12-15-2008, 12:48 AM
I hate to get into these Adam Dunn discussions, but I can see why they always generate so much passion...he's a really polarizing figure, and he seems to embody a lot of traits that play well into the scout-vs-stat opinions.
<!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->Savant<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->:yes, Ricciardi used to work for Beane in Oakland, but his work in Toronto has been mystifying...perhaps he never really believed in the Beane approach, and just used Beane's coattails to land the plum Blue Jay job. By contrast, DePodesta was also a Beane minion before the Dodger GM gig, but he used his office to <i>really</i> put into play a lot of sabermetric stuff. I think he made the playoffs one year, then got axed the next.
<!--coloro:#4B0082--><!--/coloro-->Scarey<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->: I'm not ignoring you, but how can I respond to someone who insinuated that a career .416 OBP with RISP sucks? <!--coloro:#A0522D--><!--/coloro-->Stan Musial<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->'s career OBP? .416.
That number is better than the career OBP numbers of Wade Boggs, Willie Mays, Manny, A-Rod, DiMaggio...uh, ...let's just say it's a damn high number. His low batting avg. in the same sitch is actually quite close to his career batting average.
You framed your post with a real-world situation, so I will do the same...kind of what would be a typical scenario if he were on the Cubs: Soriano leads off with a double, Theriot strikes out. Up comes Dunn, and while you're hoping for an RBI single, or a "productive out," (which is an oxymoron, and most baseball propeller-heads believe does not exist) Dunn fucking...WALKS.
What an asshole!
So now you have a man on first and second, with 2 power hitters coming up, D Lee and Aramis. Our two best RBI men, only now they have <i>twice as many men on base</i>.
How is this a bad situation?
<!--coloro:#2E8B57--><!--/coloro-->rok<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->: I agree that if the Cubs were in the AL, I'd be much more comfortable about Dunn, Abreu, Bradley, etc. as a DH instead of a regular OF.
But we're not. So you have to decide if Dunn's massive offensive production is outweighed by his definite shortcomings with the glove. I don't think they are, but I would guess that Jim is in agreement with you.
Which brings me to the main point: Jim doesn't dig the Dunn type. So this is all a moot point, DESPITE the news-rumor that Dunn's agent has begged for an interview because the <!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Cubs<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> are supposedly Dunn's #1 choice.
<!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->Savant<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->:yes, Ricciardi used to work for Beane in Oakland, but his work in Toronto has been mystifying...perhaps he never really believed in the Beane approach, and just used Beane's coattails to land the plum Blue Jay job. By contrast, DePodesta was also a Beane minion before the Dodger GM gig, but he used his office to <i>really</i> put into play a lot of sabermetric stuff. I think he made the playoffs one year, then got axed the next.
<!--coloro:#4B0082--><!--/coloro-->Scarey<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->: I'm not ignoring you, but how can I respond to someone who insinuated that a career .416 OBP with RISP sucks? <!--coloro:#A0522D--><!--/coloro-->Stan Musial<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->'s career OBP? .416.
That number is better than the career OBP numbers of Wade Boggs, Willie Mays, Manny, A-Rod, DiMaggio...uh, ...let's just say it's a damn high number. His low batting avg. in the same sitch is actually quite close to his career batting average.
You framed your post with a real-world situation, so I will do the same...kind of what would be a typical scenario if he were on the Cubs: Soriano leads off with a double, Theriot strikes out. Up comes Dunn, and while you're hoping for an RBI single, or a "productive out," (which is an oxymoron, and most baseball propeller-heads believe does not exist) Dunn fucking...WALKS.
What an asshole!
So now you have a man on first and second, with 2 power hitters coming up, D Lee and Aramis. Our two best RBI men, only now they have <i>twice as many men on base</i>.
How is this a bad situation?
<!--coloro:#2E8B57--><!--/coloro-->rok<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->: I agree that if the Cubs were in the AL, I'd be much more comfortable about Dunn, Abreu, Bradley, etc. as a DH instead of a regular OF.
But we're not. So you have to decide if Dunn's massive offensive production is outweighed by his definite shortcomings with the glove. I don't think they are, but I would guess that Jim is in agreement with you.
Which brings me to the main point: Jim doesn't dig the Dunn type. So this is all a moot point, DESPITE the news-rumor that Dunn's agent has begged for an interview because the <!--coloro:#0000FF--><!--/coloro-->Cubs<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> are supposedly Dunn's #1 choice.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance