MLB Off-Topic

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well, that isn't that far fetched.

I know but he's been on the Jays hype train the last 3 years. I like the Donaldson pick though. He's just gonna MURDER the Rogers Centre.

[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Did someone in the Jays organization pay Dan Plesac off? The man is the biggest Jays fan at MLB-N. Just today he declared the Jays his choice to win the AL East and Josh Donaldson is his MVP.

I don't see what's wrong with that. Yea the Donaldson MVP seems a little out there to me. But, even as a Red Sox fan, I see the Blue Jays as the best team on paper. That offense is going to be scary to face. The pitching staff is decent I wouldn't say the best in the division. As I think the Rays hold that title when Moore comes back.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Tthere's an argument to be made that he's like the third best player in the league in terms of all around performance behind Trout and Cutch. Of course, there's always the chance Harper explodes, Miggy stops imploding, etc, but it seems pretty reasonable to expect Donaldson to be up near the top of the league. Obviously the MVP pick was some homerism but I dunno, stranger things have happened.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.asp...lter=&players=

He's just so good. He hits, he fields, he's just a great baseball player and I'm so happy that he's on the Blue Jays.

[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Josh Donaldson is probably the best player alive not named Mike Trout, Andrew McCutchen, or Kershaw. Which is a fancy way of saying there's an argument to be made that he's like the fourth best player in the league in terms of all around performance. Or ...best batter alive not named Trout or McCutchen. Of course, there's always the chance Harper explodes, Miggy stops imploding, etc.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.asp...lter=&players=

He's just so good.

Fixed that for you.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Tthere's an argument to be made that he's like the third best player in the league in terms of all around performance behind Trout and Cutch. Of course, there's always the chance Harper explodes, Miggy stops imploding, etc, but it seems pretty reasonable to expect Donaldson to be up near the top of the league. Obviously the MVP pick was some homerism but I dunno, stranger things have happened.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.asp...lter=&players=

He's just so good. He hits, he fields, he's just a great baseball player and I'm so happy that he's on the Blue Jays.

Are there advanced stats for SO with RISP? I would be interested in that stat as well as how he ranks with overall runners left in scoring position.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Fixed that for you.

I love Kershaw but pitchers are just so scary.

Are there advanced stats for SO with RISP? I would be interested in that stat as well as how he ranks with overall runners left in scoring position.

I mean, they exist, but they're pretty random year-year and aren't really indicative of skill until about, I don't know, 2000 PA? That's the argument about clutchness. It obviously exists, but it takes so long to be truly identifiable.

In 2014, he was 20% better than your average Joe Hitter at the plate in low leverage situations, 43% better in medium leverage situations, and 13% in high leverage situations. In 2013, those numbers were 34%, 59%, and 75% (holy ****), respectively.

Just to give you an idea of what that's like among everyday players...

13%: Marcell Ozuna
20%: Brandon Moss
34%: Hanley Ramirez
43%: Buster Posey
59%: Jose Bautista
75%: Mike Trout

Donaldson is actually a great example for that point about clutchness. He went from Trout to Ozuna in one year with no real reasonable explanation.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I love Kershaw but pitchers are just so scary.



I mean, they exist, but they're pretty random year-year and aren't really indicative of skill until about, I don't know, 2000 PA? That's the argument about clutchness. It obviously exists, but it takes so long to be truly identifiable.

In 2014, he was 20% better than your average Joe Hitter at the plate in low leverage situations, 43% better in medium leverage situations, and 13% in high leverage situations. In 2013, those numbers were 34%, 59%, and 75% (holy ****), respectively.

Just to give you an idea of what that's like among everyday players...

13%: Marcell Ozuna
20%: Brandon Moss
34%: Hanley Ramirez
43%: Buster Posey
59%: Jose Bautista
75%: Mike Trout

Donaldson is actually a great example for that point about clutchness. He went from Trout to Ozuna in one year with no real reasonable explanation.

I'll miss his defense for sure. I still can't believe that he was traded to the A's as a catcher and developed into what he has as a third basemen.

I won't miss his inconsistency in situations that mattered the most at the plate though.

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'll miss his defense for sure. I still can't believe that he was traded to the A's as a catcher and developed into what he has as a third basemen.

I won't miss his inconsistency in situations that mattered the most at the plate though.

I'm of the opinion that that inconsistency is probably just randomness. I haven't heard anything like "he has massive anxiety during high leverage situations" or anything of the sort, which would give some credence. Either way, 13% better than Joe Hitter (average) is still pretty solid imo.

[55]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Did someone in the Jays organization pay Dan Plesac off? The man is the biggest Jays fan at MLB-N. Just today he declared the Jays his choice to win the AL East and Josh Donaldson is his MVP.

As much as it pains me to say it, I don't have a problem with either one of those picks.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm of the opinion that that inconsistency is probably just randomness. I haven't heard anything like "he has massive anxiety during high leverage situations" or anything of the sort, which would give some credence. Either way, 13% better than Joe Hitter (average) is still pretty solid imo.

Have you ever actually heard a story of any hitter having "high anxiety" in a "high leverage" situation?

I can't say I've ever seen that written about anyone.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Have you ever actually heard a story of any hitter having "high anxiety" in a "high leverage" situation?

I can't say I've ever seen that written about anyone.

You have to think during the years Barry Bonds was a huge bust in the offseason that some people talked about him being super anxious at the plate. In fact, I think someone DID....Tim McCarver IIRC during the '92 NLCS.


EDIT: BTW i'm not saying Plesac's predictions are crazy, it's just that when you compare him to the other guys on the network he's just so on the Blue Jays bandwagon that it jumps out at you. I actually like it though and i'm a fan of Plesac's work there. (not just for his enthusiasm for the Jays but overall)

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Th discussion on Donaldson took me to his baseball reference page...I didn't realize that he was from the area I grew up in and that he played at one of the rival schools that we played back in the day. I think Donaldson will hit 30-40 homers is year if healthy...he hit better in the 2nd half last year and I think we can expect him to continue. No reason not too...

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Th discussion on Donaldson took me to his baseball reference page...I didn't realize that he was from the area I grew up in and that he played at one of the rival schools that we played back in the day. I think Donaldson will hit 30-40 homers is year if healthy...he hit better in the 2nd half last year and I think we can expect him to continue. No reason not too...

No doubt. Nor am I questioning that.

I have however watched him for enough years to know that he presses in pressure situations.

[Jr.]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Have you ever actually heard a story of any hitter having "high anxiety" in a "high leverage" situation?

I can't say I've ever seen that written about anyone.

If you think about it.. if a hitter is going to have higher anxiety, it's going to be in a high leverage situation.

Unfortunately guys aren't strapped with biometrics to track any physiological changes between an AB in the 1st inning, and one with runners on in the late innings of a close game.

Psychologically speaking, there are plenty of reasons to think that hitters experience more anxiety in late game, high leverage situations.

[kehlis]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Psychologically speaking, there are plenty of reasons to think that hitters experience more anxiety in late game, high leverage situations.

I'm not talking strictly about late game situations though.

I've watched a good majority of his at bats with the A's.

Whether it's the bottom of third with runners on and two outs or the bottom of the ninth, he presses.