09-21-2009, 11:24 PM
<!--quoteo(post=63963:date=Sep 21 2009, 10:14 PM:name=savant)-->QUOTE (savant @ Sep 21 2009, 10:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->With the middle infield situation, and the ight fielde playing center, I think athleticism needs to be pretty high on our list of needs.
The entire athleticism doesn't matter concept is my main problem with the sabermetics community. Who would ever think that athleticism would be important in athletic competition.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's nice to have good athletes, but it's totally overblown in baseball. There is a difference between a great baseball player and a great athlete. Corey Patterson and Felix Pie and great athletes. Prince Fielder is a great baseball player.
I'm just using opposite ends of the spectrum to illustrate what I'm trying to say. A baseball player doesn't need to be fast. In fact, speed is probably the least important "tool" in baseball.
When a baseball GM says, "We need to get more athletic," it's usually a bad sign for that organization. If you can get a great baseball player who is also a great athlete, then it's a nice bonus. But when the Cubs brass start talking about getting "athletes," it makes me worry.
The entire athleticism doesn't matter concept is my main problem with the sabermetics community. Who would ever think that athleticism would be important in athletic competition.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It's nice to have good athletes, but it's totally overblown in baseball. There is a difference between a great baseball player and a great athlete. Corey Patterson and Felix Pie and great athletes. Prince Fielder is a great baseball player.
I'm just using opposite ends of the spectrum to illustrate what I'm trying to say. A baseball player doesn't need to be fast. In fact, speed is probably the least important "tool" in baseball.
When a baseball GM says, "We need to get more athletic," it's usually a bad sign for that organization. If you can get a great baseball player who is also a great athlete, then it's a nice bonus. But when the Cubs brass start talking about getting "athletes," it makes me worry.