Stop starting Reed Johnson against RHP

[frostwyrm]

I can only guess it's those good 2006 numbers that are causing Lou's faith in Reed vs. RHP. He actually hit righties really well that year. Unfortunately 2006 is a huge statistical outlier in his career. The Blue Jays must have figured the same, or else they wouldn't have released him.

[CuseCubFan69]

I have no idea why Ward didn't get some time in left in the game last yesterday.

[CubColtPacer]

I have no idea why Ward didn't get some time in left in the game last yesterday.

 

I know over the weekend Ward had a hamstring issue. He's been available for pinch-hitting, but that's it.

[CuseCubFan69]

I have no idea why Ward didn't get some time in left in the game last yesterday.

 

I know over the weekend Ward had a hamstring issue. He's been available for pinch-hitting, but that's it.

 

Ahhh...I see, thanks CCP. He just sits on a bench, how could he have hurt it? :-s

[soapy]

Pie seems to be making the changes at the plate that the Cubs have suggested. He was 4-for-11 on this road trip, and batting .321 in his last 11 games.

 

"He's doing fine, and getting a hit here or there which isn't easy to do when you're up there thinking every at-bat you have to do something well," Hendry said of the young center fielder. "It's been a good combination with him and Reed."

 

 

gee i wonder who/what would giving felix that impression???

i think it's interesting that this is Hendry, not Lou. i'm still curious to know how Hendry feels about Pie's usage. i think he really wanted Pie to be the starter against all RHP, at a minimum. he passed up some trade oppurtunities to give Pie a chance this season and Lou won't play him (enough).

[jersey cubs fan]

I have no idea why Ward didn't get some time in left in the game last yesterday.

 

I know over the weekend Ward had a hamstring issue. He's been available for pinch-hitting, but that's it.

 

Was that issue somebody tied a ham to a string and kept pulling it away when he got close to it?

[TruffleShuffle]

BP:

 

The Cubs defense has also been excellent overall, ranking third in the majors in efficiency, although center field has not been a strong point. Reed Johnson entered the season with just 64 career games in center, and has a range factor per nine innings there of 1.88 this year, far below the major league average (2.71) and that of Felix Pie (2.61), his co-habitant at the position. Pie has an excellent defensive reputation, and ranked fourth among center fielders last season in Total Defense. Pie's glove is good enough for the Cubs to bear with his slow start at the plate in a full-time role--Johnson is hitting poorly too, after all--and Pie should certainly be playing in games started by Lilly, the one fly-ball pitcher currently in the Cubs rotation.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

And, prophetically, Johnson's lack of range cost Lilly a triple.

[nilodnayr]

BP:

 

The Cubs defense has also been excellent overall, ranking third in the majors in efficiency, although center field has not been a strong point. Reed Johnson entered the season with just 64 career games in center, and has a range factor per nine innings there of 1.88 this year, far below the major league average (2.71) and that of Felix Pie (2.61), his co-habitant at the position. Pie has an excellent defensive reputation, and ranked fourth among center fielders last season in Total Defense. Pie's glove is good enough for the Cubs to bear with his slow start at the plate in a full-time role--Johnson is hitting poorly too, after all--and Pie should certainly be playing in games started by Lilly, the one fly-ball pitcher currently in the Cubs rotation.

 

range factor? seriously?

[weis21]

BP:

 

The Cubs defense has also been excellent overall, ranking third in the majors in efficiency, although center field has not been a strong point. Reed Johnson entered the season with just 64 career games in center, and has a range factor per nine innings there of 1.88 this year, far below the major league average (2.71) and that of Felix Pie (2.61), his co-habitant at the position. Pie has an excellent defensive reputation, and ranked fourth among center fielders last season in Total Defense. Pie's glove is good enough for the Cubs to bear with his slow start at the plate in a full-time role--Johnson is hitting poorly too, after all--and Pie should certainly be playing in games started by Lilly, the one fly-ball pitcher currently in the Cubs rotation.

 

range factor? seriously?

So you think his defense is satisfactory for a CF? Not to mention in comparison to Pie.

[Colin Wyers]

BP:

 

The Cubs defense has also been excellent overall, ranking third in the majors in efficiency, although center field has not been a strong point. Reed Johnson entered the season with just 64 career games in center, and has a range factor per nine innings there of 1.88 this year, far below the major league average (2.71) and that of Felix Pie (2.61), his co-habitant at the position. Pie has an excellent defensive reputation, and ranked fourth among center fielders last season in Total Defense. Pie's glove is good enough for the Cubs to bear with his slow start at the plate in a full-time role--Johnson is hitting poorly too, after all--and Pie should certainly be playing in games started by Lilly, the one fly-ball pitcher currently in the Cubs rotation.

 

range factor? seriously?

So you think his defense is satisfactory for a CF? Not to mention in comparison to Pie.

 

That doesn't mean that range factor is a worthwhile stat. Any non-play-by-play defensive stat is exceedingly limited in usefulness for measuring defense over a single season or less. (Yes, that includes FRAR.)

 

I finally got around to figuring defensive +/- for all the Cubs (actually everyone in baseball, but that was incidental) using THT's RZR stats. Johnson's been just a shade below average defensively in center field; Pie has been exceptionally good defensively. You can check all of it out over at GROTA.

[sneakypower]

WAR- HUHH WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

[TruffleShuffle]

ok we can all agree that range factor is not a good defensive stat (and i was actually kinda surprised that the author of that BP piece used it) but the main point is that whether you actually watch the game or use defensive metrics, pie is vastly superior to johnson when it comes to defense. johnson shouldn't be playing unless he offers a significant advantage over pie on offense, which is only the case when a LHP is starting for the other team.

[NCCubFan]

WAR- HUHH WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

[Sammy Sofa]

STOP EATING MAH SESAME CAKE.

[ctcf]

STOP EATING MAH SESAME CAKE.

 

best line ever

[splintersag]

Johnson is good for a couple things. Mainly getting HBPs.

[Sammy Sofa]

STOP EATING MAH SESAME CAKE.

 

best line ever

 

One of the best terrible movies ever.