Pujols signs with Angels pg 151

[ConstableRabbit]

Am I wrong in thinking the jump in O-Swing % is pretty heavily correlated to the nasty nasty nasty pitching dominance that has developed over the past few seasons?

This is entirely possible.

 

There have been large jumps in the past:

 

2002 18.1%

2003 22.2%

2004 16.6%

2005 20.3%

2006 23.5%

2007 25.0%

2008 25.4%

[SouthSideRyan]

What is the point of debating this if the Cubs are locking up Pena?

 

What is the point of this?

 

It was an idle thought. Sadly, it wasn't a shining moment. It was more of a mutter, or an under the breath whispering. I fear I have let myself down today. Today I will make it a point to achieve for higher standards. I will reach for the top. I will climb tall buildings. I will put up the toilet seat. Today I will strive to find this point.

 

Aren't you supposed to put down the toilet seat?

 

NOT OFF TO A GREAT START WITH THESE STANDARDS

[dew1679666265]

I guess my whole point is that I have very deep concerns that Albert Pujols is starting to decline. It's true I didn't rant about Pujols last season, but it's because I never even pondered the chance that he'd be a Cub two years from then. That said, no doubt Pujols had a great season in 2010 and I'd have been all over giving him a huge contract.

 

Watching him this season, no matter if the numbers support it or not (I know, stupid statement), it just looks like Albert is taking his first real steps toward a decline. I appreciate the thinking that even a declined Pujols is better than most, but I'm just not sure how I feel about that. I'm not convinced that he won't decline quickly. I'm not convinced that he's not going to just be a really good player when we need him to be a great one for the investment.

 

I guess we will see how he looks at the end of this season and go from there. I have a feeling that by October there will be more people like me who aren't as interested as they previously had been.

 

There's definitely merits to the old-school scouting style of evaluation. There's a lot that can be gleaned that way that can't through numbers only. However, there needs to be a balance between the two. Old school scouting can be wrong just as numbers only evaluation can be wrong. The biggest mistake people make oftentimes is ignoring one of the two.

 

The eyes can lie just like the numbers can be manipulated. It's important not to disregard one form of evaluation in favor of another.

[MSG T]

I guess my whole point is that I have very deep concerns that Albert Pujols is starting to decline. It's true I didn't rant about Pujols last season, but it's because I never even pondered the chance that he'd be a Cub two years from then. That said, no doubt Pujols had a great season in 2010 and I'd have been all over giving him a huge contract.

 

Watching him this season, no matter if the numbers support it or not (I know, stupid statement), it just looks like Albert is taking his first real steps toward a decline. I appreciate the thinking that even a declined Pujols is better than most, but I'm just not sure how I feel about that. I'm not convinced that he won't decline quickly. I'm not convinced that he's not going to just be a really good player when we need him to be a great one for the investment.

 

I guess we will see how he looks at the end of this season and go from there. I have a feeling that by October there will be more people like me who aren't as interested as they previously had been.

 

There's definitely merits to the old-school scouting style of evaluation. There's a lot that can be gleaned that way that can't through numbers only. However, there needs to be a balance between the two. Old school scouting can be wrong just as numbers only evaluation can be wrong. The biggest mistake people make oftentimes is ignoring one of the two.

 

The eyes can lie just like the numbers can be manipulated. It's important not to disregard one form of evaluation in favor of another.

 

Derek Jeter is a great defensive SS.

[dew1679666265]

I guess my whole point is that I have very deep concerns that Albert Pujols is starting to decline. It's true I didn't rant about Pujols last season, but it's because I never even pondered the chance that he'd be a Cub two years from then. That said, no doubt Pujols had a great season in 2010 and I'd have been all over giving him a huge contract.

 

Watching him this season, no matter if the numbers support it or not (I know, stupid statement), it just looks like Albert is taking his first real steps toward a decline. I appreciate the thinking that even a declined Pujols is better than most, but I'm just not sure how I feel about that. I'm not convinced that he won't decline quickly. I'm not convinced that he's not going to just be a really good player when we need him to be a great one for the investment.

 

I guess we will see how he looks at the end of this season and go from there. I have a feeling that by October there will be more people like me who aren't as interested as they previously had been.

 

There's definitely merits to the old-school scouting style of evaluation. There's a lot that can be gleaned that way that can't through numbers only. However, there needs to be a balance between the two. Old school scouting can be wrong just as numbers only evaluation can be wrong. The biggest mistake people make oftentimes is ignoring one of the two.

 

The eyes can lie just like the numbers can be manipulated. It's important not to disregard one form of evaluation in favor of another.

 

Derek Jeter is a great defensive SS.

 

Exactly.

[MSG T]

Glad you caught the intent and not thinking I actually meant it.

[dew1679666265]

Glad you caught the intent and not thinking I actually meant it.

 

I was assuming and hoping I was right. :D

[Have a seat, Neifi]

@Buster_ESPN

Buster Olney

 

Possible market for Prince: MILW, WASH, Cubs, Rangers... Dodgers only if team is sold quickly (not likely), maybe Angels (but not likely).

[UMFan83]

I dunno what I am supposed to take from that tweet. "Possible market for Prince" Is this based on any sort of info or is Buster just speculating?

[Backtobanks]

I dunno what I am supposed to take from that tweet. "Possible market for Prince" Is this based on any sort of info or is Buster just speculating?

 

Just speculating. It's the usual "Who needs a 1B and has money to spend?" Then send out a tweet making it look like some inside information or brilliant analysis. Everyone of us could have send the same tweet.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Haha yea, sorry. Pretty sure that's just Buster being Buster (i.e., pulling sh*t out of his ass).

 

I still think Toronto and Baltimore are our biggest competitors in the Fielder sweepstakes.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Haha yea, sorry. Pretty sure that's just Buster being Buster (i.e., pulling sh*t out of his ass).

 

I still think Toronto and Baltimore are our biggest competitors in the Fielder sweepstakes.

 

I still think it's the Yankees and Red Sox. He's said he'll DH, and his agent is Scott Boras. The Yanks are DHng Jorge Posada, I believe and Pappy, while he's having a great season is something like 45.

[davearm2]

Haha yea, sorry. Pretty sure that's just Buster being Buster (i.e., pulling sh*t out of his ass).

 

I still think Toronto and Baltimore are our biggest competitors in the Fielder sweepstakes.

 

I still think it's the Yankees and Red Sox. He's said he'll DH, and his agent is Scott Boras. The Yanks are DHng Jorge Posada, I believe and Pappy, while he's having a great season is something like 45.

I could envision the Yankees moving Teixeira to the OF to make room for Fielder or Pujols.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Haha yea, sorry. Pretty sure that's just Buster being Buster (i.e., pulling sh*t out of his ass).

 

I still think Toronto and Baltimore are our biggest competitors in the Fielder sweepstakes.

 

I still think it's the Yankees and Red Sox. He's said he'll DH, and his agent is Scott Boras. The Yanks are DHng Jorge Posada, I believe and Pappy, while he's having a great season is something like 45.

 

Those two probably go hand in hand.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Heres a little piece from MLBTR

 

Why Your Team Won't Sign Prince Fielder

By Tim Dierkes [August 22 at 10:14am CST]

Scott Boras isn't likely to send client Prince Fielder to play for the St. Paul Saints next year; obviously he'll wind up with one of baseball's 30 teams. Still, there are good reasons for every single team not to give Fielder the megadeal he's expected to seek.

 

•Orioles: The Orioles could probably fit in Prince's salary without raising payroll, but would a new GM jump in with a $100MM+ commitment for a team that isn't expected to compete in 2012? Is there any way they'd win the bidding on a top Boras client? Fielder is not a good long-term signing for the Orioles, who may prefer to give Chris Davis a full season at first base if he continues to avoid labrum surgery. All that said, they will probably at least be in the mix.

•Red Sox: This could only work if Fielder replaces David Ortiz as the team's full-time DH, given the presence of Adrian Gonzalez at first. The Sox clearly have bigger concerns and are highly unlikely to make Fielder the game's first $100MM DH.

•Yankees: To open up first base, the Yanks would have to trade Mark Teixeira despite his full no-trade clause. Fielder is not clearly better, so don't expect that manuever. While DH is technically possible, it's wise to leave that spot open for Alex Rodriguez, who is under contract through 2017. Plus, starting pitching will be a more immediate concern than offense.

•Rays: Something tells me they won't have Fielder taking up half their payroll.

•Blue Jays: I expect the first base and DH spots to be filled by Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion again; they'd earn a total of $8.5MM next year. However, the Lind has been disappointing and the Blue Jays could certainly afford Fielder, if you'd like to dream on it.

•White Sox: Paul Konerko is locked in through 2013; Adam Dunn through 2014. In theory Dunn could be dumped, but not for the purpose of Kenny Williams oddly cozying up to Boras for a massive Fielder contract.

•Indians: They don't have the payroll space for it, nor does signing Fielder fit with their long-term plan.

•Tigers: Miguel Cabrera will occupy first base through 2015, while DH Victor Martinez is signed through 2014.

•Royals: Their future is with Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler.

•Twins: They have to be worried about Justin Morneau and could have an open DH spot this offseason. Technically the Twins could afford Fielder without raising payroll, but they have needs all over the place and this would not be their style.

•Angels: Though he missed all of 2011, Boras client Kendrys Morales should be in the first base mix next year, as well as Mark Trumbo. Bobby Abreu is under contract for '12 as the DH. While the Angels could afford Fielder, it is tough to see Arte Moreno winning that bid. A pursuit of Aramis Ramirez to play third base is more reasonable.

•Athletics: I imagine they'd like to see Brandon Allen and Daric Barton compete for first base next year, with a cheap free agent DH signing. Fielder would be hard to fit into the payroll, and the team's outfield uncertainty will likely be a big focus.

•Mariners: The Ms would probably like to see Justin Smoak and Mike Carp in their regular lineup. I think they could afford Fielder, but I can't see them making that DH investment.

•Rangers: Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli, and Michael Young will all be back next year unless someone is traded. With a big arbitration class, the Rangers would need to raise payroll just to re-sign C.J. Wilson or sign a comparable starter, so I don't think Fielder fits in financially either.

•Braves: They're surely content with Rookie of the Year contender Freddie Freeman.

•Marlins: Gaby Sanchez has this spot locked down on the cheap.

•Mets: Even with a payroll reduction the Mets should have some money to burn, but not Fielder money while embroiled in a huge lawsuit. Ike Davis' status is uncertain, but that's not going to push the Mets to Fielder.

•Phillies: Ryan Howard is signed through 2016.

•Nationals: An $8MM Adam LaRoche is not a huge roadblock to Fielder, and Boras will certainly try to get the Nationals involved. While Mike Morse could move to left field, a big extension for Ryan Zimmerman could be preferable to Washington.

•Cubs: Boras needs to get the Cubs involved in the Fielder bidding. While the Cubs could afford him, their needs for starting pitching and perhaps a third baseman should be equally pressing. The team's new GM will have alternatives in Carlos Pena, Michael Cuddyer, and Albert Pujols.•Reds: They've got Joey Votto through 2013, plus a lack of payroll space if Brandon Phillips is retained.

•Astros: Brett Wallace and Carlos Lee have their flaws, and Jonathan Singleton is a ways off, but it'd be a radical departure for the Astros to go after Fielder.

•Brewers: Last year, Fielder reportedly turned down an offer from the Brewers that was similar to Howard's five-year, $125MM deal. Since then the Brewers locked up Ryan Braun through 2020, so they might not be able to make that offer again even if Prince is interested.

•Pirates: The Pirates could sign Fielder and still have one of the game's smallest payrolls. I don't think GM Neal Huntington has committed even $20MM total to a player in his tenure, and it'd cost that much for one year of Fielder. It just doesn't seem like his style, but if ownership decides that the team is close they do technically have the need and payroll space.

•Cardinals: It's difficult to see Fielder as anything more than a long shot Plan C for the Cards. If Pujols signs elsewhere while Fielder is still on the market, and the idea of re-signing Lance Berkman to play first base doesn't pan out either, I guess the Cardinals could look into Fielder.

•Diamondbacks: I think they could afford him, but they have Paul Goldschmidt as their future.

•Rockies: They don't have the money for it, and Todd Helton is under contract through 2013.

•Dodgers: They'll have an opening, but payroll flexibility is the question. Attendance and payroll will be down, and without a new owner in place by year's end the Dodgers won't be able to bid for Fielder.

•Padres: Anthony Rizzo struggled as a rookie, but Jed Hoyer isn't jumping into the Fielder bidding.

•Giants: Aubrey Huff is only under contract through 2012, but signing Fielder would make Brandon Belt a permanent outfielder. Maybe that could work, but payroll flexibility will be very limited. The focus may be on signing Tim Lincecum and finding a shortstop and an outfielder or two.

 

Carlos Pena and Michael Cuddyer are by no means alternatives to Fielder or Pujols. Again, with all the money the Cubs have coming off the books between '12-'14, theres no reason why we can't land Fielder or Pujols, CJ Wilson, 1 of the big name starters who will be FAs in '13(Hamels, Danks, Cain, Marcum, Greinke) and someone like Kemp or Ethier in that time span, especially with some somewhat backloaded contracts.

[bukie]

Go all in, sign both, play one in LF, hilarity ensues.

[CyHawk_Cub]

Go all in, sign both, play one in LF, hilarity ensues.

 

Nah, I still say sign both & have the most expensive platoon ever.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Didn't the Cards give Fielder a few reps at 3rd this year?

[Sammy Sofa]

Didn't the Cards give Fielder a few reps at 3rd this year?

 

That would have been pretty damn impressive. Amazing relationship between those two teams.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Pujols rather.

[Clem Fandango]

Pujols rather.

 

Yes. I believe at least 5 times this year

[MSG T]

Ooo.

 

1B - Fielder

2B - LeMahieu

SS- Castro

3B - Pujols

RF - Byrd

CF - Jackson

LF - Does it really matter? Hell, DeWitt, Flaherty, Campana, Baker, Montanez, some bum walking down Clark. Someone needs to hit 8th

C - Soto/Castillo

 

I'd take that. Won't happen, but Fielder/Pujols hitting 3/4 would be worth the price of admission, all $96 for an upper deck ticket.

[Formerly Snayke]

From Jonah Keri's footnote at Grantland today:

 

Pujols has been the subject of age discrepancy allegations his entire career, for reasons ranging from his size in high school to his amazing performance immediately upon entering the big leagues. Before the Baseball Analytics panel at this year's MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, six of us were asked to write down on a piece of paper how old we thought Pujols was, as a secret ballot exercise. The group included two front-office types, a scout, a baseball technology guru, Rob Neyer, and myself. I was the only one who guessed that Pujols was the age he says he is.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wouldn't a team be able to get out of a contract if it was revealed a player was, say, 3 years older than they claimed to be when they signed the deal? I think with Soriano the teams involved claimed they knew what was up, but how would that work if Pujols turned out to be 35 instead of 32 and the Cubs claimed they were duped? Edited August 22, 2011 by Sammy Sofa

[imb]

if pujols turned out to be a year younger, they'd probably be like "awesome"