Comments on: ZiPS are (relatively) fly http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561 Abusing Tony Womack and Photoshop filters since late 2003. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:27:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Richard Cullen http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134150 Richard Cullen Tue, 09 Jan 2007 20:14:36 +0000 http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134150 That's fair. I agree that if there's no sign of improvement then it's time for a change. Ozzie improved fairly markedly in his 5th year. When does Yadi become arbitration eligible? A couple of years from now? That would be nice with Bryan Anderson coming through the system. That’s fair. I agree that if there’s no sign of improvement then it’s time for a change. Ozzie improved fairly markedly in his 5th year. When does Yadi become arbitration eligible? A couple of years from now? That would be nice with Bryan Anderson coming through the system.

]]> By: guayzimi http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134127 guayzimi Tue, 09 Jan 2007 18:11:29 +0000 http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134127 Regarding the Yadier-Ozzie comparison, Ozzie's transformation from worst hitter ever to a positive offensive force is - I don't want to say unprecedented because I can't be sure - extremely rare. The thing that saved Ozzie was his batting eye, which was present even when he was flirting with the Mendoza line. In 1980 and '81 (years 3 and 4) he walked in 9.9% and 8% of his plate appearances, respectively. Molina has been around 5.5% in his two full-time seasons. A better comparison might be with his bro, Bengie: Year 1 281/318/421 Year 2 262/309/351 Year 3 245/274/322 His next year at age 28 he suddenly and dramatically turned things around (miraculous!) and has slugged in the mid-400s with a decent BA and few walks ever since. As for whether Molina is worth it, Hardball Times says he was a replacement level player in '06 after being worth a couple wins above replacement in '05. Once he starts raking in the millions during his arbitration years, he'll have to become better with the stick or jettisoned, imo... Regarding the Yadier-Ozzie comparison, Ozzie’s transformation from worst hitter ever to a positive offensive force is - I don’t want to say unprecedented because I can’t be sure - extremely rare. The thing that saved Ozzie was his batting eye, which was present even when he was flirting with the Mendoza line. In 1980 and ‘81 (years 3 and 4) he walked in 9.9% and 8% of his plate appearances, respectively. Molina has been around 5.5% in his two full-time seasons.

A better comparison might be with his bro, Bengie:

Year 1 281/318/421
Year 2 262/309/351
Year 3 245/274/322

His next year at age 28 he suddenly and dramatically turned things around (miraculous!) and has slugged in the mid-400s with a decent BA and few walks ever since.

As for whether Molina is worth it, Hardball Times says he was a replacement level player in ‘06 after being worth a couple wins above replacement in ‘05. Once he starts raking in the millions during his arbitration years, he’ll have to become better with the stick or jettisoned, imo…

]]> By: guayzimi http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134124 guayzimi Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:44:10 +0000 http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134124 Jrod's the 4th best hitter on the team. That's troubling... On the flip side the Cardinals have 3 players projected to slug 500, while the mighty Bronx Bombers have 0. We'll see about that... Jrod’s the 4th best hitter on the team. That’s troubling… On the flip side the Cardinals have 3 players projected to slug 500, while the mighty Bronx Bombers have 0. We’ll see about that…

]]> By: Richard Cullen http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134118 Richard Cullen Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:10:57 +0000 http://getupbaby.net/?p=1561#comment-134118 I posted about this on the Cards talk forum yesterday. Look at these stats: Year 1 .258/.311/.312 Year 2 .211/.260/.262 Year 3 .230/.313/.276 Year 4 .222/.294/.256 In year 4 this HOF starting player had an OPS of .550, his highest OPS was only .623 and yet after year 4 he was acquired by St Louis in a trade! It just goes to show that defensive excellence can overshadow offensive disaster. Let's at least give Yadi another year or two to show that he's working on improving the hitting and enjoy the show he puts on behind the plate. I mean isn't it as nice to win a game by picking a guy off 1st base when your closer is struggling as it is to hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th? I posted about this on the Cards talk forum yesterday. Look at these stats:

Year 1 .258/.311/.312
Year 2 .211/.260/.262
Year 3 .230/.313/.276
Year 4 .222/.294/.256

In year 4 this HOF starting player had an OPS of .550, his highest OPS was only .623 and yet after year 4 he was acquired by St Louis in a trade! It just goes to show that defensive excellence can overshadow offensive disaster.

Let’s at least give Yadi another year or two to show that he’s working on improving the hitting and enjoy the show he puts on behind the plate. I mean isn’t it as nice to win a game by picking a guy off 1st base when your closer is struggling as it is to hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th?

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