MLB - 2010 Spring Training!

[snoopy369]

Imran, you keep saying 'sabermetrics stat this shows that sabermetrics stat that is useful'. That's great. I love sabermetrics. But you can't say 'Because he's a OPS+ this hitter, therefore he's a good hitter, which justifies having a OBP guy in this spot.' It's rather circular. I think that one can be too in love with sabermetrics, ie, you, and ignore that it's not 100% about OBP (or any other stat). You're arguing with a guy who thinks the White Sox suck because they don't have solid OBP guys and instead have homer-or-out guys, after all...

[snoopy369]

Tigers get Aubrey Huff in a trade. They do need bats, but...

Yeah, i'm not sure about that one either. I guess it's better for them than not having Huff, and it gives a bit more flexibility - similar to the Rios trade for the Sox - and at least for y'all he goes off the books after this year.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The problem is that you are ignoring what leads to runs in favor of your own SUBJECTIVE opinions. You are misreading my argument completely because it doesn't fit with your preconceived notions. I'm saying that OBP is the stat most closely correlated to run scoring. OBP+ is a normalized measure which looks at the ability to get on base and power and compares them to an average player. Both are far better than a flawed measure like BA, whose correlation to run scoring is fairly low, comparatively.

Therefore Because he's a OPS+ hitter, and OPS+ is far better for estimating run scoring that BA, it justifies picking someone with a higher OPS+ than BA in that spot.

[Arrian]

Really, Swisher is just in-between I think; he's half a leadoff hitter and half a RBI machine

True. He doesn't fit very well in either box. He does a bit of each. I'll take it. I like him in the 6th-7th spot in the Yankee order. That gives them a 1-6 or 7 (depending on which lineup they put out there) of .360+ OBPs, with Robinson Cano (our high-average hacker) hitting after that. The only weakness is Melky at #9, and he's better than many #9 guys. So it works great.

It you were trying to use Nick Swisher as the core of your offense, you will be disappointed, it's true. He's not that good. But he's a very good complimentary player.

-Arrian

[OzzyKP]

Yeah, i'm not sure about that one either. I guess it's better for them than not having Huff, and it gives a bit more flexibility - similar to the Rios trade for the Sox - and at least for y'all he goes off the books after this year.

I get to see him today.

See when picking players for my Tigers laden fantasy team, I knew Huff would one day be a Tiger. Now if only I've kept Polanco...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Wow, the Cards are on fire. They've won their 10th of their last 12, on all things, on a Pujols steal of 2nd, getting to 3rd on a throwing error by Martin, leading to a Holliday sac fly against the Dodgers.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The Yanks spanking the Red Sox in the first game of the series tonight.

[asleepathewheel]

Piniella fired at the end of the year?

new ownership, fresh off another debacle of a season?

[Guynemer]

Just under a quarter of the season left, and for the most part, the division races are yawners.

Only the AL Central could be considered "close", with the Tigers having a 3.5 game lead over the White Sox. The Rockies are still within striking distance of the Dodgers in the NL West, trailing by 4.5. Every other division leader is up by at least 5.5 games--not a foregone conclusion, but relatively safe, barring a Mets-like collapse.

The wild card races will be exciting though. Boston, Texas, and Tampa Bay going at it in the AL (with Detroit being a possibility if the White Sox go on a 2007 Colorado like streak), and Colorado, San Fran, Florida, and Atlanta in the NL.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Not a good weekend for the Red Sox, they lose 2 out of 3 to the Yankees, and in John Smoltz's first start for the Cardinals, he pitches great, striking out 9 (including 7 in a row) in 5 innings against the Padres.

[Guynemer]

Unassisted triple play!

Mets

[Arrian]

I'm happy with 2 of 3 at Fenway. The games were ugly, though. Even the last one (Cano's errors damaged my calm). As always, when I have a big party at my house to which many Sox fans are invited, the Yankees lose (thanks, AJ, that was swell).

Now the Yanks can afford to run Chad Gaudin and Sergio Mitre out there, resting Joba (and hopefully finding more rest for Aceves). The division should be safe, barring a 2000-like end to the season. I am a bit worried about Joba, though. Even though the Yanks have handled him carefully, he just doesn't seem to have his best stuff this year (one game in Cleveland aside).

-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

It appears that something has gone really wrong with the Red Sox, but I can't figure out what. They just decided not to hit or pitch well all of a sudden. I'm tempted to call it the "Curse of Manny Being Manny", but its too early for that.

[Arrian]

Injuries. They're down 2/5 of their rotation. Wakefield and Matsuzaka. That would be similar to the Yankees losing Wang *and* Pettitte. The replacements - Smoltz, Tazawa and Buccholtz, have had poor overall results, though with Smoltz gone I'd expect it to be better going forward. Plus, Wakefield & DiceK are apparently coming back.

Their defense has take a major step back this year. They're apparently (I read it somewhere but haven't checked the list myself) 29th in the majors in defensive efficiency - ahead of only the Royals. Lowell can't move (ARod has had similar but less pronounced range issues), SS has been a disaster, their catchers cannot throw, Bay is apparently bad in LF, Ellsbury is suddenly bad in CF. The only places they're really good are 2B, 1B (when Youk plays first) and I think RF when Drew plays.

Their offense has bounced back. They did go through a short team-wide slump that cost them a few games, but they just scored 29 runs in 3 games vs. the Yankees and they just hung 12 up on the White Sox. Their offense is fine.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

So... Johan Santana may need Tommy John surgery?

What an idiot that Brian Cashman is for not trading Joba and Cano for him!

-Arrian