Bruce's article on Theriot

[Laura]

Bruce Miles / The Daily Herald[/url]"]

Theriot won the starting shortstop job early last season but finished with an OBP of .326 and a slugging percentage of .346 for an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of only .672. Entering Tuesday, Theriot's OPS was a nice .828.

 

"Hopefully we'll be talking about this in four months, and it will be the same scenario," he said.

 

Theriot made some changes to his swing over the winter and came to spring training in good shape, proving that perhaps you can work and "grit" your way to better numbers.

 

Ha, nice!

 

I hope Chris Berman doesn't stumble across that mumbo-jumbo about OPS; his brain might explode.

[bukie]

Et tu, Bruce?

[Roast]

Well if the change in his swing really has helped him become good at playing baseball, then AWESOME.

 

I still don't trust him to keep up these numbers through the end of the season. I hope I'm wrong.

[Moises a loo]

I think he just stays more focused when he knows his playing time is in jeopardy. Thank you, Ronnie.

[Bruce Miles]

Et tu, Bruce?

 

Irony, folks. And a little bit of fun.

[Sammy Sofa]

I enjoy fun.

 

Nice.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Personally, I hope Theriot keeps it up. Rationally, I know it isn't likely. I'm aware of his faults, but he is one of my favorite players right now. If he struggles, I will be all for replacing him. But as of right now, I hope he keeps this going all season.

 

I know...the liklihood of that isn't great, but I'm enjoying this while I can.

[Jon]

2006 (134 ABs) - .328/.412/.522, 26.6% LD, .363 BABIP, .1069 BB per PA

2007 (537 ABs) - .266/.326/.346, 21.0% LD, .287 BABIP, .0821 BB per PA

2008 (169 ABs) - .325/.401/.408, 24.5% LD, .355 BABIP, .1088 BB per PA

 

There sure are a lot of similarities between his 2008 and 2006 numbers aside from the power. If his walk rate and LD% starts to drop, so will his value.

[jersey cubs fan]

He had a hot bat for a 1.5 months, but has started to slow the past week or so. Hopefully he either keeps it up a bit longer or Lou is quick to recognize when his production declines.

[gerby23]

He had a hot bat for a 1.5 months, but has started to slow the past week or so. Hopefully he either keeps it up a bit longer or Lou is quick to recognize when his production declines.

 

Just to play Devil's Advocate, but a lot of the Cubs cooled off with the bat the past couple of weeks. Lee & Fukodome come readily to mind.

[bukie]

Et tu, Bruce?

 

Irony, folks. And a little bit of fun.

 

Yeah, yeah, I know. I just never thought I'd get a better time to use that one.

[PrimeTime]

When he was doing good he was actually pulling the ball for once..But now he's back to trying to hit everything into RF..The guy is just to predictable

[chuckywang]

I'm more surprised Theriot knows what OPS is.

[jersey cubs fan]

He had a hot bat for a 1.5 months, but has started to slow the past week or so. Hopefully he either keeps it up a bit longer or Lou is quick to recognize when his production declines.

 

Just to play Devil's Advocate, but a lot of the Cubs cooled off with the bat the past couple of weeks. Lee & Fukodome come readily to mind.

 

Not sure how that's Devil's Advocate, but yes, Lee, Theriot and Fukudome have cooled off. Soriano, Soto, DeRosa and Ramirez got hot though.

 

I think we have a fairly good idea how all those guys are going to end the year, however, with the possible exception of Soto.

[javy knows my name]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

[VanceJergins]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

[javy knows my name]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

[chopsx9]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

 

I'm pretty sure it's Latin and he is referencing Julius Ceasar's remark to his best friend Brutus as Brutus literally and figureatively stabs him in the back. So I assume he is sacrcastically suggesting that Bruce has defected to the Dark Side so to speak.

 

Shakespeare, Star Wars...now if I could only work Elvis in there somewhere all would be good.

[bukie]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

It's parodying a famous line from Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute?", meaning "You too, Brutus?", just prior to being stabbed in the back by someone he considered a friend.

 

I used it because Bruce mentioned Theriot was gritting his way into being good. And to try to be funny and stuff. Which apparently failed miserably, as people either didn't get the reference or thought I was serious.

[javy knows my name]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

It's parodying a famous line from Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute?", meaning "You too, Brutus?", just prior to being stabbed in the back by someone he considered a friend.

 

I used it because Bruce mentioned Theriot was gritting his way into being good. And to try to be funny and stuff. Which apparently failed miserably, as people either didn't get the reference or thought I was serious.

Got it! That's actually quite clever. I immediately saw French and took it literally. FWIW the latin meaning is slightly different from the French which confused me further still.

[Bruce Miles]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

It's parodying a famous line from Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute?", meaning "You too, Brutus?", just prior to being stabbed in the back by someone he considered a friend.

 

I used it because Bruce mentioned Theriot was gritting his way into being good. And to try to be funny and stuff. Which apparently failed miserably, as people either didn't get the reference or thought I was serious.

 

The original line was well played by bukie. Clever, too.

 

My faith in stats is unshakable. But I also believe guys like Theriot, if they recognize things about their game that need improving and work to improve them, can do so and defy the projections.

 

It's a fun discussion. People who dismiss the stats say it's a "human" game. Of course it is. And the stats measure and project what real humans do. I've talked to Ryan a lot about this stuff, starting in spring training. He recognizes that he and I need to be talking about a high OBP and OPS in September for him to have achieved what he set out to achieve.

[javy knows my name]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

It's parodying a famous line from Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute?", meaning "You too, Brutus?", just prior to being stabbed in the back by someone he considered a friend.

 

I used it because Bruce mentioned Theriot was gritting his way into being good. And to try to be funny and stuff. Which apparently failed miserably, as people either didn't get the reference or thought I was serious.

 

The original line was well played by bukie. Clever, too.

 

My faith in stats is unshakable. But I also believe guys like Theriot, if they recognize things about their game that need improving and work to improve them, can do so and defy the projections.

 

It's a fun discussion. People who dismiss the stats say it's a "human" game. Of course it is. And the stats measure and project what real humans do. I've talked to Ryan a lot about this stuff, starting in spring training. He recognizes that he and I need to be talking about a high OBP and OPS in September for him to have achieved what he set out to achieve.

Very cool. And what do you think about him getting consistent playing time over Cedeno?

[Bruce Miles]

Et tu, Bruce?

Sorry for my ignorance, but are you saying something like "not you, Bruce," here? Or are you just asking his take?

 

I think its "and you"

Well I know what it means in French, I was just wondering what he meant by it

It's parodying a famous line from Julius Caesar, "Et tu, Brute?", meaning "You too, Brutus?", just prior to being stabbed in the back by someone he considered a friend.

 

I used it because Bruce mentioned Theriot was gritting his way into being good. And to try to be funny and stuff. Which apparently failed miserably, as people either didn't get the reference or thought I was serious.

 

The original line was well played by bukie. Clever, too.

 

My faith in stats is unshakable. But I also believe guys like Theriot, if they recognize things about their game that need improving and work to improve them, can do so and defy the projections.

 

It's a fun discussion. People who dismiss the stats say it's a "human" game. Of course it is. And the stats measure and project what real humans do. I've talked to Ryan a lot about this stuff, starting in spring training. He recognizes that he and I need to be talking about a high OBP and OPS in September for him to have achieved what he set out to achieve.

Very cool. And what do you think about him getting consistent playing time over Cedeno?

 

At this point, I see no problem with it. IIRC, Fontenot's numbers projected pretty well, and there was little clamor for him. If the numbers indeed go down for Theriot, then Cedeno should be the one getting more time.

[Jon]

I'm not a big believer in players thinking in terms of stats. I think over the long term you can measure success in a player's adjustments in stats, but it's not going to do a player a whole lot of good to be thinking about his numbers every day. They have to worry about the fundamental and philosophical adjustments all the time and it would seem that a focus on stats can do more harm then good. They have to be aware of progress they're making that doesn't produce immediate results in a measurable way. They also have to stay away from "bad" stats. If a player focuses primarily on their batting average and strives with being a Juan Pierre-type player who leads the team in hits, they're going to overlook a lot.

 

Now, he should be concerned with his stolen base percentage, but that is mostly up to the coaches to work with him on when to run and when not to.

[Bruce Miles]

I'm not a big believer in players thinking in terms of stats. I think over the long term you can measure success in a player's adjustments in stats, but it's not going to do a player a whole lot of good to be thinking about his numbers every day. They have to worry about the fundamental and philosophical adjustments all the time and it would seem that a focus on stats can do more harm then good. They have to be aware of progress they're making that doesn't produce immediate results in a measurable way. They also have to stay away from "bad" stats. If a player focuses primarily on their batting average and strives with being a Juan Pierre-type player who leads the team in hits, they're going to overlook a lot.

 

Now, he should be concerned with his stolen base percentage, but that is mostly up to the coaches to work with him on when to run and when not to.

 

I don't think Theriot is worried about stats per se. As he told me, he's worried about trying to get on base more and contribute to the team winning. He seems to recognize and understand his limitations. It'll be up to the manager to know when to give Theriot the proper time off and to recognize when and if those limitations begin to cut into the player's effectiveness.