Bill James & Jos Pos's Ode to the Walk

Doesn't have much to do with the Mets except a Royals-era Beltran reference, but I thought the regulars here would enjoy this piece nonetheless. Definitely my two favorite baseball writers teaming up.

over 2 years ago cjmulrain 11 comments 0 recs |

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This is great

Some really entertaining stories in there. Brandon Phillips can join Jeff Francouer’s “Walks are for losers” club. I love this quote from Pos, which is about Adam Dunn but applies to any player:

he plays to his strengths and he makes pitchers throw him strikes. That might be baseball’s rarest skill. People just don’t appreciate it enough.

by James Kannengieser on Jun 10, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

Don't you think

that the “walks are for losers” club is just a bunch of guys who can’t walk and come up with a convenient excuse?

by jasondg on Jun 10, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

But they don't even try

Reyes tried to get better and lots of batters improve their batting eye toward the end of their career. These players like Failcouer, Phillips, and Mike Jacobs don’t try to improve. Jacobs when confronted about the issue routinely gives out his line of being paid to drive in runs not to make someone else do it.

by Sokojoe on Jun 10, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

What I don't understand

is that while these guys (Francouer, etc.) may not want walks per se, why they don’t see that selectivity is the way to get their pitch to hit.

by blains2000 on Jun 10, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes they just can't learn

Pitch recognition, selection, plate discipline, etc are skills. Some guys are really good — Dunn, Nick Johnson, Giambi — some are terrible.

I don’t think it’s a choice, or else they’d all sport high OBPs. I think it’s an excuse.

by jasondg on Jun 10, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Good read

I mean, Joe Pos usually is, but I’m just sayin’. Some of the anecdotes (the Johnny Temple one in particular for me) are gold.

"He's definitely mixing it into his repertoire. That's French for 'repertoire' " - Keith Hernandez

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Jun 10, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

that's why James and Pos are so good, IMO

they’re both stat guys, but at their core they’re just great storytellers. I’ve re-read just about every section of the Bill James Historical Abstract multiple times, b/c there’s just so much great stuff in there.

by cjmulrain on Jun 10, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice find

I enjoyed the article and though I’d pass on something very annoying i came across on the CBS sports message board. Someone was actually touting the value of Eckstein over Castillo. He also valued about 20 other 2B over Castillo based on…..wait for it…..HRs, SLG, and AVE. Brilliant!

by JDizzzy on Jun 10, 2009 4:46 PM EDT reply actions

well

HRs and SLG are important. There was a discussion in the game thread about whether a guy like Castillo, who has a high OBP but brings absolutely nothing else to the table, is really anything more than a replacement player.

by cjmulrain on Jun 10, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions

that doesnt mean Castillo is the worst 2B in the game though. He is getting on base and scoring runs. His fielding is ok. I think he’s about average all things considered but I’d say HR and SLG are not the only two ways to evaluate one of the weakest hitting positions.

by JDizzzy on Jun 11, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions