MLB - 2006 Season!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Also, when talking about defense, I don't rely on numbers so much... I tend to rely more on how quick a guy is getting to balls and how good he is looking... overall. Over the course of a season, too many guys' numbers are going to be so close together, I think the thing that sets guys apart should be their actual ability on the field.

This game isn't played on paper, after all. A fact that some people seem to forget.

You can't ignore the numbers though. That sort of thing gets Jeter called one of the best defensive SS in the league, even though for most of his career his range factor has been utter crap. IMO, you have to look at the stats first, to filter out who doesn't belong, then you can see who stands out based on what is seen.

[Sava]

Right. And I never advocated ignoring the numbers.

Numbers are just a tool... like anything else. However, they can be deceptive.

That's why they should be kept in perspective.

Though, over the course of a 162 game season, when you start arguing about tenths and hundreths of a percent when it comes to field percentage or range factor to determine who should get a GG... well, then it's time to put the numbers aside and start watching the games to see who has the best ability and who is playing the position the best.

There are lots of things that numbers don't take into account... like, for instance, Derrek Lee's play at 1B. He instantly makes everyone else in the infield better. Look at Aramis Ramirez's defensive numbers since he came over from Pittsburgh and started playing with Lee. His errors have dropped significantly. And that's not because A-Ram has been playing that much better. Ramirez has improved... but a lot of that is because Derrek Lee sucks poor throws up like a black hole.

Although, if you were just comparing defensive numbers, something like that wouldn't come into consideration.

[Ned]

Sava, you got it right. That's why I thought the Sox were deserving. They not only did not make errors, they made plays. Rowands play in center field was spectacular. His stellar plays in New York, as compared with the garbage the Yanks had last year, is the primary reason the Yankees got Damon.

I also agree that the '98 Yanks were superb defensively. I still remember the playoffs where time and again the Yanks made the plays while their opponents did not.

[Arrian]

And I'll say this, the 1998 Yankees, who a lot of people said had a great defensive squad only won one GG for Mike Mussina.

Umm, Mike Mussina did not join the Yankees until 2001. The 1998 team was good defensively. I dunno if they were as good as the '05 White Sox, though. The '98 Yanks had better hitting.

Bernie Williams won a gold glove for CF in 1998. Brosius won in '99, but no '98. I don't think anyone else won one... so it was just Bernie.

Anyway, the Sox flashed leather last year, no doubt. A good measure, I think, is the % of balls put in to play that the team turns into outs (defensive efficiency).

Last year, the Oakland As came in #1, followed by the ChiSox, Cleveland, Houston and St. Louis.

It doesn't tell you about individual performances, but (given a large sample size) tells you a fair amount about a team's overall ability.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Ok, the 1998 Yankees were #1 in MLB in defensive efficiency that year (.717). The ChiSox last year came in with a .720 - marginally better.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

So far this year (small sample size warning, of course):

Detroit, .741 (!!)
St. Louis, .735
San Diego, .734
Chicago Cubs, .732
Chicago Sox, .726

My Yankees are running 10th, with a more than respectable .716 (followed by Toronto and Boston, heh).

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Sava,

Something like what you say about D. Lee should be testable via stats, by looking at the numbers for defenders with him at 1b, versus w/o him at 1b.

It's not ALL stats, but frankly using the stats would get the awards right a lot more often than the voting does now. I give you your two-time AL gold glove SS, Derek Jeter.

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

beckett will beat johnson 2nite.;

[Arrian]

Sheff's still out, may go on DL. Damn. When's Coco back?

-Arrian

[Lawrence of Arabia]

late may probably. sheffield swings so damn hard, id rather have a guy like jeter who swings with the situation that sheff whos just up there to smack it as hard as he can regardless of the situation.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

who needs johnson, we used to have bronson.

[Ming]

And just reminder to all Cub fans... after watching them over the weekend, all I can say is...

THE CUBS STILL SUCK

Now you can go back and talk about REAL baseball teams... like the White Sox

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
who needs johnson, we used to have bronson.

Drinking again?

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Randy gets lit up like a pinball machine. I also wouldn't be surprised if he pitches well. He's inconsistent, that's for sure.

As for Bronson, hey, at least you got some quality for him (Pena). There have been worse trades.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Ming
And just reminder to all Cub fans... after watching them over the weekend, all I can say is...

THE CUBS STILL SUCK

Now you can go back and talk about REAL baseball teams... like the White Sox

What's sad is that they really don't have to suck. It's not like their stuck in "small market" hell.

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

The Cubbies need to pray to the God of Injuries to spare them sometime this decade.