Fun early season numbers

[Sammy Sofa]

When did that first crop up with Pujols?

Last year, I think

 

It's been a lot longer than that. I'd guess a minimum of 4 years. It never forced him to miss any time while he was with the Cards, and I don't think it was as bad as it's been lately, but it was something that was talked about pretty regularly.

 

ETA: According to Wikipedia, he was first diagnosed in the second half of the 2004 season.

 

Wow, I completely missed that. I knew of his other health issues, but was completely blanked on that when I, like TT, was big on signing him.

[Tracer Bullet]

Guess all of us "never sign any FAs ever" guys are looking pretty smart now.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think I wanted Fielder instead.

[Tracer Bullet]

Oh wait, that group doesn't exist.

 

I wasn't big on pujols. I knew about the PF though who knew it would make him basically incapable of running so quickly. I thought his PF and other health issues were discussed during the pages of debate about whether the cubs should sign him. Maybe I'm making that up though.

[jersey cubs fan]

When did that first crop up with Pujols?

Last year, I think

 

It's been a lot longer than that. I'd guess a minimum of 4 years. It never forced him to miss any time while he was with the Cards, and I don't think it was as bad as it's been lately, but it was something that was talked about pretty regularly.

 

ETA: According to Wikipedia, he was first diagnosed in the second half of the 2004 season.

 

Wow, I completely missed that. I knew of his other health issues, but was completely blanked on that when I, like TT, was big on signing him.

 

I remember it because I used the description of his issue to self diagnose it in myself (most likely inaccurately).

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh wait, that group doesn't exist.

 

I wasn't big on pujols. I knew about the PF though who knew it would make him basically incapable of running so quickly. I thought his PF and other health issues were discussed during the pages of debate about whether the cubs should sign him. Maybe I'm making that up though.

 

It's not so much that you never want to sign FAs as much as not wanting to sign them until you retire.

[mul21]

I was definitely against signing Pujols to anything longer than a 5 year deal, which obviously wasn't realistic. His injuries were part of it, but I'll go to my grave believing he's 3-4 years older than he claims.

 

I think I was okay with Prince for 6-7 years. A bit younger, not much injury history, and I really don't think his weight is as big of an issue as many have made it out to be.

 

I'm much happier with the route they went, especially if Rizzo continues hitting the way he has been lately. It would be nice to have the Cashner bullet still in the gun, but 20/20 hindsight and all. I'm still not convinced he'll be very healthy long term.

 

PF is a pain in the ass. I have a pretty mild case of it, have no idea what makes it flare up, and it is just crippling some mornings to the point it's hard to put a normal amount of weight on my right foot.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh wait, that group doesn't exist.

 

I wasn't big on pujols. I knew about the PF though who knew it would make him basically incapable of running so quickly. I thought his PF and other health issues were discussed during the pages of debate about whether the cubs should sign him. Maybe I'm making that up though.

 

I definitely remember his other issues coming up, but I glossed over the PF if it it was discussed. I might have just assumed it wouldn't be as big an issue with a baseball player.

[sneakypower]

i'd like to know his home-to-1B time; i can't remember ever seeing a play like this actually go for an out:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=26341027&c_id=mlb

 

that coupled with the way he's pulling the ball, i'd play him in triple play defense if the situation warranted it

[Tracer Bullet]

That is not a fast man

[mul21]

long-time personal favorite of mine Carlos Gomez is leading baseball in WAR, with a .368/.417/.642 line

 

in his last 112 games, he's hitting .298/.342/.536 with a 32 HR, 53 SB pace

 

stud.

 

Just heard Buster Olney talking about him on SVP and Rusillo. He said that when Gomez broke his collar bone in 2011, he went into the manager's office and told him he wanted to play like he did in winter ball, essentially swinging really hard and trying to hit home runs to center field instead of the slappy, line drive hitter coaches had wanted him to be since he's so fast. Based on his numbers, that kind of looks like it's about a year earlier than he really turned it around but it could be it took him some time to adjust to ML pitching with his new strategy.

[Smack]

long-time personal favorite of mine Carlos Gomez is leading baseball in WAR, with a .368/.417/.642 line

 

in his last 112 games, he's hitting .298/.342/.536 with a 32 HR, 53 SB pace

 

stud.

 

Just heard Buster Olney talking about him on SVP and Rusillo. He said that when Gomez broke his collar bone in 2011, he went into the manager's office and told him he wanted to play like he did in winter ball, essentially swinging really hard and trying to hit home runs to center field instead of the slappy, line drive hitter coaches had wanted him to be since he's so fast. Based on his numbers, that kind of looks like it's about a year earlier than he really turned it around but it could be it took him some time to adjust to ML pitching with his new strategy.

 

Gomez and Jean Segura are the most exciting players to watch on the Brewers since I hate Braun. The Brewers just got Aramis back, Hart still hasn't played, and Weeks has been god awful. Obviously Gomez will cool and Betancourt has been on a ridiculous tear, but the Brewers combination of offense and crappy pitching makes their games fun to go to. #2 OPS in the NL and worst ERA, haha.

[Clem Fandango]

Former Cubs catching prospect and current Oakland Athletics 3B Josh Donaldson has a 1.2 WAR. I always thought that if we were to really regret losing anyone over the Harden trade it'd be him, but I didn't actually think he'd turn out to be anything more than a league average player. Also, I don't regret trading any of those players for Rich Harden. Rich Harden was worth it.

[ConstableRabbit]

Former Cubs catching prospect and current Oakland Athletics 3B Josh Donaldson has a 1.2 WAR. I always thought that if we were to really regret losing anyone over the Harden trade it'd be him, but I didn't actually think he'd turn out to be anything more than a league average player. Also, I don't regret trading any of those players for Rich Harden. Rich Harden was worth it.

I think we gave up Blevins in that deal too. Harden was such a beast tho.

[sneakypower]

Blevins was traded for Jason Kendall, who gave us the comp. pick to select Ryan Flaherty

 

the Harden (and Gaudin) return was Murton, E. Patterson, Gallagher and Donaldson

[Guest]

Former Cubs catching prospect and current Oakland Athletics 3B Josh Donaldson has a 1.2 WAR. I always thought that if we were to really regret losing anyone over the Harden trade it'd be him, but I didn't actually think he'd turn out to be anything more than a league average player. Also, I don't regret trading any of those players for Rich Harden. Rich Harden was worth it.

I think we gave up Blevins in that deal too. Harden was such a beast tho.

 

Jerry Blevins went in the Jason Kendall trade.

 

Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson and Matt Murton were the other players going from the Cubs to the A's in the Harden trade.

[Post Count Padder]

Blevins was traded for Jason Kendall, who gave us the comp. pick to select Ryan Flaherty

 

the Harden (and Gaudin) return was Murton, E. Patterson, Gallagher and Donaldson

Yup. I liked the Harden trade at the time, though I was sad trading our favorite ginger outfielder for him. Happy for Donaldson. Didn't think he'd do this well either.

[Clem Fandango]

Uhhh... James Loney has a slash line of .371/.426/.533/.959 this year with a 167 OPS+. He has a 1.2 WAR. His WAR through 36 games this year is 2.2 WAR higher than his WAR all of last year. His WAR last year was -1.1

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Uhhh... James Loney has a slash line of .371/.426/.533/.959 this year with a 167 OPS+. He has a 1.2 WAR. His WAR through 36 games this year is 2.2 WAR higher than his WAR all of last year. His WAR last year was -1.1

 

This is the biggest WTF of the thread so far.

[Sammy Sofa]

Meanwhile Matt Kemp is playing like his bat is made out of solidified farts.

[davell]

Uhhh... James Loney has a slash line of .371/.426/.533/.959 this year with a 167 OPS+. He has a 1.2 WAR. His WAR through 36 games this year is 2.2 WAR higher than his WAR all of last year. His WAR last year was -1.1

 

This is the biggest WTF of the thread so far.

I think I can top it. Vernon Wells(9) has as many homers as Pujols and Hamilton do combined.

[MWV]

Wells wasn't (and isn't) worth his contract, but he did average 12.8% HR/FB over the past 3 seasons (14% so far this season). Meanwhile, James Loney spent those same 3 seasons (his "prime years") sucking out loud. Both starts are surprising, but Loney and his .402 babip are more so.

[MWV]

I guess you may have been referring more to Hamilton and Pujols sucking, although that isn't terribly shocking, either.

[Cubswin11]

Vernon Wells hit his 9th HR today and has a OPS in the mid .800's

[Cubswin11]

Mariano has 15 saves this season (in 15 opportunities), the Yankees have 23 total wins.