Moving forward- very early look at 2013

[Backtobanks]

I've read the discussion about Stewart's bad luck, but he seems to be all he's ever going to be at 3B.

 

Probably shouldn't start this debate again, but why do you think this? Are you arguing his BABIP won't improve, that his numbers won't get better even after his BABIP adjusts up, or that he'll quit hitting the ball hard as his BABIP rises?

 

I can understand not believing there will be a huge spike in his numbers when his BABIP adjusts, but to say that he "is what he is" right now seems to ignore the strong likelihood of a strong improvement in his numbers correlating with a natural BABIP adjustment.

 

He's in a "hot streak" now and his numbers for the last month are pretty good, but I don't think he's going to be more than "adequate" as a long-term 3B. If you take statistics a month at a time, there are months where Soriano still looks like a superstar. Stewart will do for now, but I think he's a place holder for Vitters/Lake/Baez/????.

[dew1679666265]

He's in a "hot streak" now and his numbers for the last month are pretty good, but I don't think he's going to be more than "adequate" as a long-term 3B. If you take statistics a month at a time, there are months where Soriano still looks like a superstar. Stewart will do for now, but I think he's a place holder for Vitters/Lake/Baez/????.

 

It's not just a momentary thing, though - he's been hitting the ball hard and hitting a lot of line drives all season, and his BABIP has been abnormally low all season. This hot streak has been his numbers evening out a bit.

 

That said, I agree with your latter point that Stewart is likely no more than a stopgap - which is actually all I've ever seen argued on here. But the reason I questioned your post is because the insinuation seemed to be that Stewart was always going to have poor offensive numbers, and I think the stronger than normal peripherals this season have given room for optimism that he can be more than he currently is.

[Guest]

Stewart > Vitters

[Backtobanks]

Stewart > Vitters

 

Obviously since Stewart is in the majors and Vitters is in the minors. Stewart is not a decent choice for a 3B on a contending team. He's okay as long as the Cubs suck, but he needs to be replaced when the Cubs become contenders.

[Sammy Sofa]

We actually don't know that for sure yet.

[fromthestretch]

 

Stewart is not a decent choice for a 3B on a contending team.

 

Casey McGehee and the 2011 Brewers say hi.

[sneakypower]

Stewart > Vitters

talk about damning with faint praise...

[Guest]

Contending teams have luminaries like Scott Rolen(.542 OPS), Juan Uribe(.640), Joaquin Arias(.594), Alberto Callaspo(.597), Brent Morel(.420), or Wilson Betemit(.685) holding down 3B. High bar.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Contending teams have luminaries like Scott Rolen(.542 OPS), Juan Uribe(.640), Joaquin Arias(.594), Alberto Callaspo(.597), Brent Morel(.420), or Wilson Betemit(.685) holding down 3B. High bar.

 

Rolen and Uribe are champion players though.

[Guest]

Stewart > Vitters

 

Obviously since Stewart is in the majors and Vitters is in the minors. Stewart is not a decent choice for a 3B on a contending team. He's okay as long as the Cubs suck, but he needs to be replaced when the Cubs become contenders.

 

You need to stop saying nonsense like this if you want any of your points taken seriously.

 

Even WSR is mocking you.

[Backtobanks]

Contending teams can afford one (or 2) weak player(s) in their lineup because they have very good hitters in the rest of the lineup. That's when a defensive specialist (usually SS or CF) comes into play. 1B, 3B, LF, and RF are considered offensive positions unless you have an offensive force (like Sandberg) at a "non-offensive" position to make up for it.

[javy knows my name]

Contending teams can afford one (or 2) weak player(s) in their lineup because they have very good hitters in the rest of the lineup. That's when a defensive specialist (usually SS or CF) comes into play. 1B, 3B, LF, and RF are considered offensive positions unless you have an offensive force (like Sandberg) at a "non-offensive" position to make up for it.

 

You very obviously missed this post then:

 

Contending teams have luminaries like Scott Rolen(.542 OPS), Juan Uribe(.640), Joaquin Arias(.594), Alberto Callaspo(.597), Brent Morel(.420), or Wilson Betemit(.685) holding down 3B. High bar.

[Guest]

B2B, the MLB average for 3B OPS is .725. Starting today for the remainder of the season, which side of average do you think Stewart will land?

[Vanilla Ice]

Current league OPS's:

 

RF-.769

1B-.758

LF-.757

CF-.756

3B-.728

C-.719

2B-.699

SS-.675

OPS by all positions-.721

 

Third basemen are currently hitting for the 5th best OPS of the 8 fielders. Not a one-year blip either. In 2011, they hit for the 6th best OPS.

 

Ian Stewart Career OPS-.737

Ian Stewart Career Road OPS-.731

 

Throw in average to above average defense and you should start to see that Ian Stewart can certainly be the starting third basemen for a contender.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Stewart > Vitters

 

Obviously since Stewart is in the majors and Vitters is in the minors. Stewart is not a decent choice for a 3B on a contending team. He's okay as long as the Cubs suck, but he needs to be replaced when the Cubs become contenders.

 

You need to stop saying nonsense like this if you want any of your points taken seriously.

 

Even WSR is mocking you.

 

More mocking Jon Morosi.

[SouthSideRyan]

Current league OPS's:

 

RF-.769

1B-.758

LF-.757

CF-.756

3B-.728

C-.719

2B-.699

SS-.675

OPS by all positions-.721

 

Third basemen are currently hitting for the 5th best OPS of the 8 fielders. Not a one-year blip either. In 2011, they hit for the 6th best OPS.

 

Ian Stewart Career OPS-.737

Ian Stewart Career Road OPS-.731

 

Throw in average to above average defense and you should start to see that Ian Stewart can certainly be the starting third basemen for a contender.

 

Back2Hendry is of course hilariously wrong, but using Stewart's career #s doesn't show anything.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Current league OPS's:

 

RF-.769

1B-.758

LF-.757

CF-.756

3B-.728

C-.719

2B-.699

SS-.675

OPS by all positions-.721

 

Third basemen are currently hitting for the 5th best OPS of the 8 fielders. Not a one-year blip either. In 2011, they hit for the 6th best OPS.

 

 

Ian Stewart Career OPS-.737

Ian Stewart Career Road OPS-.731

 

Throw in average to above average defense and you should start to see that Ian Stewart can certainly be the starting third basemen for a contender.

 

Back2Hendry is of course hilariously wrong, but using Stewart's career #s doesn't show anything.

 

Cubs are above average at RF, LF, 1B, SS, and 2B. So how the [expletive] has our offense been so bad?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Cubs are above average at RF, LF, 1B, SS, and 2B. So how the [expletive] has our offense been so bad?

 

I showed it earlier in the thread:

 

It's really, really awful in CF and C, we've had some negative variance in clutch situations, and we've employed some truly awful bench players.

[Backtobanks]

Current league OPS's:

 

RF-.769

1B-.758

LF-.757

CF-.756

3B-.728

C-.719

2B-.699

SS-.675

OPS by all positions-.721

 

Third basemen are currently hitting for the 5th best OPS of the 8 fielders. Not a one-year blip either. In 2011, they hit for the 6th best OPS.

 

 

Ian Stewart Career OPS-.737

Ian Stewart Career Road OPS-.731

 

Throw in average to above average defense and you should start to see that Ian Stewart can certainly be the starting third basemen for a contender.

 

Back2Hendry is of course hilariously wrong, but using Stewart's career #s doesn't show anything.

 

Cubs are above average at RF, LF, 1B, SS, and 2B. So how the [expletive] has our offense been so bad?

 

Some posters look for statistics to prove their point and don't open their eyes to what they see on the field.

[weis21]

What does that even mean?

 

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

[Clem Fandango]

He watches the games, maaaaaaaaan

[Guest]

Current league OPS's:

 

RF-.769

1B-.758

LF-.757

CF-.756

3B-.728

C-.719

2B-.699

SS-.675

OPS by all positions-.721

 

Are those for starters/everyday players at the position or for all players?

[Guest]

Some posters look for statistics to prove their point and don't open their eyes to what they see on the field.

 

Oh, for Christ's sake.

 

You're hopeless.

[bukie]

Some posters look for statistics to prove their point and don't open their eyes to what they see on the field.

 

Oh, for Christ's sake.

 

You're hopeless.

That's another way of saying "I have no valid argument."

[Vanilla Ice]

Back2Hendry is of course hilariously wrong, but using Stewart's career #s doesn't show anything.

Fair enough, but most projections still show him as around average.

 

Ian Stewart ZIPS OPS-.701

Marcel OPS (preseason)-.727

Steamer OPS (preseason)-.744

Bill James OPS (preseason)-.758