What's the difference between Borbon and Andrus?

by cgolden on Mar 10, 2010 8:22 AM CST Comment 23 comments

I'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.

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by t ball on Mar 10, 2010 8:33 AM CST reply actions

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

by RangerMad on Mar 10, 2010 10:09 AM CST up reply actions

Who plays CF that day becomes the problem

Until Endy comes back or you put Murphy or worst case Josh

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by Ranger121032 on Mar 10, 2010 1:52 PM CST up reply actions

Borbon will need some off days

right now Hamilton is the likely back up CF

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by RangerMad on Mar 10, 2010 5:34 PM CST up reply actions

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!

by Keynes on Mar 10, 2010 8:34 AM CST reply actions

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!

by Keynes on Mar 10, 2010 8:35 AM CST up reply actions

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!

by Keynes on Mar 10, 2010 8:36 AM CST up reply actions

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.

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by Oddibee on Mar 10, 2010 8:35 AM CST reply actions

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.

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by slc ranger on Mar 10, 2010 9:52 AM CST up reply actions

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.

by brettgardner on Mar 10, 2010 8:38 AM CST reply actions

Yep

He answered his own question, really. Borbon is older, hit really well in his major league stint last year, and is a better offensive player than Elvis.

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by lonestarJon on Mar 10, 2010 8:41 AM CST up reply actions

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.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 10, 2010 9:07 AM CST reply actions

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.”

by Evil Monkey on Mar 10, 2010 9:19 AM CST reply actions