Transmogrified Tiger

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Even if you set aside the Walker/Soriano comparison, there's no reason for Washington to do this deal. They're basically forced to trade Soriano because they already have a second baseman, and acquiring Walker, who can't play anywhere else but first, doesn't make any sense.

Entirely untrue, especially the part about the NL OF. Jones was 5th in NL OF's and OPS, and the large OBP differential between him and the players immediately below him(Edmonds, Giles, Burrell, Jenkins, Abreu) makes it even worse for Andruw. Soriano's OPS last year barely puts him in the top 15 of NL OF's, worse if you consider players with 400 PA's or more. His best season ever barely puts him in the top 10, and outside it if 400 PA guys are included.

Back to back! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v464/Cappeeler187killa/Amaker-radio-movie.jpg

It's not like Wilkerson can't slug. He may not hit as many homers as Soriano, but his combination of OBP and power make him a more complete, and better, hitter. As far as the lineup is concerned, a better idea is to get the best players available at each position and then worry about where to hit them. Trying to find prototypical hitters is a bad strategy. Exactly. Also, Wilkerson's moving to the top of the order because Texas has some mashers in that lineup. There's no Teixeira in Washington.

details plz

You think Wilkerson will out perform Soriano offensively? I think a move to the outfield will only improve Soriano's defensive numbers. 2B is too important for a player with his defensive deficiencies. However, Wilkerson would still probably out perform him defensively. Three-year OPS plus. Wilkerson 2003: 104 2004: 128 2005: 105 Soriano 2003: 131 2004: 98 2005: 110 It's possible that Wilkerson could outproduce him. Wilkerson played last year with a lingering injury. If he's healthy, he could produce an OPS+ of 110-120. That would be the range I'd expect of Soriano. I see the numbers but I still don't think he will do it. Wilkerson being ticketed for the top of the lineup doesn't help his case either. Soriano will strike out more but he's also a safer bet to have 30 homers and 100 RBI. A player's lineup spot doesn't do anything for his value if he puts up the production, and there's no reason to expect Wilkerson's numbers to drop at the top of the order. Also, 30 HR and 100 RBI are arbitrary and ultimately inaccurate measures of a hitter. Wilkerson is more likely to have a good combination of OBP and power, therefore, he's more likely to be the better hitter.

You think Wilkerson will out perform Soriano offensively? I think a move to the outfield will only improve Soriano's defensive numbers. 2B is too important for a player with his defensive deficiencies. However, Wilkerson would still probably out perform him defensively. I think it's pretty likely Wilkerson outperforms Soriano, especially given that they just swapped ballparks on opposite ends of the spectrum. I'm talking about offensive ability. I do agree that Soriano's power numbers will likely be affected in his new home park (that is if he takes the field or isn't traded). My point is, Soriano is a much more productive offensive player than Wilkerson. And that's not really true. Soriano slugs, but can't get on base very much. Wilkerson is going to get on base at a good clip, and if his (shoulder?) injury is behind him he will likely slug very well too(moving from RFK to Arlington can only help that).

You think Wilkerson will out perform Soriano offensively? I think a move to the outfield will only improve Soriano's defensive numbers. 2B is too important for a player with his defensive deficiencies. However, Wilkerson would still probably out perform him defensively. Three-year OPS plus. Wilkerson 2003: 104 2004: 128 2005: 105 Soriano 2003: 131 2004: 98 2005: 110 It's possible that Wilkerson could outproduce him. Wilkerson played last year with a lingering injury. If he's healthy, he could produce an OPS+ of 110-120. That would be the range I'd expect of Soriano. Also worth considering, OBP ranks higher than SLG in importance, and Wilkerson blows Soriano out of the water in that category.

You think Wilkerson will out perform Soriano offensively? I think a move to the outfield will only improve Soriano's defensive numbers. 2B is too important for a player with his defensive deficiencies. However, Wilkerson would still probably out perform him defensively. I think it's pretty likely Wilkerson outperforms Soriano, especially given that they just swapped ballparks on opposite ends of the spectrum.

I don't really think it's Murton people are questioning. I would probably be considered someone that questions Murton. I don't think he has the XBH ability to be a good corner OF.

what happened? He hit a home run, then popped out twice. And then an RBI double? The original comment was made before the game ehen he was in the #2 spot. Did he double since then? I haven't been back to the game thread. I read the comment then went to see what he did, the timing was a little off I guess.

what happened? He hit a home run, then popped out twice.

Someone berate Neifi for swinging for the fences plz

The math isn't 100% accurate, but pretty close and as close as we can figure when comparing the two. The point of all of this is to illustrate the importance of defense and the fact that these two players are pretty close to each other in value while the general opinion of fans would lead one to believe Walker is much better. No, it's not close at all. There's way too much variance to even consider that an apt comparison. Neifi is an above average defender, Walker ranges from slightly below average to below average, depending on the year. Walker is a good hitter, especially for a second baseman. Neifi is an awful hitter, no matter what the position. His defense doesn't bridge the gap for his offensive deficiencies, not by a long shot.

Theoretically, if Neifi keeps the other team off the bases one more time a game, and Walker gets on base one more time a game than Neifi...wouldn't it be a net wash between the two of them? With a possible edge to Neifi as the extra out would save our staff pitches which historically seems to be an issue with us. (Note, I'm not advocating Neifi...just speaking hypotheticals here) The original math is faulty. You can't just multiply for a full season and compare, because the numbers were compiled under different circumstances. Common sense dictates that there are only so many balls the second baseman gets each game, and the number that Neifi can get to more than Walker is less than one full chance per game.

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position.

The numbers only prove that you're wrong with respect to Wuertz's ability in 2005 to induce swings at pitches that crossed the plate outside of the zone. They do not however necessarily say anything about whether he's hurt more of less than others by control issues. Because, if you think about, getting hitters to swing at pitches outside the zone requires that you're able to trick them into thinking that the pitch will cross the plate inside the zone. Therefore, even a slider that drops out of the strike zone (and would, if taken, be a ball) can be representative of good control. So, statistically, it's extremely difficult to say whether or not Wuertz is more or less dependent upon other pitchers upon good control. Theoretically, at least, the better your stuff the harder it is to hit, regardless of where you locate it. Theoretically. And Wuertz's stuff is pretty good. Nay, extremely good. Anyway, this conversation is pretty irrelevant, because I think it's entirely clear that if Wuertz wants to succeed, he has to throw strikes, or at least pitches that hitters think are strikes. Limiting the number of walks he allows, if he can maintain the rest of his game, will undisputedly make him just flat out nasty. But there's something to be said for the observation that because Wuertz relies on hitters chasing sliders out of the strike zone to rack up his dominating strikeout numbers, and so throws sliders out the strike zone, pitches that would be balls were they not swing at, he's more likely than most to walk hitters, especially if they're patient. It would seem to make sense then that Wuertz would be able to be effective as a closer using the same logic that some have used with Dempster. Batters are less patient when save situations come about, are more likely to chase pitches, which plays into the strengths of Wuertz(and Dempster for that matter). Continuing to think out loud, if Wuertz shows some ability to not walk people and continue the great K rate, along with the Cubs falling out of the race, what would Dempster bring at the deadline(assuming he hasn't fallen off the face of the earth)?

Texas is up 14 with under 10 mins left, OSU is down 8 with under 4 left, why am I getting the Texas game? EDIT: Thank you CBS

This Nova-Arizona matchup looks like it could be a fun game to watch.

I don't think so. Wuertz's success is based on his control, as he constantly attacks the edges of the zone. It's not based on overpowering stuff. I'd expect him to start off ST like this until he fine tunes his control. I'd be more worried if he isn't sharper at the end of ST. Actually, Wuertz has pretty good stuff, especially his slider. Someone posted some interesting data about contact that Wuertz gets a tremendous amount of swings and misses.

Wuertz has looked bad. It's making the Howry signing look even better. Last year, had Wuertz performed like that, I would have been worried. Now, with Dempster closing and Howry, Eyre, Williamson, and Ohman ahead of Wuertz in the pen, his role is not nearly as important. If no one gets hurt, this should be a pretty good pen, especially when compared to last year. That's a big IF though. And if they pitch well, that's an important if too.

NW St made a run, but it doesn't look like it's going to be enough.

George Mason starts the second half with an 8-0 run to lead UNC by 1.

Blue I-Cubs Tee Road to the Show Tee(personal favorite)