Jan
25

Open Thread: Comparing Aces

By

doc-vs-cc-vs-johan

(click image for a larger view)

Win value data from Fangraphs. This BtB post was my inspiration.

Here’s your open thread. Feel free to talk about the above chart, the NHL All-Star Game, whatever you like. Just be nice.

Categories : Open Thread

137 Comments»

  1. Kevin G. says:

    So we can say we have the best pitcher in NY!

    • Steve H says:

      Considering CC was better than Santana in 2007 in the AL, and in 2008 in the NL, I’d say yes.

      • Mike A. says:

        For what it’s worth, win values are adjusted for league, park, the whole nine.

        • A lot of the movement up and down on the chart has to do with how many innings were pitched (obviously).

          But what’s interesting is looking where the inning totals stayed relatively the same. Johan Santana’s workload was pretty consistent (excluding 2002 and 2003) but his value has decreased dramatically.

          If you put Halladays innings pitched against his win value graph it would be hard to figure out which was which. That means he has been pretty consistently filthy good as long he has been healthy.

          Then there is CC Sabathia whose workload increased these past two years, but has been more consistent with his workload. He has just been pitching better each year. That’s exciting.

  2. Interesting comparison.

    Guys, I know this is weird, but I think my ability to read a baseball statistical table is going to help me with my nightmare/thesis class.

    Weird, huh?

  3. Interesting graph. I don’t think anyone expects Sabathia to replicate his second half from last year.

    • Mike A. says:

      No, not at all. Sabathia’s career trend in the graph looks very much like a bell curve that peaked last year. If he performs like he did over the last seven years during the next seven years of his career, the Yanks will have gotten there moneys worth.

  4. Steve H says:

    Good article debating where A-Rod and Tex should hit. For all of the people who don’t believe in lineup protection there’s some info in there that show otherwise.

    http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....m-to-solve

    • Mike Pop says:

      Ya I read that earlier. At first I said Tex 3rd when we signed him but now I’m thinking that A-Rod should get the most at bats.

      • Chris says:

        The difference in at bats is pretty minimal. I think it comes out to 2-3 total bases more per season if A-Rod bats 3rd and gets the extra at bats. I also remember a study that showed minimal impact by lineup protection.

        I think the bigger factor is the differences between Tex and A-Rod. In terms of OBP they are almost equal, but A-Rod has better power numbers. To score the most runs, you want as many high OBP hitters in front of your sluggers as possible. Look at it this way. Who do you want as the three hitters in front of A-Rod:

        Gardner-Damon-Jeter or Damon-Jeter-Tex

        Obviously there will be more baserunners on in the second scenario, which translates into more runs when A-Rod crushes his meaningless 1st inning home runs.

        There’s a similar argument in the NL for hitting the pitcher 8th – it actually averages out to more runs over the course of the season.

        • Steve H says:

          Read the article and see the difference in Chipper’s slugging %. Protection matters.

          • Chris says:

            If you look at the game logs, his SLG peaked in early May (at about 735) and then declined gradually the rest of the season to end at 574.

            His line from May 8 through the trade was .333/.457/.510/.967

            His line from the trade through the end of season was .352/.481/.516/.997

            Basically, Chipper had an insane April, and then settled into typical production after that.

  5. Jamal G. says:

    Wow, Dustin Pedroia’s brother, Brett Philip, has been arrested on suspicion of child molestation: http://www.dailydemocrat.com/c.....ost_viewed

  6. Jake H says:

    Santana who?

  7. Jamal G. says:

    Project Prospect has ranked the ten-best center fielders in baseball (Grady Sizemore and Bossman Jr. top the list): http://projectprospect.com/art.....s-under-30

    *Oh, Rebecca, search “Dominance Factor” over at PP, that stat maybe something akin to what you were looking for.

  8. Kevin G. says:

    Sox add second year to Varitek offer:

    A baseball source tells The Boston Globe that the Red Sox have made a contract offer to the veteran catcher and team captain. Without citing specifics, the report states the proposal given to Varitek’s agent, Scott Boras, may include a second guaranteed season.

    The paper says the Red Sox “could ensure Varitek a second year by guaranteeing it outright or making it attainable through an option.”

    http://tinyurl.com/cepftp

    Thank you Theo “Elite GM” Epstein

    • Chris says:

      As a backup catcher for the Sox, I don’t know that he’d be that bad. He’d only suck 1-2 days a week, and you’d still get all of the intangible benefits from having him around (you know, if there are any).

      Of course, they still don’t have a starter, so maybe this is a bad move for them…

    • Januz says:

      It will be no shock if Varitek returns to Boston. What I find interesting is after the supposed “anger” over the Manny and Tex business last year, they would continue to do business with Boras. They have shown themselves to be total phonies, and untrustworthy. If they were really angry, and were about standing up for principles and Epstein was the “Genius” everyone makes him out to be, they would have said no to Veritek, and traded for a catcher instead (Ex: Bucholtz for Laird).

      • Steve H says:

        They won’t trade Bucholz for Salty or Teagarden, you think they should have traded him for Laird?? They’re 1000 times better off with one or two year of Tek than trading the laptop thief for Gerald freaking Laird.

        • Mike Pop says:

          The only guy it would make sense to give up Buchholz in a package for would be for the elite catcher types like Mauer, McCann, and Weiters. But obviously none of those guys are going anywhere anytime soon.

          • Mike Pop says:

            Add Martin in there, that would probably make sense.

            • Jay CT... Ben Sheets biggest fan says:

              Whoa whoa whoa- If the Sox want to trade Mr Laptop for Laird, I say good for the Sox. Theo would be a GENIUS if he pulled that move off, as I am sure there is something that adds to Lairds grit that we Yankee fans don’t see, and Buchholz is just not a good guy, as evidenced by his need for computers.

        • A.D. says:

          Exactly you would want Salty, Ramirez, or Teagarden before Gerald Laird. The tigers traded for Laird because the postpect cost wasnt that high

      • A.D. says:

        They can’t really stop doing business with an agent, that would have legal ramifications. Maybe they shy away from his players, but they do need a catcher, and Boras represents so many top guys you couldn’t shy away that easily

        • Jack says:

          I don’t know about any legal ramifications, but your last part is absolutely right. You can’t avoid Boras if you want the top talent.

    • Mike Pop says:

      4 NO HITTAS!

  9. Januz says:

    I just read that story and it is extremely pathetic. I just hope people do not take cheap shots at Pedroia and the Red Sox over it. There are few crimes worse than child molestation, and there is nothing humorous in it. This guy, if guilty, needs to be locked up, and treated for his demented behavior

    • I agree that it’s extremley serious, though I’m more a fan of ‘this guy is probably diseased and needs some serious medical help’, because I refuse to believe that humans can be that innately evil…

      • Januz says:

        I wish people were not that evil, but history shows they are. Hitler, Stalin, Saddam, Charles Manson, and serial killers like David Berkowitz come to mind. There is no excuse for child abuse and molestation. I do not subscribe to the excuse “I was abused as a child”. My attitude is simply this: If you did not like it done to you, why do it to else? Finally, if someone enjoys kiddie porn, or thinks about hurting others, then it is up to them to get the help that they need before taking actions that can ruin lives (including their own).

        • Jay CT... Ben Sheets biggest fan says:

          Actually, according to the cycle of violence theory, it makes perfect sense that the abusee becomes the abuser as they become mentally scarred and need to take out their frustrations. It is the reason that this type of behavior happens. Roughly 45 percent of all child molestation happens from family members, and another 42 percent come from neighbors or friends of the family. Therefore, roughly 87% come from people who are close to the home. Its best to talk to your children as early as possible about this.

          I am working on my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) and opening my own practice. So Januz, your attitude is completley wrong. It is very understandable, but wrong none the less. We seek out like minded people, which is why children who witness abuse end up either abusing their wives or falling victim to an abusive husband. I say husband because 95% of documented domestic violence is Man to Woman

  10. Matt says:

    How has “Monk” not gotten old at this point?

  11. UWS says:

    Anyone else royally pissed that the NHL ASG is on f-king Versus?! Why put on an all star-game if half the people can’t watch it anyway? NHL is so retarded sometimes.

  12. To all fantasy basketball players: I’m looking to trade Andrew Bogut and sell high on Al Thornton and Charlie Villanueva. If I add Monta Ellis to such a deal, do you think I could get Dwyane Wade or LeBron James with some combination of the four?

  13. Jamal G. says:

    How can any rational person put stock into postseason numbers – let alone making conclusions about a player’s “clutchiness” – when Jeff fuckin’ Weaver can dominate a World Series clincher?

  14. Jamal G. says:

    If Ben Sheets is looking for 2/16, do you guys think the Yankees should sign up for that? Personally, I still want Phil Hughes as the fifth starter, and that’s my most preferred option (yes, even though I believe that Andy Pettitte’s 2008 has been quite exaggerated, I still want Hughes as the #5).

    • A.D. says:

      My guess is they don’t, because they don’t want to shell out that much guarenteed.

      Should they… probably, have a redic 4th starter, and if he pitches great this year, and you want to open up a rotation slot next year, then trade him

    • Mike W. says:

      I am SO in at 2/16. Sheets has amazing stuff. Sheets at 2/16 > > > Hughes for the next two years.

      Also, for all the well, Sheets will get injured stuff- Hughes will still be available to pitch in his spot even if Sheets did get injured.

      • You have to start Hughes’s development at some point…so no, no Sheets, no Pettitte.

        • Mike W. says:

          Why can’t Hughes continue his development in Triple A? Work on his pitches? Work on his command….

          He is so young. He doesn’t have to be a Cy Young Winner by 23.

          • Mike Pop says:

            Yea but what does he have left to prove at AAA. I can see him down there for a month or two but not two years.

            • Jay CT... Ben Sheets biggest fan says:

              I agree with both points. I think that Hughes can continue his development in both levels, and that there would be plenty of time if they signed Ben Sheets as you are only gettin 20 starts out of Sheets. Mix in the time off for Joba and Burnett, and you have the perfect amount of starting pitcher. Plus, it is everyones opinion that “having too much starting pitching is a good thing.”

        • Spaceben.Sheets says:

          Hughes can develop in AAA, might even be better for him considering how young he is. If can develop his 3rd and 4th pitches further without having to worry about winning every game. Once he feels really comfortable, I’m sure there will be enough innings available for him in the majors; out of Sheets, Burnett, Wang, and Joba (also on an innings limit) I’m sure at least one of them will get hurt for an extended amount of time leaving plenty of innings on the table for Hughes or whichever young gun steps up.

          If Sheets is healthy, he could possibly be our number two; that curve is filthy in any league. We’re basically gambling and trying to hit it big with a Sheets signing if we do make that signing.

    • toad says:

      If you sign Sheets it’s not because you’re looking for a #5 starter, though he might be it. It’s because you’re gambling that he will be healthy and be a top starter at a bargain price.

  15. Phil in LA says:

    Those Pedroia’s are such kidders. Enjoy the “Where’s Your Brother?” chants “MVP.”

  16. Phil in LA says:

    Do you think it or something like it won’t be chanted?

    • Jay CT... Ben Sheets biggest fan says:

      First off use the reply button. Second, you know damn well you are saying it like you would be in favor of it, with the smug “MVP” line at the end. Pedroia had a hell of a year, and probably did deserve that award, thats the first thing. Secondly, there are some lines that should NEVER be crossed.

      Someone earlier said something in regards to this type of shit occuring over and over again. This is the problem, is some people think its still a joke. This is the reason shit like this continues and is so difficult to stop. I apologize if it seems I am going off on you, but in the line of work I am in, its a touchy subject. Since October, we have dealt with a 9 month old boy shaken so badly that his brains became smashed against the skull, bruising on the shoulders, ribs, broken clavicle, and a fractured fibula. The baby suprisingly is looking like he will make it, and is in our custody but in the Hospital for Special Surgeries in NYC. Also, a 2 year old was anally raped so badly that they could not stop the bleeding without preforming surgery. The rapist was placed on suicide watch because he felt “so bad” that he did it, and promised never to do it again. How about the people from Guatamalia in Stamford who chose to place their newborn in a black bag and stab it before putting it in the dumpster, because they couldn’t afford the kids they have already. This stuff is not a joke. Baseball is a privledge, a way to escape reality. We are all lucky if our biggest problem is the Yankees losing to the Red Sox.

      • Mike Pop says:

        Jesus Christ dude. Got some real fucked up people in this world, no doubt. Sure as hell a sad thing.

        • Jay CT... Ben Sheets biggest fan says:

          Yeah its sad and its really hard for me to leave the job. I get a bit heated, and I apologize. Its just that is one thing I can’t handle; one thing I can’t tolerate. If RAB were to make a big joke out of it, I very well may had walked away, because yes its embarrassing to Pedroia and all, but there are some innocent kids somewhere getting some shitty stuff done. Think about when you stopped believeing in the tooth fairy, or Santa Clause… or when you first found out Mariano isn’t going to close games forever! Children are only able to be naive for so long in their life. I hate when people take their innocense away.

  17. BigBlueAL says:

    Hey guys got a question. I buy the Baseball Prospectus every year and LOVE it, but the other night on a Knicks blog I read an article linked to Basketball Prospectus talking about how D’Antoni’s teams play alot better D than people think. My question if you guys know is do they publish a Basketball Prospectus before every season with team by team sections and player analysis just like the Baseball Prospectus????

  18. Aaron says:

    Is there a reason why the belly fat ad is showing up twice? Wasn’t once more than enough guys?

    • Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

      Because the ad market right now is horrendous. Many TV/Radio stations are replaying the same ads twice in a commercial break because those are the only ads they have that are being paid for.

  19. BigBlueAL says:

    If anyone cares, there is an interview with Tom Verducci on SI.com about the Torre book:

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html

    • Artist formerly known as 'The' Steve says:

      The 3rd person narrative stuff just doesn’t fly, I’m sorry. Are we supposed to believe that Verducci (a national writer) was coming up with all these intimate details about the Yankee clubhouse and front office situation?

      And maybe I’m not getting this, but why is the “3rd person” any kind of explanation for airing all this stuff? Does he think that players or fans will buy this attempt at distancing himself from his own book? Torre’s name is on the cover, Torre has “Read, re-read and re-read” the book according to Verducci. The literary device looks like something designed to give Torre some cover and still take his pot shots at the people on his enemies list. But it doesn’t fly.

    • VO says:

      where can we find this book anyway?

  20. Matt says:

    Just a self-promoting heads up:

    The pinch-hitting piece on LoHud is going to be from me tomorrow so check it out and don’t rip me a new asshole.

  21. Drew says:

    guess i still don’t understand excel.. lol

  22. Rafi says:

    Hey Mike, you mentioned the other day that you usually get video games early. Have you gotten FO Manager yet? I’m waiting to hear a review on it before I spend $40 or so on it. Thanks.

    • Mike A. says:

      No. The place that sells the games early is sticking to the book on this one. I’m not going to get it until Tuesday like everyone else. I should have a review up by Wednesday or Thursday.

      • Rafi says:

        That stinks. The one time that I’m contemplating buying the game or not, your video store decides to go by the book. Just my luck.

  23. Scott of 3 Kids Tickets says:

    Am I crazy for wanting Griffey for the bench? We really miss a real veteran presence on the bench and it seems he’ll be super-cheap… That and sign Pettite or Sheets!

    -Scott

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