tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post7917875507984970692..comments2023-12-15T07:22:02.492-05:00Comments on The Tao of Stieb: What's wrong with Travis playing right?Tao of Stiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12459135109404905466noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-91942484516049830942010-02-18T11:49:33.393-05:002010-02-18T11:49:33.393-05:00This coming from an organization that had the like...This coming from an organization that had the likes of John McDonald, Frank Menechino (?), and even Shitske playing in RF. Seriously what's the harm in seeing if these kids can hang it in the OF. It's not like you have a vastly superior defender being bumped.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529622485260503330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-22934291214548167792010-02-12T16:14:32.273-05:002010-02-12T16:14:32.273-05:00Only both AA and Cito have said they like Wells in...Only both AA and Cito have said they like Wells in CF. So forget it, even if it makes a lot of sense. Only problem is Wells' arm is average, while Bautista piled up the assists in limited playing time there last year. <br /><br />Signing Chavez, provided he's not diminished by the operation, makes more and more sense, even if they stubbornly keep VW in centre.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-58253803355696816132010-02-12T10:04:11.994-05:002010-02-12T10:04:11.994-05:00i prefer snider in LF with wells moving to RF ASAP...i prefer snider in LF with wells moving to RF ASAP.<br /><br />i don't think anyone who is paying attention thinks wells should be playing CF (AA has to move him out of CF soon, right?)... so the question boils down to which allignment provides better defence wells in RF and snider in LF... or vice versa?<br /><br />IMO, the obvious answer is that wells will be playing RF soon... so i'd be inclined to give snider LF now and tell he's there for the long term and let him concentrate on raking.nellybudnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-84328544601392126822010-02-10T09:48:40.338-05:002010-02-10T09:48:40.338-05:00For some reason, up until about 2 minutes ago, I c...For some reason, up until about 2 minutes ago, I couldn't put my finger on why I didn't think that above-average outfield defense was particularly important for a developing pitching staff... it's amazing what kind of clarity a boring, snowy day at the office can bring. So here it is: <br /><br />I think it's safe to assume that the goal of an average defender - be they in- or outfielder - is to not commit errors. Errors prolong innings, and frustrate pitchers (and fans, but we don't count). Young pitchers, when faced with a defense that is error-prone, tend to try to do too much themselves. They want to strike everyone out, because the thought of giving up ground balls (which should be every pitcher's goal) is no longer, in their minds, a good thing. This gets them away from their game-plans, and limits their growth as professionals. I think we can all agree that errors are bad... but very VERY rarely are errors made on routine fly balls (unless your last name rhymes with "Banseco" - not a real word). Without bothering with fancy argument tools, such as statistical proof, I think it should still be pretty obvious that errors are much more likely to occur on a typical infield play than an outfield one, as there are at least three separate actions on which an error can occur (field, throw, catch), as opposed to the one catch made by an outfielder to record an out. So having a good defensive infield should be a priority if you're looking to reduce the number of errors your team commits. <br /><br />Well then, you might ask (or you might not... that's why I ask it for you!) what is an outfield defense good for? The simple answer is: Run Prevention. Great outfielders get to those balls hit deep into gaps, and turn well-hit line drives into highlight-reel outs. This is awesome if you're looking to win close ball games... but if a young pitcher makes a mistake, and leaves a pitch where he shouldn't, just to be bailed out by an amazing outfield snag, the lesson isn't necessarily learned. I'd love to spend another paragraph or two elaborating, and beating the point home... but this is Tao's blog, and I think my point is pretty clear. I'll finish with this, though: I would much rather get my pitchers used to having a sub-par outfield defense, then upgrade a year or two down the line, rather than handicap the growth (and roster flexibility) of my team, just to win a couple ball games in a meaningless season.Hillerajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-74661227229059063022010-02-10T00:09:25.594-05:002010-02-10T00:09:25.594-05:00Last week was last week. Daddy's home, and the...Last week was last week. Daddy's home, and there's new rules around here.Tao of Stiebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12459135109404905466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-46310639161832960372010-02-09T22:32:03.811-05:002010-02-09T22:32:03.811-05:00where's that guy who said Snider & Lind in...where's that guy who said Snider & Lind in the outfield is a bad idea because the young pitching staff needs support from the field? Wasn't that an accepted line of reasoning around here last week?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-70273920764817740392010-02-09T22:19:12.061-05:002010-02-09T22:19:12.061-05:00I think the last time Snider played right last sea...I think the last time Snider played right last season, he had that ball go through his legs. He'll probably never get another chance with Cito as the manager.Biteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14867298324920012844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-66124770338871938132010-02-09T18:26:02.309-05:002010-02-09T18:26:02.309-05:00Anon 5:07
I agree, but didn't make it clear i...Anon 5:07<br /><br />I agree, but didn't make it clear in my rambling comment above. Any competent RF can play left competently, and it doesn't hurt Snider to try him at both positions. But both Snider and Lind look like they'll end up at 1B based on what they showed so far.<br /><br />Lind WAS getting better with playing time in left two years ago, as someone above suggested. Maybe you just leave him there for three months and see how ugly it is. He has a decent arm.<br /><br />KCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-46325015090294960322010-02-09T17:40:35.360-05:002010-02-09T17:40:35.360-05:00Not to mention Snider's been exclusively a rig...Not to mention Snider's been exclusively a right fielder since high school.Gil Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177204960812280259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-66778505730632479402010-02-09T17:09:13.354-05:002010-02-09T17:09:13.354-05:00The ball tails off the same way into LF off of lef...The ball tails off the same way into LF off of lefties. Also, way more balls are hit to LF, making the left fielder that much more busy, which equals more chances and more opportunities to screw up. <br /><br />I played a lot of LF, but could never hack RF, only because of my inability to hold runners at second base. The position and the way it plays is almost identical to LF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-86664185118335705542010-02-09T16:57:52.435-05:002010-02-09T16:57:52.435-05:00anybody hear that clown tom dakers on that "h...anybody hear that clown tom dakers on that "hot stove TV" interview? what a fucking idiot. sounds as dumb as his writing is bad.<br /><br />the guy from hot stove says "hows it going up there in toronto?"<br /><br />stupid tom dakers (not even from toronto, actually lives in bum fuck alberta) "its winter, should warm up in about three months"<br /><br />HAHAHAA! good one tom. make the ignorant americans more ignorant of canada and toronto especially, where there is hardly any snow on the ground now and will be 15C in a few weeks, unlike bum-fuck northern alberta, where the stereotype holds true. no wonder they laugh on US TV when the possibility of the Jays doing anything or chris bosh staying, with winners like tom dakers taking questions and misrepresenting a place and people he knows nothing about (toronto)<br /><br />great job. the rest of the interview is embarrassing as a jays fan as well. and this tool really thinks he is a professional baseball analyst/writer of some kind.<br /><br />right on tomo, keep up that great work, dipshit!Aaron Hillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-59593127818514366922010-02-09T16:55:07.525-05:002010-02-09T16:55:07.525-05:00I certainly cannot put into words my dumbfounded c...I certainly cannot put into words my dumbfounded confusion over the spring training invite list... we have SO MANY PITCHERS! We have too many first basemen (or at least projected ones). And some scrubby OF's.<br /><br />I just cannot imagine how this team is going to look come opening day. It's going to be a hot mess!<br /><br />How much would it screw things up if Wallace makes the team in spring training? LOL - granted, he could probably hit 20hr in the spring, hit 500 and still not make the team. He is destined for the minors regardless of what he does I think.<br /><br />Maybe the Jays are trying to set a MLB record for pitchers invited to Spring Training. It's hard to imagine more then 12 or 13 making the roster, and some of them (Like Zinicola, Hill, McGowan) have to stay on the 40-man unless we want to risk losing them (though Dusty will be on the DL most likely).<br /><br />It's going to be an interesting few months...<br /><br />P.S. - GO TRAVIS!MelancholyInkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647165282329959429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-25457357561961847432010-02-09T16:25:36.344-05:002010-02-09T16:25:36.344-05:00Keep in mind that the ball comes off the bat diffe...Keep in mind that the ball comes off the bat differently for a right handed hitter and tails away when it's hit to right. Just because you can play LF well doesn't necessarily mean you can play RF well without a bit of practice/experience. So it doesn't surprise me that Snider would make more errors in RF than LF at an early age.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-28165603556744738192010-02-09T16:20:05.664-05:002010-02-09T16:20:05.664-05:00That's a good point - let's just stretch S...That's a good point - let's just stretch Snider out as a starter. Frees up some of the positional logjam, and maybe he could even pinch hit occasionally when he's not pitching. He'd be a decent bat off the bench, eh?Brian Tallet's Moustachenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-56007192952960101672010-02-09T16:18:24.411-05:002010-02-09T16:18:24.411-05:00Hilleraj - amen.Hilleraj - amen.MelancholyInkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647165282329959429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-23030121828087300312010-02-09T15:37:52.088-05:002010-02-09T15:37:52.088-05:00At first, I was thinking something along the same ...At first, I was thinking something along the same lines as Andy... a massive switcheroo depending on the pitching match-up. I shied away from this for two reasons, though:<br /><br />1) We aren't trying to field the most competitive team that we can. We're looking to give young players a chance to prove that they can play every day at the Major League level. Switching players back and forth every 2-3 games will stop them from getting the consistent , in-game experience which I think is crucial at this stage in development. I'd much rather inconvenience JoBau slightly by making him play 1B, than mess with Snider by shuffling him around all season.<br /><br />2) The plan requires a competent manager, who has the foresight to actually, you know, consider which side the opposing pitcher will be throwing from, when he fills out the line-up. Chances are, Cito will be so impressed by JoBau's first game playing in RF that he'll hand him the starting job some time in early May, and proceed to comment that he wants to try stretching Snider out into a starting pitcher, or something to that effect. Young talent and time to test it we have - a sensible manager, we do not.Hillerajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-10652757708469675152010-02-09T15:23:31.875-05:002010-02-09T15:23:31.875-05:00Lind's defensive metrics for 2009 were bad, ye...Lind's defensive metrics for 2009 were bad, yes, but they were much better for 2007-2008, when he played there more regularly. Check it out. He actually improved greatly with the experience.<br /><br />Snider actually has a plus arm, the only thing you need to play RF over LF. What makes a LF'r is a rubber arm, not range. Snider has the arm to play RF.<br /><br />I would argue that:<br /><br />vs LHP JoBau should be playing RF, with Snider in LF, Lind at DH, and Ruiz at 1B.<br /><br />vs. RHP, Overbay 1B, Lind LF, Snider RF and Ruiz DH.<br /><br />Problem solved.andy mcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-59782837333922964692010-02-09T15:18:43.630-05:002010-02-09T15:18:43.630-05:00"1B should be the last resort for ANY player ..."1B should be the last resort for ANY player the Jays plan on keeping around for 2011 and beyond"<br /><br />I TOTALLY AGREE Hilleraj! We aren't going to be a competitive team regardless of when if we have 5 1B's on the roster. AA has already stated he sees Lind as DH, which is perfectly fine, but that leaves Overbay, Ruiz, Cooper, Dopirak and Wallace all looking for playing time (I assume that Overbay will be gone next season). If we cant get some players to play the corner OF spots, we're going to have a problem...<br /><br />Excellent statement.MelancholyInkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647165282329959429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-30961774715296416582010-02-09T15:12:02.381-05:002010-02-09T15:12:02.381-05:00I don't really see any problem, line-up wise, ...I don't really see any problem, line-up wise, giving Lind and Snider full-time duties in the corner OF spots. Overbay and Bautista are the perfect platoon partners, and JoBau has even played some (very limited) time at first base... and error-free time, I might add (wooo sample size!). In all seriousness (isn't it a little ironic that "seriousness" actually sounds kind of made-up?), 1B should be the last resort for ANY player the Jays plan on keeping around for 2011 and beyond... so we might as well let the guys who we don't see as being long-term solutions earn their vast paycheques lazily picking all those perfect throws from Johnny Mac, and watching in disgust as E5 airmails balls into the stands behind them. Ruiz and Dopriak can slug it out for the DH role this year, knowing that, in all likelihood, they won't be there for long.Hillerajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-4130733006279263652010-02-09T15:11:12.245-05:002010-02-09T15:11:12.245-05:00It really was a universal you and not a direct you...It really was a universal you and not a direct you sorry for the confusion. <br />Again I don't think its fair to project errors. He may well end up with 20 errors in a full season, I just don't think you can reliably predict that based on his minor league performance. That was my only point on your post.dave57https://www.blogger.com/profile/14155025160264738667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-29224667478224002192010-02-09T15:09:46.173-05:002010-02-09T15:09:46.173-05:00***Slaps himself******Slaps himself***MelancholyInkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647165282329959429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-41227647022304597042010-02-09T15:08:52.395-05:002010-02-09T15:08:52.395-05:00I know a lot of people are down on Bautista, but h...I know a lot of people are down on Bautista, but he hit the ball pretty well at the end of last year when he got to play everyday. We could do worse for what he makes(insert your favorite Wells salary punchline here). Not saying he's better then Snider, because there's no way that's true, but give Bautista a chance. I never expected him to hit 25 homers, but it isn't impossible. I just doubt he can do it from the lead-off spot. Nonetheless, this is a Snider thread, and I wanted to throw in my two cents about Bautista because he came up. I am, however, in agreement that Snider should be able to handle RF, and if not, move him to left. NO big deal. I just dont think people should sleep on Bautista.MelancholyInkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647165282329959429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-27188327739179487682010-02-09T15:06:12.041-05:002010-02-09T15:06:12.041-05:00"It seems strange to me that that you would m..."It seems strange to me that that you would move a couple 20 somethings out of the field "<br /><br />Maybe the you, was intended to be the universal 'you' and not directed at me?<br /><br />My intention was not to project errors, but to comment on Snider's historical errors, which I think is two very different things. We know that Snider has averaged about 20 errors over a full season in RF in the past, if he does this again, I don't think his future is in RF, that is unless he somehow develops incredible range, which we can pretty much rule out.Peter DeMarcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13025682416268680287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-35708912863610214812010-02-09T14:59:03.207-05:002010-02-09T14:59:03.207-05:00where did I say you did? I just said that projecti...where did I say you did? I just said that projecting errors is not an exact science. Which I think is fair. It seems to me that everyone but Cito would actually like to see what the kid can do out there.dave57https://www.blogger.com/profile/14155025160264738667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2484762138483195409.post-49165521478880954512010-02-09T14:56:04.082-05:002010-02-09T14:56:04.082-05:00Dave57, where in my comment did I say that I would...Dave57, where in my comment did I say that I would move Snider out of RF (or Lind out of LF for that matter?)Peter DeMarcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13025682416268680287noreply@blogger.com