cause-havoc leadoff hitter"
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
And not to go all philkid on ya'll replying to myself
But I’m not flaming Wash, just highlighting his inconsistencies. Again.
Look at the comments under Jeff Wilson's blog post on dallasnews.com. What a bunch of rocket scientists.- Keith Law
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
Offense vs Defense
Andrus was brought up for his defense. The organization hoped he could simply hold his own at the plate.
Borbon was brought up for offense. That is the part of his game the org has the most confidence in.
"we’re a bunch of knee-jerking yahoos who like new and shiny things." -- FirebatM3 July 10, 2009
I think it's what you said
and the difference in age/experience.
"He will not coddle them. Nolan Ryan doesn’t coddle." - Jeff Passan
by Dirk Diggler on Mar 10, 2010 8:38 AM CST up reply actions
Yep...
Borbon was just a more polished offensive player in the minors.
And when given a little trial run last season he produced. Add that in with the experience he gained in the college game and that’s pretty much the difference.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
x
Is it just because Borbon is older and has more experience because he played at the college level? Is he just a better offensive weapon so the pressure wouldn’t be as great? Is it just inconsistency from Wash or do they just not have any other options?
Why does it have be “just” one of those? Surely those are all factors.
The difference between Borbon and Andrus
Andrus was a 20 year old who had hit decently, but not well, at AA the year before he entered the majors, and was seen as someone who would struggle to keep his head above water with the bat.
Borbon is a 24 year old who hit well in AA, AAA and the majors last year, and is seen as someone who is ready to contribute at the major league level offensively, particularly since he played well for the Rangers in the second half of the season.
Elvis hit .351/.430/.436 leading off an inning (107 PA)
The leadoff hitter is only a leadoff hitter once in a game.
The difference is that over course of the season the leadoff hitter bats over a hundred times more often than the 9 hitter.
I never quite understood why you wouldn’t want your low average, high power, high strikeout guy batting ninth. He either strikes out or clears the bases for the “leadoff hitter.”
x
I never quite understood why you wouldn’t want your low average, high power, high strikeout guy batting ninth.
Because usually, you want a guy with high power hitting with guys on base. Hitting 9th doesn’t usually give you many baserunners to work with.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 10, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
Borbon is a CF and Andrus is a SS
/Mike E
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 10, 2010 11:13 AM CST reply actions
Why are these two being compared?
I really don’t see any correlation.
"Big whoop, wanna fight about it?"
they're both black
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Cecilio's Guante on Mar 10, 2010 6:07 PM CST up reply actions
Torii Hunter says...
….they are both imposters.
by Adam J. Morris on Mar 10, 2010 6:18 PM CST up reply actions
Well
Julio was born in US but I’m sure Torii would still call him one.
"I was going to say, 'You’re gay for Elvis.' But then I realized that I, too, am gay for Elvis." ~Adam J. Morris.
by Kinslerhomer on Mar 10, 2010 7:03 PM CST up reply actions
Good point
"Big whoop, wanna fight about it?"
by lost in space on Mar 10, 2010 7:10 PM CST up reply actions
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