Dunn doesn't want to come back. That time is over.Originally Posted by jesusfan
Dunn doesn't want to come back. That time is over.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
If you go back and re-read, you'll see that is exactly what I'm NOT doing. I love seeing our Reds players taking walks. I loved that Dunn drew alot of them. What I don't do is think that a high walk rate is more important than a high batting average. Regardless of what many here seem to think, walks are NOT more valuable than hits. I'm not undervaluing them...I'm trying to point out that many here OVERvalue them.
,And no, I'm not avoiding that he's a singles hitter. What I just don't get is what in the world is so wrong about being a singles hitter? There are hof'ers who made their careers out of being singles hitters. (no, I'm not making that comparison really) If he hit a lot of doubles instead of bunt singles, would that be okay? How much different is a bunt single plus a stolen base from a double? A good number of his singles effectively end up as doubles after he swipes second. I say we start a new stat called virtual SLG. :O)
And in regards to his bunt singles basically replicating a BB...again, I disagree. Sure, in both cases you only get to first. But in the bunt situation, you're forcing the defense to make a play. You've tossed in the possibility of throwing/catching errors, you've added in the possibilities of moving a runner from second to third or even third to home. So like I said numerous times, I'll take a hit...ANY hit...over a walk any day of the week.
Last edited by _Sir_Charles_; 12-27-2008 at 11:27 PM.
Micah Owings' bat is looking really, really good right now. He can be Taveras late inning offensive replacement.
sigh...
Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.
What game have you been watching? Yes, a CF needs to play defense. He's also got to make a significant contribution on offense. This is nothing new under the sun. The average CF in the NL last season averaged a .760 OPS. Almost all of them played defense (something fans of teams not forced to endure Ken Griffey Jr. in CF for most of the last decade often take for granted). A .700 OPS is a dog, a deficient player in need of a serious benching.
BTW, the average NL SS last season averaged a .738 OPS and the average catcher averaged a .715 OPS. The brand of baseball you're talking about doesn't exist and, in terms of CFs, hasn't for 30 years (1988 being the lone exception).
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Walt has stated just the opposite. Taveras is the leadoff hitter and starting CF. That is why he was signed.
In order for Taveras not to suck, he has to do three things:
- replicate his OBP from 2007
- Replicate or exceed his SB totals AND SB%
- exceed his BB totals by at the very least doubling them from 2008. That will offset his likely low to middling BA.
- Increase his power output by at least 20%. I don't mean HR's, I mean doubles and triples. in bunches.
Dubito Ergo Cogito Ergo Sum.
If he does those things he becomes an excellent player. Sometimes that happens; it usually doesn't. Maybe he'll not be awful, and he'll be a platoon. That's what I'm hoping for.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
You act like getting the most consistently underproductive CF in baseball during the past decade is a bad thing.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Great, now we get to see Taveras' name mentioned in every other post for the next two years. Ugh.
Still no idea what this is costing the Reds?
(Cue the jokes about "a playoff birth.")
Right. Even when the Reds' pitching is 15th in NL team ERA.
I don't like the acquisition but I like less that he'll be the scapegoat for everything.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
And I don't recall Walt Jocketty being named Reds manager as well as GM. He's been a CF/Leadoff hitter in the past. We need both a CF and a leadoff hitter. But I'll be flat-out shocked if they hand it to him. He'll have to earn it in ST. In the end it'll be Dusty's decision. If Dickerson earns it, he'll get it. If Stubbs or someother kid earns it, he'll get it. People can say what they want about Dusty, but I've seen no evidence that he starts vets over kids. In fact, I saw exactly the opposite in 2008.
And to be precise...Jocketty said this (keep in mind that Fay typed these quotes...so they're probably incorrect *grin*)...
"Willy Taveras fills two significant needs for our ball club, a speed base stealing threat at the top of the order and superior defense in center field," said Jockettty.Nowhere in those quotes does Walt say that he's the starting CF'er or the starting leadoff hitter. He says he's potentially a very good leadoff man. If he doesn't reach that potential, he possibly won't be the leadoff man. He also says he brings good CF defense...not that he's being handed the CF starters job. Let's stop the panic already. ST will decide who'll play where.Walt Jocketty on the Willy Taveras signing:
--"He fills a couple of needs. He gives us very good defense in center field, and he's potentially a very good leadoff man."
Jocketty sadi in order to do that Taveras has to get his on-base percentage close to .367 like it was in the 2007, rather than the .308 it was last season: "He needs to get back to way he was swinging the bat and getting on base a couple of years ago. Jamie Quirk, who's with us now was with Willy in Colorado, feels like Willy can get back to that."
Last edited by _Sir_Charles_; 12-27-2008 at 11:47 PM.
Exactly. The only difference is that Taveras is faster and hits for a decent average by bunting instead of taking walks. Oh yeah, he's a "proven vet".
Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.
I've heard he sprints to his position
Indeed, this isn't the first time the Reds, frightened of an unknown who might suck, went out and sign a known player who does suck.
Go Gators!
I'm not sure I watched the same season as you did in 2008.
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