AJ won his first Gold Glove. About now, based on other writers, I'm supposed to put in a line or two about how Jones wasn't as good this year as last year. I'm supposed to write about Franklin Gutierrez and Carl Crawford. I'm not going to do that though. Sure, Gold Glove voting is a mess. What are you going to do though? Should baseball put together a BCS style formula that incorporates advanced defensive metrics along with the traditional coaches voting? Why not? Everybody LOVES the BCS!!!
Adam Jones is an All Star and a Gold Glove winner for one reason. He has an undefinable star power that Franklin Guiterrez lacks. You can talk about Franklin Guiterrez' UZR all you want but he doesn't have the ability to slug a 400 foot home run after stealing someone elses long ball. That's the sort of thing that sticks in the mind of Gold Glove voters.
The real problem here is that baseball bloggers and writers are nerds. I mean that in the best way possible. I'm right there with you. We get hung up in BJ Upton's RngR and Ichiro's WAR and so forth. We can't just appreciate that the Orioles have their best center fielder in a generation and he makes exciting plays. We have to analyze it to death.
If it helps, just view this as a make-up award. Jones probably deserved this award last year but didn't get it. This year is a make-up. Like how the Rolling Stones won a Best Album Grammy for the forgettable Voodoo Lounge after not winning for 10 better albums. Just congratulate AJ and move on. He's the bubble-blowing, cocky, laser-armed face of the Orioles. Expect him in a lot of All Star games with a lot of post-season bling.
Congratulations Adam!!!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Garrett Atkins--Not the Answer
Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports writes that Rockies 3rd baseman Garrett Atkins is going to be non-tendered by his team.
2006 .329/.409/.556 29 HRs
2007 .301/.367/.486 25 HRs
2008 .286/.328/.452 21 HRs
2009 .226/.308/.342 9 HRs
Equally disturbing is that he is wildly inconsistent. That is my observation at least, and B-R backs me up with their monthly splits. Here is 2009:
April .247/.289/.429
May .148/.255/.159
June .327/.393/.509
July .195/.313/.244
Aug. .240/.333/.280
Sept. .233/.313/.395
When he was having his hot June the Rockies were trying like mad to free themselves of his albatross of a contract but couldn't find any takers. Then he fell apart in July and there was even less interest. And that was against National League pitching.
I also observed him to be slow-footed defensively, although fangraphs' metrics don't totally agree. They find him to be just a touch below average, at a -0.4 UZR. Fangraphs also shows that his defense is improving every year so maybe I am holding old defensive lapses against him.
I guess its all about the contract. According to Biz of Baseball, non-tendered players are free agents, so if the O's get him for a low, low contract and he takes a bench role, I'm happy. I'd just hate to think that we passed up on someone better because we settled for Garrett Atkins.
Atkins is simply too expensive to trade — he likely would receive a raise from $7.05 million in his final year of arbitration — and is virtually certain to be non-tendered.With Melvin Mora gone, the Orioles are going to be linked to every free agent third sacker in creation. Atkins isn't the right guy though. Living in Colorado for the last year, I've had a chance to see him up close and I'm not impressed. First, his numbers have been declining steadily since his breakout 2006 season. Here are his slash lines with HR totals:
2006 .329/.409/.556 29 HRs
2007 .301/.367/.486 25 HRs
2008 .286/.328/.452 21 HRs
2009 .226/.308/.342 9 HRs
Equally disturbing is that he is wildly inconsistent. That is my observation at least, and B-R backs me up with their monthly splits. Here is 2009:
April .247/.289/.429
May .148/.255/.159
June .327/.393/.509
July .195/.313/.244
Aug. .240/.333/.280
Sept. .233/.313/.395
When he was having his hot June the Rockies were trying like mad to free themselves of his albatross of a contract but couldn't find any takers. Then he fell apart in July and there was even less interest. And that was against National League pitching.
I also observed him to be slow-footed defensively, although fangraphs' metrics don't totally agree. They find him to be just a touch below average, at a -0.4 UZR. Fangraphs also shows that his defense is improving every year so maybe I am holding old defensive lapses against him.
I guess its all about the contract. According to Biz of Baseball, non-tendered players are free agents, so if the O's get him for a low, low contract and he takes a bench role, I'm happy. I'd just hate to think that we passed up on someone better because we settled for Garrett Atkins.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Yankees Buy New Trophy
Its impossible to talk about the Yankees without talking about the money. They don't win with hitting, pitching, or defense. They win with their checkbook. The Rays outpitch them? Buy better pitchers. The Sox outhit them? Buy better hitters. Its been that way for most of their 27 titles. A reporter famously asked Babe Ruth, the Yankees' first big purchase, how he felt about making more money than President Hoover. Ruth responded "I had a better year." The Yankees ARE their money.
The one thing I like about this title is that it brings the salary cap debate into clearer focus. A year ago it was possible to make a reasonable argument against it. A salary floor seemed just as necessary to protect fans from owners interested getting rich without spending on payroll. The Rays' playoff run gave small market teams hope. The Yankees looked old and directionless while missing the playoffs with the highest payroll in baseball. How things have changed.
The Yankees half billion dollar winter changed the game. If they cut all their salaries in half they would still be in the top ten in the league in payroll. To match the second highest payroll in baseball (Cubs and Mets, 135 mil), they would have to get rid of the salaries of A-Rod, Tex, and CC. To be average, about the same as the Blue Jays, they would also have to release AJ, Jeter, Rivera, and a smaller contract or two. By contrast, the Rays' one magical year is receding into memory like a road mirage in the rear view mirror. In the playoffs, the Yanks swatted the small market Twins like a pesky mosquito.
Yankees apologists sometimes try to minimize the effect of the money by pointing out that players like Posada, Jeter, and Rivera are home grown. True as far as it goes, but only because the Yankees can afford their escalating salaries. If those three guys had the misfortune of coming up with the Pirates instead of the Yankees, they would each be on their third or fourth team by now. Most of the league couldn't afford to keep a core like that. Its all about the money with the Yanks.
In Ball Four, Jim Bouton tells a story about Mickey Mantle. When Mick first came up he wasn't popular with Yankee fans. He was viewed as a small town rube, an undeserving successor to the legacies of Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio. He started making good money though, so when fans heckled him he would reply "How much money do you make?" He did it so often that when teammates heard Mantle taking some heckling, they would yell "Hit them with your wallet Mick!" Its always about the money with the Yankees.
They hit the league with their wallet this year.
The one thing I like about this title is that it brings the salary cap debate into clearer focus. A year ago it was possible to make a reasonable argument against it. A salary floor seemed just as necessary to protect fans from owners interested getting rich without spending on payroll. The Rays' playoff run gave small market teams hope. The Yankees looked old and directionless while missing the playoffs with the highest payroll in baseball. How things have changed.
The Yankees half billion dollar winter changed the game. If they cut all their salaries in half they would still be in the top ten in the league in payroll. To match the second highest payroll in baseball (Cubs and Mets, 135 mil), they would have to get rid of the salaries of A-Rod, Tex, and CC. To be average, about the same as the Blue Jays, they would also have to release AJ, Jeter, Rivera, and a smaller contract or two. By contrast, the Rays' one magical year is receding into memory like a road mirage in the rear view mirror. In the playoffs, the Yanks swatted the small market Twins like a pesky mosquito.
Yankees apologists sometimes try to minimize the effect of the money by pointing out that players like Posada, Jeter, and Rivera are home grown. True as far as it goes, but only because the Yankees can afford their escalating salaries. If those three guys had the misfortune of coming up with the Pirates instead of the Yankees, they would each be on their third or fourth team by now. Most of the league couldn't afford to keep a core like that. Its all about the money with the Yanks.
In Ball Four, Jim Bouton tells a story about Mickey Mantle. When Mick first came up he wasn't popular with Yankee fans. He was viewed as a small town rube, an undeserving successor to the legacies of Ruth, Gehrig, and DiMaggio. He started making good money though, so when fans heckled him he would reply "How much money do you make?" He did it so often that when teammates heard Mantle taking some heckling, they would yell "Hit them with your wallet Mick!" Its always about the money with the Yankees.
They hit the league with their wallet this year.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Orioles/Rangers, April 1997
While going through some old books and papers, I found this program from the Orioles/Rangers series in Texas, April 4-6, 1997. I think it was quite a show of respect that the Rangers put a visiting player on the cover of the program. They also put in a nice article about Cal moving to third base.
The Mike Devereaux interview they advertise on the cover was very Bull Durham-ish. "I just want to help the team..." One funny comment he made was that the Rangers should be better than the Orioles in '97 because Texas stressed defense so much more. Huh? A team that featured Juan Gonzales, Dean Palmer, Jim Leyritz, Lee Stevens, Benji Gil, and an ageing Mickey Tettleton stressed defense? How many DHs did they start?
I have also posted the O's roster for that series (below). I found the birthdates interesting. It was a veteran team in its prime; most of the birthdates were in the 1960s. Not enough were born in the 1970s, the reason why this team couldn't maintain its success beyond that season. There was one birthday in the 1950s. I miss you Jesse Orosco.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Roster Transition 2009
I've criticized the Orioles for a long time for having a youth movement without the youth. They have a history of talking up a few prospects while maintaining one of the oldest rosters in baseball. This year, the O's made sweeping changes to their major league team. Consider this. In early April, right after Adam Eaton joined the team, forcing Matt Albers to Norfolk, the Orioles' 25 man roster featured 17 players who were 28 years old or older. Remember these guys?
Danys Baez
Adam Eaton
Jeremy Guthrie
Mark Hendrickson
Dennis Sarfate
George Sherrill
Koji Uehara
Jamie Walker
Gregg Zaun
Chad Moeller
Aubrey Huff
Cesar Izturis
Melvin Mora
Brian Roberts
Ty Wigginton
Ryan Freel
Luke Scott
Alfredo Simon was one month from his 28th birthday. It was the oldest rebuilding team ever. But to their credit, the front office moved a lot of vets along. In early September, before the call ups ruined the symmetry of the comparison, there were only nine players on the 25 man roster who were 28 or older. The survivors were:
Baez
Guthrie
Hendrickson
Moeller
Izturis
Mora
Roberts
Wiggy
Scott
Walker and Eaton were mercifully released. Koji and Sarfate were on extended stints on the DL. Sherrill, Huff, Zaun, and Freel were all traded for younger players. Sherrill was actually traded for multiple, good, younger players. With Baez, Hendrickson, Moeller, and Mora all likely free agents, we now seem to have a youth movement with the youth included. If there is one positive thing to take from the 2009 season, that is it.
Danys Baez
Adam Eaton
Jeremy Guthrie
Mark Hendrickson
Dennis Sarfate
George Sherrill
Koji Uehara
Jamie Walker
Gregg Zaun
Chad Moeller
Aubrey Huff
Cesar Izturis
Melvin Mora
Brian Roberts
Ty Wigginton
Ryan Freel
Luke Scott
Alfredo Simon was one month from his 28th birthday. It was the oldest rebuilding team ever. But to their credit, the front office moved a lot of vets along. In early September, before the call ups ruined the symmetry of the comparison, there were only nine players on the 25 man roster who were 28 or older. The survivors were:
Baez
Guthrie
Hendrickson
Moeller
Izturis
Mora
Roberts
Wiggy
Scott
Walker and Eaton were mercifully released. Koji and Sarfate were on extended stints on the DL. Sherrill, Huff, Zaun, and Freel were all traded for younger players. Sherrill was actually traded for multiple, good, younger players. With Baez, Hendrickson, Moeller, and Mora all likely free agents, we now seem to have a youth movement with the youth included. If there is one positive thing to take from the 2009 season, that is it.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Riding the Pine
“I flush the john between innings to keep my wrists strong.” John Lowenstein on staying ready on the bench.
Who is flushing the john for the Orioles these days? Justin Turner need something to keep himself fit. Since his debut Sept. 8, he has seen a whole 18 plate appearances. Turner can play several positions but instead of getting a chance, Melvin Mora and Ty Wigginton keep getting the starts. Next year, Turner will compete with Robert Andino and others for a utility infield position. Exposure to major league pitching would help, but he is stuck on the bench. Give him a chance!
Jim Miller, who had a good year with Norfolk, didn't even get a call-up despite already being on the 40 man roster. At 27 years old, he seems to have lost his prospect label despite gaudy AAA numbers. Why didn't he get the same chance as Alberto Castillo or Bob McCrory? The same question could be asked of Josh Perrault who posted worthy numbers at Bowie and Norfolk.
Maybe some of these guys need to learn to be outfielders. We seem to be running low on them. Otherwise, they should keep on flushing.
Who is flushing the john for the Orioles these days? Justin Turner need something to keep himself fit. Since his debut Sept. 8, he has seen a whole 18 plate appearances. Turner can play several positions but instead of getting a chance, Melvin Mora and Ty Wigginton keep getting the starts. Next year, Turner will compete with Robert Andino and others for a utility infield position. Exposure to major league pitching would help, but he is stuck on the bench. Give him a chance!
Jim Miller, who had a good year with Norfolk, didn't even get a call-up despite already being on the 40 man roster. At 27 years old, he seems to have lost his prospect label despite gaudy AAA numbers. Why didn't he get the same chance as Alberto Castillo or Bob McCrory? The same question could be asked of Josh Perrault who posted worthy numbers at Bowie and Norfolk.
Maybe some of these guys need to learn to be outfielders. We seem to be running low on them. Otherwise, they should keep on flushing.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Congratulations Brian Roberts
Its not easy being an Orioles fan. Following the team is mostly a matter of waiting til next year and cursing the accidents of parentage and geography that led us to watch the O's. Occasionally we do get something to be proud of and I think we enjoy it more because of our floundering team; like a man lost in a desert treasures a single gulp of water.
Tonight, Brian Roberts set the single season record for doubles by a switch hitter. It was his 56th double. To paraphrase Roberts, its not like breaking the home run record but its still pretty cool. A lot of the guys on the single season doubles list are Hall of Famers. Brian is in good company. It seems unlikely that B-Rob can get to 60, tying Todd Helton's post-WWII record, but its not impossible. He can be forgiven for some selfish play at this point in the season. Forget about drawing walks or moving runners along, Brian. Go for the record!
While I am feeling good about the Orioles, let me talk about the lone bright spot in the September bullpen, Dennis Sarfate. I was very impressed with his toughness in playing through injury last year and I had high hopes for him this year. Needless to say, he didn't live up to them. Partly because of injuries his play regressed to the point where I was ready to give up on him. Two ugly outings against the Yankees in early September didn't do anything to change my mind. Since then, he has been very good. In eight appearances he has only allowed three hits and four walks against seven strikeouts. He looked filthy tonight in ringing up Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist.
With the Orioles though there is always bad news to offset the good. Miguel Angel Sano, the Dominican uber-prospect the O's were supposedly in the running for is going to sign with the Twins tomorrow. He will reportedly get a 3.15 million dollar signing bonus; reasonable considering last year's top Domincan prospect, Michael Ynoa, got a 4.25 million dollar bonus from the budget conscious A's. I'd like to believe that the scouts saw something that made them believe he wasn't worth the money. Considering the buzz surrounding Sano though, I think he is the kind of player a rebuilding organization needs to take a chance on. Signing him would have been like getting an extra first round draft pick.
Oh well.
Tonight, Brian Roberts set the single season record for doubles by a switch hitter. It was his 56th double. To paraphrase Roberts, its not like breaking the home run record but its still pretty cool. A lot of the guys on the single season doubles list are Hall of Famers. Brian is in good company. It seems unlikely that B-Rob can get to 60, tying Todd Helton's post-WWII record, but its not impossible. He can be forgiven for some selfish play at this point in the season. Forget about drawing walks or moving runners along, Brian. Go for the record!
While I am feeling good about the Orioles, let me talk about the lone bright spot in the September bullpen, Dennis Sarfate. I was very impressed with his toughness in playing through injury last year and I had high hopes for him this year. Needless to say, he didn't live up to them. Partly because of injuries his play regressed to the point where I was ready to give up on him. Two ugly outings against the Yankees in early September didn't do anything to change my mind. Since then, he has been very good. In eight appearances he has only allowed three hits and four walks against seven strikeouts. He looked filthy tonight in ringing up Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist.
With the Orioles though there is always bad news to offset the good. Miguel Angel Sano, the Dominican uber-prospect the O's were supposedly in the running for is going to sign with the Twins tomorrow. He will reportedly get a 3.15 million dollar signing bonus; reasonable considering last year's top Domincan prospect, Michael Ynoa, got a 4.25 million dollar bonus from the budget conscious A's. I'd like to believe that the scouts saw something that made them believe he wasn't worth the money. Considering the buzz surrounding Sano though, I think he is the kind of player a rebuilding organization needs to take a chance on. Signing him would have been like getting an extra first round draft pick.
Oh well.
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