Last year over at Aisle 424, I decided that grading players on a scale of objectivity was ultimately dumb and subjective. But since it’s like a blog law that you have to do something like that at the All-Star break, I developed my Yin and Yang system wherein I say one good thing and one bad thing about every player. Since I’m lacking in creativity these days, I’m going to do it again this year.
Jeff Baker
Good: He’s been pretty much killing lefties at a .380/.397/.535/.932 clip in 73 plate appearances.
Bad: He’s been given almost as many PAs against righties (65) where he hits .222/.246/.302/.548, which is worse than Tony Campana.
Darwin Barney
Good: He’s surprised most of us by batting .362 with runners in scoring position and sparing us from a DeWitt/Baker platoon that isn’t interesting to anybody.
Bad: He is not good at taking walks. He has a 3.2% BB% which is worse than anyone on the team who qualifies for the batting title. Castro is next at 4.0%.
Marlon Byrd
Good: His broken face didn’t cost him the season.
Bad: He is steadfastly refusing to take walks this year (I already sense a theme with this team). His career high K/BB was 3.16 last year. This year it is 4.78. Yuck.
Tony Campana
Good: He’s really, really fast.
Bad: Everything else about him.
Welington Castillo
Good: It amuses us to call him Beef Castle.
Bad: The only good thing that I could come up with was about his nickname.
Starlin Castro
Good: He’s a pretty darn good hitter and it is fun watching him make plays on balls in the hole that Theriot would have just flopped after in an effort to get his uniform dirty.
Bad: He’s still very raw and neither his defense or patience seems to be improving with age.
Tyler Colvin
Good: He has not been stabbed in the chest with a baseball bat this year.
Bad: He doesn’t have a convenient excuse of being stabbed in the chest to fall back on to explain his fall back to irrelevance.
Blake DeWitt
Good: He seems willing to play all over the field to give Quade multiple options
Bad: All of the options involve him bringing a .655 OPS to the plate with him.
Kosuke Fukudome
Good: He is sporting a .379 on-base percentage, which is best on the team.
Bad: His slugging percentage is .372, which is lowest on the team among qualified batters.
Koyie Hill
Good: I don’t know…. he hasn’t killed anyone. Is that good enough?
Bad: That I even have to include him in this run-down at all.
Reed Johnson
Good: Everything he’s touched so far this year.
Bad: He’s not Brett Jackson.
D. J. LeMahieu
Good: He went to LSU, played in the middle infield, and achieved normal human height.
Bad: The height hasn’t seemed to help his baseball skills much.
Lou Montanez
Good: The Cubs got to call up one of their first round draft picks.
Bad: He was drafted when Bill Clinton was President.
Carlos Pena
Good: He has really been hitting a ton of homeruns lately.
Bad: Carlos Zambrano has a higher OPS this year. (Zambrano .822, Pena .801)
Aramis Ramirez
Good: He’s not dead yet.
Bad: He will be in a moment.
Brad Snyder
Good: He has a career 1.000 fielding percentage.
Bad: We may never have need to refer to him as Brad Fucking Snyder ever again because he got released.
Alfonso Soriano
Good: He hit 10 homeruns in April and posted a .619 slugging percentage.
Bad: Since then he’s slugging .402.
Geovany Soto
Good: He plays enough to keep Koyie Hill sightings to a minimum.
Bad: There is not as much difference between him and Hill as we would like.
Comments
Too much yang, not enough yin!
This was cool:
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=16859393&topic_id=20159458
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This is how I imagine Patrick Wilils acting all the time.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Those are both pretty high slugging % (dying laughing)
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Those are both pretty high slugging % (dying laughing)[/quote]
Yeah, it should be OPS. (dying laughing)
I need to fire our editor.
Aisle424Quote Reply
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar11/news/story?id=6759862
wow
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar11/news/story?id=6759862
wow[/quote]
http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10930147&mr:trackingCode=CFDF45C5-1B5B-E011-BB8E-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
You guys are never going to guess which former Cub second baseman is bloviating about the honor of The Game in the Trib today.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10930147&mr:trackingCode=CFDF45C5-1B5B-E011-BB8E-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA[/quote]
He was trying to save himself $20. This is a tough economy.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]You guys are never going to guess which former Cub second baseman is bloviating about the honor of The Game in the Trib today.[/quote]
Augie Ojeda?
Aisle424Quote Reply
I love arguing about why Ryan Flaherty and Blake DeWitt are not similar or “versions” of each other.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]He was trying to save himself $20. This is a tough economy.[/quote]
One’s life is worth more than $20. Maybe he didn’t want to pay the $5.99 shipping.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
I haven’t seen the clip, was he at least near the pool?
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]You guys are never going to guess which former Cub second baseman is bloviating about the honor of The Game in the Trib today.[/quote]
I couldn’t even finish the story. Sandberg has to be a NIGHTMARE of a grandpa.
“Sure you can see this old bat of mine, but first, let me tell you a story about respect…”
Chris DickersonQuote Reply
CarrieMuskat Carrie Muskat
It’s official: Brett Jackson, Ryan Flaherty to Iowa; Jae-Hoon Ha to Tenn; Matt Szczur to Daytona. #Cubs
XoomwaffleQuote Reply
[quote name=Xoomwaffle]CarrieMuskat Carrie Muskat
It’s official: Brett Jackson, Ryan Flaherty to Iowa; Jae-Hoon Ha to Tenn; Matt Szczur to Daytona. #Cubs[/quote]
Woohoo.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Don’t smell like shit.
Kenny PowersQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Woohoo.[/quote]
I hope this reeks of things to come (moving at least one outfielder and one utility guys).
I also wish Daytona were more exciting. I liked going to their games last year, but this team, outside of a couple of guys, is just about as interesting as the major league club.
XoomwaffleQuote Reply
Still somewhat surprised they called BJax up when he was in a slump. I’m sure he’s playing good defense though. I hear that AA is more of a pitcher’s league whereas AAA is a hitter’s league so maybe it’s a good way to build confidence.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Kenny, when does East Bound & Down start? And why is this the last season?
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Still somewhat surprised they called BJax up when he was in a slump. I’m sure he’s playing good defense though. I hear that AA is more of a pitcher’s league whereas AAA is a hitter’s league so maybe it’s a good way to build confidence.[/quote]He’s not really in a slump anymore. He had a bad weekend, but before that he was hitting fine.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Still somewhat surprised they called BJax up when he was in a slump. I’m sure he’s playing good defense though. I hear that AA is more of a pitcher’s league whereas AAA is a hitter’s league so maybe it’s a good way to build confidence.[/quote]
It actually makes me happy that they would call him up in a slump. It shows that small sample size isn’t driving all of their decisions. He’s been good enough to play AAA for a while it seems. Maybe they just thought everyone else was ready at this time too.
XoomwaffleQuote Reply
Just got a new job offer, fuckfaces.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]Yeah, it should be OPS. (dying laughing)
I need to fire our editor.[/quote]
[quote name=jtsunami]Just got a new job offer, fuckfaces.[/quote]
Discredited blog editor?
XoomwaffleQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]One’s life is worth more than $20. Maybe he didn’t want to pay the $5.99 shipping.[/quote]
That’s what made the risk worth it. He’d only caught 3 so far. He needed that one.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Xoomwaffle]Discredited blog editor?[/quote]Correct.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Just got a new job offer, fuckfaces.[/quote]I don’t think Al Yellon soliciting you for sex in the men’s room qualifies as a job offer. Amiright?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think Al Yellon soliciting you for sex in the men’s room qualifies as a job offer. Amiright?[/quote]
It’s more temporary employment than anything permanent.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]It’s more temporary employment than anything permanent.[/quote]Contract to hire.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t think Al Yellon soliciting you for sex in the men’s room qualifies as a job offer. Amiright?[/quote]
Where has Dick Cheese been, anyway?
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]
[/quote]That’s how I want swat teams entering homes.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]Where has Dick Cheese been, anyway?[/quote]I don’t know. I’ve wondered for awhile if Dick Cheese wasn’t someone we know just fucking around. I can’t remember if I looked into that on ACB or not.
mb21Quote Reply
I like JG’s signature on the bottom right. That’s art right there.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t know. I’ve wondered for awhile if Dick Cheese wasn’t someone we know just fucking around. I can’t remember if I looked into that on ACB or not.[/quote]
It wasn’t me.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]I like JG’s signature on the bottom right. That’s art right there.[/quote]
I added that when I started seeing my gifs being posted all over the Internet as other people’s work.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Well now I can’t find it, but some guy was posting all my shit on myspace or something right before the RRS. Dickhead.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]Well now I can’t find it, but some guy was posting all my shit on myspace or something right before the RRS. Dickhead.[/quote]
Sorry about that.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]Well now I can’t find it, but some guy was posting all my shit on myspace or something right before the RRS. Dickhead.[/quote]
What is this “myspace” you speak of?
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Sorry about that.[/quote]
Were you too busy playing with turtle dicks to cite them?
[quote name=Aisle424]What is this “myspace” you speak of?[/quote]
A place for fagets.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I don’t know. I’ve wondered for awhile if Dick Cheese wasn’t someone we know just fucking around. I can’t remember if I looked into that on ACB or not.[/quote]
The Dick Cheese posts are coming from INSIDE THE BLOG!!!
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]You guys are never going to guess which former Cub second baseman is bloviating about the honor of The Game in the Trib today.[/quote]Back in Sandberg’s day, players used to walk to the all-star game. Through 15 feet of snow.
ACTQuote Reply
MySpace should have a macro as (dying laughing)
jtsunamiQuote Reply
Be excited about Bryce Treggs, RC.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Fuck Mac Brown and the Longhorn he rode in on.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]Be excited about Bryce Treggs, RC.[/quote]
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/23021/pac-12-recruiting-update
Sweet. Now we just need a quarterback.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Fuck Mac Brown and the he rode in on.[/quote]
http://www.macbrownracing.com/
I hate cyclists too.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]It wasn’t me.[/quote]I knew that.
mb21Quote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
KG
Dae-Eun Rhee, LHP, Cubs (High-A Dayton): 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K. Korean lefty has been flashing signs of pre-Tommy John form; Solid fastball, plus changeup.
MishQuote Reply
didn’t rhee used to have a nice split finger fastball?
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]didn’t rhee used to have a nice split finger fastball?[/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
JG I can’t see your GIFs on my android, I propose you place each frame in a separate comment from now on.
GBTSQuote Reply
Poor JG:
http://reason.com/blog/2011/07/12/we-can-sell-our-beer-in-texas
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Poor JG:
http://reason.com/blog/2011/07/12/we-can-sell-our-beer-in-texas%5B/quote%5D
I don’t need that faget site.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]JG I can’t see your GIFs on my android, I propose you place each frame in a separate comment from now on.[/quote]
Sure thing.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Back in Sandberg’s day, players used to walk to the all-star game. Through 15 feet of snow.[/quote]I like how he both rips players who choose not to go, and also says the game lost honor when the starters only played for a few innings.
So essentially Ryno thinks Aramis should go to the All-Star game to not play. (dying laughing)
GBTSQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
This is a pretty strange gif you’re posting.
GBTSQuote Reply
That was the first gif.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
FanGraphs doing it’s early Top 50 Trade Value guys; Castro at 46:
MishQuote Reply
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/7/11/2270342/do-you-listen-to-the-yankees-when-they-come-calling#71707412
Only Alvin would suggest trading for Jesus Montero is bad while signing Scott Kazmir is good.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]This is a pretty strange gif you’re posting.[/quote]
They bought their tickets. They knew what they were getting into. I say…
Let ’em crash.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/7/11/2270342/do-you-listen-to-the-yankees-when-they-come-calling#71707412
Only Alvin would suggest trading for Jesus Montero is bad while signing Scott Kazmir is good.[/quote]
(dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish](dying inside)[/quote]
Al makes my heart and brain weep.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The truth hurts…and will set you free.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
RBI > OBP
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Not scoring runs while getting on base 40% of the time is definitely Kosuke’s fault.
GBTSQuote Reply
Bruce Levine —> doesn’t get paid for his opinions.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Bruce Levine —> doesn’t get paid for his opinions.[/quote]
Or so they would have you believe.
[quote name=GBTS]Not scoring runs while getting on base 40% of the time is definitely Kosuke’s fault.[/quote]
Kosuke isn’t fast enough to take second base every time he draws a walk.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Is there a reason why Daytona played 2 7-inning games yesterday? Do they always do that for double headers?
jtsunamiQuote Reply
Yeah, doubleheaders are 7 innings in the minors.
mb21Quote Reply
Kyler Burke (former OF): 4 IP (in relief), 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Yeah, doubleheaders are 7 innings in the minors.[/quote]Trey McNutt might be able to pitch half a game if he started in a double header. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Jeffrey Baez, the only player to really follow at DSL1, is now on the DSL2 squad with the other good players (Candelario, Penalver)
jtsunamiQuote Reply
To be fair, I think “platoon player” is a pretty apt description of Kosuke. I actually like the Johnson/Fukudome platoon in RF and leadoff that Quade has settled into, as both have good OBP numbers (career-wise) against opposite-hand pitching.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]To be fair, I think “platoon player” is a pretty apt description of Kosuke. I actually like the Johnson/Fukudome platoon in RF and leadoff that Quade has settled into, as both have good OBP numbers (career-wise) against opposite-hand pitching.[/quote]
I was okay with the platoon player part, and it’s true that he’s been unproductive relative to what people perceive of his contract, but the rest of Levine’s response was just so mindnumbingly stupid.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]but the rest of Levine’s response was just a Levine response.[/quote].
MishQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
^^^ should say turtle dicks
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish].[/quote]
While that is a bit redundant it also tells us what we need to know about Levine… (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]
[/quote]
Hard to believe that comment didn’t work with ‘Cuddles18778’ on Club Penguin.
Chris DickersonQuote Reply
Trade scenario I saw on a forum that makes too much sense:
Marlon Byrd, Aramis Ramirez to CWS for Dayan Viciedo + garbage
White Sox get upgrades at 3B and LF for a push this year and next. Kenny Williams loves trading prospects.
Cubs clear CF for BJax, get an excellent OF spec in Viciedo. Then you flip Fukudome and put Viciedo in RF. Defensively, it would be bad, but idk how much worse it could be (dying laughing)
Flaherty or DJ fill in 3B
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]
Then you flip Fukudome for Nolasco and put Viciedo in RF. [/quote]
It just might work.
Aisle424Quote Reply
http://www.isadancewithdragonsoutyet.com/
and…it’s wrong
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]
[/quote]I see Al has remodeled BCB. Good for him.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]http://www.isadancewithdragonsoutyet.com/
and…it’s wrong[/quote]Wrong. It is on my doorstep. I just need to finish AFFC first.
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=jtsunami]Trade scenario I saw on a forum that makes too much sense:
Marlon Byrd, Aramis Ramirez to CWS for Dayan Viciedo + garbage
White Sox get upgrades at 3B and LF for a push this year and next. Kenny Williams loves trading prospects.
Cubs clear CF for BJax, get an excellent OF spec in Viciedo. Then you flip Fukudome and put Viciedo in RF. Defensively, it would be bad, but idk how much worse it could be (dying laughing)
Flaherty or DJ fill in 3B[/quote]Where do I sign?
mb21Quote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/articles/general/obstructed-view-demographics-survey.html
mb21Quote Reply