Fuld in the running to START in CF?

[Yanksfan1523]

Fuld has 10X the grit of Pie. N'uff said. Job goes to Fuld.

 

Are you saying Fuld brings intangibles? :lol:

[craig]

Was interesting in Lou's radio interview today that he spent more time talking about fuld than Pie.

 

But in the interview he also talked about Fukudome batting 3rd, and in that context I believe he made some comments about the #8 hitter, to the effect that the #8 hitter needs to have some OBP skill so that you aren't routinely opening innings with the auto-out pitcher.

 

So Pie is in a pickle. he's not shown he's good enough to merit a spot higher in the lineup. But his crummy plate discipline makes him somewhat problematic for batting 8th. Pie's primary offensive advantage has been his HR power. Not sure how many HR's he'd hit batting 8th. Fuld's is that he's a disciplined hitter with OBP. So it may be that fuld is actually more what Lou might be looking for back there. Of course, if Pie could get some hits, could show some pitch selection, and could give some power besides hitting 8th, that would be awesome.

 

My guess is that if Pie can sustain a decent OBP, it's a non-issue. But if his OBP is painful, that Lou may prefer Fuld with a more respectable OBP over Pie even if Pie has a little more power and OPS. For example, I'd guess Lou might prefer Fuld with a .325 OBP and a .670 OPS over Pie with a .295 OBP but a .700 OPS.

Edited February 23, 2008 by craig

[seanimal]

Not sure how many HR's he'd hit batting 8th.

 

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that he'd probably hit the same amount of HR's in the 8 spot as he would anywhere else.

[Wheelimus]

How about this. Lets send Fuld to AAA Iowa...to play shortstop. Give him his glove, tell him good luck and god help him, and see what happens midyear.

 

Perhaps then he can replace Ryan Theriot and save the team. :lol:

[sneakypower]

I know I'd love having a SS who threw with his left hand.

[David]

I know I'd love having a SS who threw with his left hand.

 

You responded like this when I suggested that Lee might be better in LF than Bonds at this point. Are you really that bad at detecting sarcatic/tongue-in-cheek comments?

 

Honestly, what's the point of that smart-ass reply? I could see it if someone was seriously suggesting something ridiculous like that, but it's clearly a joke.

[Rob]

I know I'd love having a SS who threw with his left hand.

 

Fuld could probably learn to throw right handed in ST, and still have a better arm than Theriot's noodle.

[David]

I know I'd love having a SS who threw with his left hand.

 

Fuld could probably learn to throw right handed in ST, and still have a better arm than Theriot's noodle.

 

 

hahahaha no he can't, u moran, lulz

[Rob]

No, in all honesty... Theriot and Fuld are servicable backups, but neither is even particularly good at that. The fewer PA those two see this season, the better off our team is.

[David]

No, in all honesty... Theriot and Fuld are servicable backups, but neither is even particularly good at that. The fewer PA those two see this season, the better off our team is.

 

And, of course, one of them is firmly entrenched as a starter and the other is battling the organization's pride and joy prospect for an everyday spot.

[craig]

Not sure how many HR's he'd hit batting 8th.

 

I'm going to hazard a guess and say that he'd probably hit the same amount of HR's in the 8 spot as he would anywhere else.

 

Of course we'll never know, because he won't be able to be batting 2nd and 8th at the same time. But while I think "protection" isn't a meaningful reality earlier in the order, I think the anti-protection batting 8th has substance. It seems that when a pitcher knows an auto-out like Rich Hill or Ted Lilly is coming up next, they are even less likely to challenge a #8 hitter with mashable pitches. I would guess it might be a little harder to hit HR's batting 8th than batting 3rd.

 

In their minor-league careers, the OPS advantage that Pie has and the trace career average advantage that he has is explained entirely by his HR's. If you removed both Fuld's and Pie's HR ab's from their stats, Fuld would have a much better batting average, a better slugging percentage, and an even larger OBP superiority. On AB's that don't result in HR's, Fuld has a better minor league career stats across the board. But Pie has hit HR's, which have gotten his OBP in the ballpark, have added hits to his batting average, and have added lots of bases to his slugging percentage.

 

If Pie hits enough HR's (a dozen or more?), he's not going to lose his spot to Fuld. But if his HR's don't significantly boost his BA/OBP/slugging, maybe he will. It's not that rare for rookies to underperform HR-wise relative to in the minors. Hopefully Pie will be whacking some out.

 

Of course, it's also possible that if he isn't swinging for them, he'll whiff less, walk more, and get more hits in play. Should be fun to watch.

[JGalt73]

From BP's newly released PECOTA projections...the graphs give the % likelihood of being a superstar, star, regular, etc. in MLB.

 

Pie's Projected EqA

2008 .273

2009 .277

2010 .281

2011 .284

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/images/piefe01_010.png

 

Fuld's Projected EqA

2008 .243

2009 .249

2010 .245

2011 .250

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/pecota/images/fuldsa01_010.png

 

Pie is also projected as a slightly better fielder. There is no comparison.

[Geech]

My guess is that if Pie can sustain a decent OBP, it's a non-issue. But if his OBP is painful, that Lou may prefer Fuld with a more respectable OBP over Pie even if Pie has a little more power and OPS. For example, I'd guess Lou might prefer Fuld with a .325 OBP and a .670 OPS over Pie with a .295 OBP but a .700 OPS.

 

I don't really think there's any reason to believe that Fuld could maintain a better OBP than Pie. While Fuld has a different skillset than Pie, Fuld's skills are also more limited and less effective.

[anabiono]

but but but...pie and soriano are kindred spirits!!!

 

:clapping:

[Bote McBoteface]

Perhaps then he can replace Ryan Theriot and save the team. :lol:

We'll need Neifi for that.

[Ryno is God 23]

Fuld might be more ready right now but it is laughable to think he will be better than Pie in the long run.

If Fuld did not have a unreal AFL would we even be talking about this?

Put Pie out there and make him lose the spot. We should be able to handle a little sub par offense from Pie this year....IMO.

[VVMattVV]

Fuld might be more ready right now but it is laughable to think he will be better than Pie in the long run.

If Fuld did not have a unreal AFL would we even be talking about this?

Put Pie out there and make him lose the spot. We should be able to handle a little sub par offense from Pie this year....IMO.

 

Fuld isn't really more ready than Pie. He's older, but Pie has a lot more experience (and success) above A ball than Fuld does.