Tuesday Applesauce

by Eric Simon on Nov 4, 2008 12:25 PM EST in Applesauce Comment 19 comments

In Arizona:

Daniel Murphy returned to action (at second base!) and went 0-for-4 with two walks and two runs scored. He was also picked off of first and made a throwing error.

In Dominican Republic:

Fernando Tatis went 1-for-4 with a walk.
Luis Terrero went 1-for-2 with a walk, a double and a run scored.
Francisco Pena went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter.
Michael Hernandez went 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter.

Adam Rubin takes several out-of-context quotes and manages to spin them into a full column about Brian Fuentes and the state of the Mets' roster. Despite his age, I greatly favor Fuentes over Francisco Rodriguez, all things considered. I'm not even sure that Rodriguez is obviously the better pitcher, even if we threw out the disparity in perceived contract demands.

At Beyond the Boxscore, Sky Kalkman looks at the best shortstops of 2008. Jose Reyes lands at #2, slightly ahead of Jimmy Rollins but significantly behind -- both offensively and defensively -- Hanley Ramirez. I still don't know what has happened to Reyes's range, and as much as I don't want to believe it, almost every defensive metric rates him very poorly.

Also at BtB, R.J. Anderson concludes his interview with Royals assistant GM Dean Taylor (part one is here).

In Willets Point news, the city's economic development corporation -- the organization responsible for the redevelopment plan -- has acquired two additional Willets Point properties, bringing the city's controlling stake of the area's 62 acres up to 40%. Also, the Daily News has endorsed the plan.

Finally, I don't care who you support, but if you're registered to vote, get your ass out there and do so. What, do you hate America?

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I vote for . . .

Daniel Murphy to get off of my x-mas card list! 0-4?! Unacceptable! He’s more like a toy hammer than the Irish Hammer! Ship him off to Kansas City!

Nah, seriously though, nice to know that he’s back in action.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Nov 4, 2008 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Reyes and defense

Reyes started off the year in a huge defensive hole and improved his defensive stats as the season went along. I can’t find a good site to split defensive stats to back up the latter statement but I remember that his defensive rating was worse around the end of May.

by Sokojoe on Nov 4, 2008 1:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Reyes and defense

Yeah, he was in a horrible fielding slump in the first half of last year and then improved by every metric.

Of course, this guy also gives Jeter a plus defensive rating while the Fielding Bible had Jeter at 22nd overall defensively for SSs, and Reyes 10th.

The lesson: defensive metrics are just not very good. It’s so hard to measure. It’s not even in the same stratosphere of reliability as offensive stats.

by DannyMetsGeek on Nov 4, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"This guy" would like to point out that Jeter's defensive rating includes +7 runs for playing shortstop

Relative to other shortstops only, the numbers say he was -4 runs, which, like 22nd overall, is a below-average rating.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Nov 4, 2008 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey guy

Thanks for clarifying. And sorry for not writing out your name, lazy on my part (although I would never call BJ Upton lazy).

My point was more about the lack of reliability of defensive metrics than it was to criticize your attempt at assigning a defensive value. It’s just so hard to do.

by DannyMetsGeek on Nov 4, 2008 4:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yes, vote and do your civic doody.

i did my civic doody all over the floor of the village community center.

by kendynamo on Nov 4, 2008 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Reyes D

Lazy, lazy, lazy. No intensity to Jose’s defensive approach during a game that I can see. He’s pulling his glove on and off, is back on his heels, standing straight up, and doesn’t bend and creep with the approaching pitch like the best fielders will do. While I don’t know anything about it, if his defensive preparation before a game is anything like his in game attitude, I’m sure he doesn’t even bother to study tendencies. With all that quickness, he should cover a lot more ground.

He agree with Eric about Fuentes. Just as good as KRod and if he’s cheaper in years and dollars, I’d rather have him.

by whynot on Nov 4, 2008 1:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Reyes D

While I can’t say anything about Reyes preparation in regards to his appearing “lazy.” Reyes did the same things you mentioned in 06 when he had great defense. Also, Jeter and Keppinger never take their gloves off and bend/creep but have horrible defense. Beltran plays “lazy.” The way he glides over to the ball without appearing to be running as fast as possible or how he rarely dives for a ball ala Edmonds.

Aside, I do enjoy watching Edmonds pulling up on a liner in order to make a highlight dive, it’s ridiculously obvious sometimes.

by Sokojoe on Nov 4, 2008 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Reyes D

Most of the “advanced” defensive metrics had Reyes as terrific defensively in both 2006 and 2007.

He definitely regressed this year, but I think it was just an elongated fielding slump, which get exacerbated when you play the most difficult defensive position on the field.

by DannyMetsGeek on Nov 4, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Edmonds

Seeing him go for the unnecessary diving catch and miss the ball is one of the funniest things that can happen during a baseball game.

by JoshNY on Nov 4, 2008 7:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2007 SS rankings

I also found it interesting that Reyes was the #1 overall shortstop by Sky Kalkman in 2007, in front of the “MVP” Rollins and Hanley (when Hanley was still rated as atrocious with the glove).

He’s so underappreciated by Mets fans.

by DannyMetsGeek on Nov 4, 2008 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sky Kalkman's calculation flaw

In regards to Reyes, Sky forgets to subtract the runs he adds to other teams by pumping them up and getting them angry with his dancing, smiling and having too much fun. Take that into account and we’re talking Neifi Perez terrority.

But yeah, Reyes is probably the most underappericated Met. Going by Metsblogs comment section, most Mets fans appericate Beltran currently, I noticed this changed once he got his BA over .280, so fans still dont appericate him correctly, but it’s still something, though not enough.

by Sokojoe on Nov 4, 2008 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs