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Assorted Bullet Points

Some stuff to think about on a day with nothing to think about:

  • Not that I'm going to provide constant updates, but because there's not much else to say at the moment, the BBTF HoF ballot tracker has been updated, and Edgar's at 46.6% (34) of 73. I think it's going to happen. I think it's going to happen you guys. It might take as long as the Bavasi Era did, but, again, this is a fine first showing. For the record I will choose to ignore every other name on the ballot because I don't give a shit about any of them.

  • Remember Aroldis Chapman? You can forget about him now, because he's not coming here. (Edit: to Seattle, I mean)

  • Two weeks ago, Matthew posted a poll asking for the identity of your least favorite Mariner. 2828 votes later - much to the chagrin of Ryan Divish - Rob Johnson is the popular pick, drawing more votes than #2 (Jose Lopez) and #3 (Bill Hall) combined. Turns out stat-friendly fans don't take kindly to a player who can't hit or pitch or play defense. We don't know for sure, of course, if Johnson's really as bad as his numbers, but I'm already sick of the Great CERA Watch Of 2010, and it hasn't even been posted yet. Hypothesis: it's not that Rob Johnson's style is good, but rather that Kenji Johjima's style was unusual, and Johnson's not really much better than any other white guy.

    You Johnson fans out there are going to love this attempt to project the value of blocking balls. Guess who sucks!

  • It is interesting to see that Lopez came in second. I mean, I get it. He hacks. He never draws a walk. His defense isn't great. He occasionally conveys a sense of carelessness. He should be better than he is. Overall, he's a frustrating player. But then, Adrian Beltre's a frustrating player, too, and most everyone here loved the guy. I'm not going to criticize anyone's likes or dislikes, since I loved Ben Broussard and didn't really care for Raul Ibanez - these things are irrational. I just hope that people are able to keep separate who they like and who they understand to contribute value. You can continue to dislike Jose Lopez as much as you want. Just please keep in mind that he's an ~average player making little money.

    Along the same lines, I've seen it argued in several places that Jack Zduriencik would like to trade Lopez because Lopez "isn't Jack's kind of player." Now, the two points here are probably true. I imagine Z would like to trade Lopez, and Lopez isn't Z's kind of player. But there's no causal relationship. They're separate statements. While I'm sure Z would prefer a second baseman with better range and a greater idea of the strike zone, that's not reason enough to deal Lopez; he'll only sell him if he can get value back, because whether he likes Lopez's approach or not, Z is aware of his contributions. Style can be important, but overall value - that's the trump card.

  • The most amazing thing I've seen in a long long time:

    Riveraeraplus_medium 

  • Late update: been meaning to mention this again, but for anyone who didn't already know, LL's on Twitter. Been on for a while. Love it. And though everyone on the planet's been through an anti-Twitter phase all his or her own, at this point, if you fancy yourself a serious baseball fan, it's required reading.

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Comments

Display:

Other teams simply appear far more interested

and Chapman’s not going to choose Seattle over somewhere more comfortable.

by Jeff Sullivan on Jan 2, 2010 5:36 PM PST up reply actions  

Ah

I interpreted “here” as Major League Baseball

by CKel on Jan 2, 2010 5:38 PM PST up reply actions  

Apparently we think alike.

I immediately searched the web to find which country he was intending to go play in.

by MT Olson on Jan 2, 2010 5:57 PM PST up reply actions  

"Overall, he's a frustrating player. But then, Adrian Beltre's a frustrating player, too, and most everyone here loved the guy."

This is exactly why I was confused about Lopez getting so many votes too.

My Mariners blog - SodoMojo, Twitter Feed, Fuck the fucking Angels!

by gregrabble on Jan 2, 2010 5:37 PM PST reply actions  

Dislike doesn't have to be rational.

Also, Beltre is the best at something while Lopez derives his value from being ok at a lot of things. It’s never that exciting to watch Lopez be average all over the field but Beltre’s defense is a constant joy.

by abender20 on Jan 2, 2010 5:50 PM PST up reply actions  

Cup, No Cup

See, Adrian would take one in the sack for the team, where Lopez hopes Ichiro can get to the infield to catch the pop-up that barely left the infield:-)

Just kidding! I think it’s because Lopez always has that stoned look to his face like Sam Perkins.

Have you seen my baseball?

by Scotch On The Rocks on Jan 2, 2010 5:51 PM PST up reply actions  

Big Smooth!

I’m a Nuggets fan and even I loved Perkins.

The artist formerly known as Nuggets4.

by JLucas4092 on Jan 2, 2010 6:15 PM PST up reply actions  

Jeff, you should make this bold!

“You can continue to dislike Jose Lopez as much as you want. Just please keep in mind that he’s an ~average player making little money.”

Have you seen my baseball?

by Scotch On The Rocks on Jan 2, 2010 6:12 PM PST reply actions  

Yeah we get it, Dan Quisenberry was good

Stop forcing this down our throats.

by Dewey N on Jan 2, 2010 6:26 PM PST reply actions   3 recs

C'mon!

he was also a poet!

by msb on Jan 2, 2010 8:01 PM PST up reply actions  

Regarding Twitter

Just got onto the twitter scene in order to get to all these juicy MLB rumors a fraction of a second faster. If anyone knows some good people to follow, I would much appreciate your input. Already following most of the local forces (Dave, Jason, LL, etc.)

by MarinerManMatt on Jan 2, 2010 6:59 PM PST reply actions  

@gregrabble

My Mariners blog - SodoMojo, Twitter Feed, Fuck the fucking Angels!

by gregrabble on Jan 2, 2010 8:13 PM PST up reply actions  

As for Lopez

Did anyone say they dislike him because he sucks? I dislike Lopez, but that’s more because I like the rest of the team. I would never argue he sucks, but I thought disliking and sucking were separate.

It’s funny though that a few people want to trade him, what seems like for anything, so that we can sign Orlando Hudson. I get that the skill sets are different, but they’re probably in for ~2-2.5 WAR seasons. Averegish.

by 200tang on Jan 2, 2010 7:12 PM PST reply actions  

I would bet that anyone advocating a Lopez trade is doing so because Hudson is available.

Not because they prefer Hudson to Lopez, but that they prefer Hudson + hopefully something neat for Lopez to just Lopez.

If you can get assets and replace his production for relatively cheap, why not do it?

(Sorry, sb)

by abender20 on Jan 2, 2010 7:23 PM PST up reply actions  

The only problem with that

is that the FA isn’t exclusive to just the Mariners. You’d be selling Lopez in a market where you won’t get full value (assuming that whoever he’s dealt to isn’t blind/dumb).

by 200tang on Jan 2, 2010 9:14 PM PST up reply actions  

I would expect the FO to operate like that as well; I'm simply talking about some comments I've seen on various sites :)

The point I’m trying to make is that I really don’t see a clear upgrade from Lopez > Hudson, like I think some people do. Possibly half a win?

A lot of fans seem to have vastly different views of Lopez. Either you think he’s the ‘big bat’ because of his HR total or you think he’s not that good because he’s not JackZ’s player. Kind of funny how M’s fans seem divided on a player who’s basically the definition of ‘average’.

by 200tang on Jan 2, 2010 9:20 PM PST up reply actions  

For what it's worth

Hudson is a much better fit for the park and the lineup

by Poochie on Jan 2, 2010 9:24 PM PST up reply actions  

Again I assume people are not really thinking of it as

Hudson > Lopez but rather Hudson+Liriano > Lopez+, oh I dunno, 12M/2yr or whatever Hudson could sign for.

Then you’re getting the one win or so upgrade at second plus something like a win upgrade in the rotation with a good chance at even more, and the cost is the difference in the two contracts.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 2, 2010 11:39 PM PST up reply actions  

Money

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 3, 2010 7:06 AM PST up reply actions  

And Lopez looks like a good match

For Target Field — the LF dimensions are smaller than the Metrodome, and the Metrodome was already more of hitter’s park than Safeco, especially to LF. Of course that could help Hudson, too, but then you come back to the money issue.

(Of course Target Field’s park factor will be more than just its dimensions — on the one hand you’ll have higher temps in mid-summer than you get in the Metrodome; on the other hand, you’ll have higher humidity too. And then you have the potential for cold at the beginning and end of the season, too)

by wandergeist on Jan 4, 2010 2:05 PM PST up reply actions  

Twitter

Wow, you got a lot of baseball writers following you, but most impressively you have the Ottawa Senators, RR-S and Nick Swisher(?).

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 2, 2010 7:14 PM PST reply actions  

Huh ok

but Swisher?

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 2, 2010 10:57 PM PST up reply actions  

I checked who Nick Swisher follows, I didn't see lookout landing.

2009 Safeco Field Record: 6-0 ; Overall Safeco Field Record: 10-4

by Fin on Jan 2, 2010 11:25 PM PST up reply actions  

Ah so

it is Jeff who follows Swisher, not vice versa. Ditto for the rest. Honestly, I am a little proud in a crotchety sort of way that I have no idea how to use that site.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 2, 2010 11:41 PM PST up reply actions  

What?

I thought I blocked Swisher. Fucker annoys me.

by Jeff Sullivan on Jan 3, 2010 2:16 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

I'd love to see Edgar in the HOF

But its gonna amaze me if McGwire doesn’t get in. The only reason he doesn’t make it in is steriods which is kind of a shame. Oh well….HoF is run by people and people aren’t perfect.

by Edgar for Pres on Jan 2, 2010 9:08 PM PST reply actions  

I'd bet my house on McGwire getting in

after a few years of being the hitting coach for the Cardinals and answering questions from reporters.

Being a human recluse allowed the reporters to just make up their own BS about the man. Now that he’s actually in an official position with the team, answering questions, I’d see him slowly increasing his vote totals till he gets in, oh, in like 2013-14.

by craig3410 on Jan 2, 2010 10:59 PM PST up reply actions  

I think it has to do with the fact that the line between natural and unnatural training regimens has become blurred

and pretty much all pro athletes are guilty to some degree. There is no reason to demonize those players singled out by the media when everyone is guilty.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 3, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions  

Yeah I didn't really mean to start a discussion about steriods

We probably shouldn’t talk about this here otherwise we’ll get off-topic and I don’t think any of us really want another steriods debate.

by Edgar for Pres on Jan 3, 2010 2:38 PM PST up reply actions  

It wouldn't amaze me at all

Most of the media will do whatever it takes to sell papers and draw attention tot hemselves, whether not it means McGwire is the best/worst person in the game at any moment.

by Poochie on Jan 3, 2010 1:20 PM PST up reply actions  

I don't think "Most Hated" means "Hated." There wasn't exactly a "I like all of them" option.

$10,000 is worse than $1,000,000 but that doesn’t make it bad.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Jan 3, 2010 12:25 AM PST reply actions  

Of those that were on the list I think I hated nobody.

Though left with the choices, I probably would have chosen one of the names rather than the “someone else” option, because I like clear answers.

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Jan 3, 2010 4:44 AM PST up reply actions  

You know what the real problem is?

Jack has turned over such a huge portion of the roster that none of the players have been around long enough to become dislikable. The ones who have been around don’t suck or are in the pen and don’t see the field enough to develop a hater base.

I’m guessing that by the time the season is up, depending on how playing time is divvied up and performance and so on the ‘i hate’ leaderboard may be something like Johnson, Hall, Bradley, League, Snell.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 3, 2010 7:13 AM PST up reply actions  

I dreamt Jack z got fired

When Howard Lincoln was giving a tour of the team offices to some corporate sponsors during after hours and they found Jack in situ banging some chick. I saw the whole scene live (this being a dream) and couldn’t decide whether I should be angry, happy that he was around long enough to at least pull the lee and Bradley deals off, or aroused.

Sorry. Didn’t know where else to put this.

by sammy on Jan 3, 2010 1:20 AM PST reply actions   2 recs

Wow, if ever a comment begged for a Bill Simmons

You know, a “yup, these are my readers”

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Jan 3, 2010 7:09 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

How useful is ERA+ as a stat?

I’ve not really come across it too much before.

by EnglishMariner on Jan 3, 2010 7:11 AM PST reply actions  

Depends

Pitchers ERAs tend to be almost as useful as FIP over the course of a long career

by Poochie on Jan 3, 2010 9:56 AM PST up reply actions  

I don't think there's anything like FIP+ available

so its pretty much the only tool for comparing pitchers across decades.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 3, 2010 9:59 AM PST up reply actions  

Why?

Chapman showcasing his abilities in a U.S. stadium with millions of viewers was the best thing possible.

by Wilder. on Jan 3, 2010 2:17 PM PST up reply actions  

He was wild, his secondary stuff was iffy and his velocity was lower than advertised.

I think if there were more mystery about him and less of a record of how he reacts to game situations teams might see him as more of a complete product. Impossible to say for sure of course…

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 3, 2010 2:38 PM PST up reply actions  

He hit 100 at the WBC and hasn't hit it on the gun since defecting

without the WBC, no one believes that he actually has a 100 mph fastball, and no one is interested in throwing him a $15-20M or whatever the hell he’s asking for contract

by seattlebruin on Jan 3, 2010 4:02 PM PST up reply actions  

Yup, averaged mid nineties

and had little idea where it was going. But whatever. Yu Darvish (sorry if I got the name wrong) was far more impressive in the WBC, Chapman looked very very rough if talented. My thought was that having a poor showing in a high pressure situation dispelled some of the reputation but I may be wrong. Meh.

De Gutibus non disputandum est

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 3, 2010 7:31 PM PST up reply actions  

I miss my days at the helm of the LL Twitter.

Also, Jeff, check your email!

ZSwing%: "The rate at which a player wife-swaps with Jack Zduriencik." --- Vatinius

by .Taylor on Jan 3, 2010 7:02 PM PST reply actions  

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