2015 MLB Postseason Thread: Xaj Really Hated the Blue Jays

[Moss]

Gold glove award has always been a joke. That was pretty much confirmed in 99 when Palmeiro won despite spending the majority of the season as the DH.

it is at least much better than it used to be, as pointed out in the fangraphs articles. Crawford winning still annoys me because I didn't see any statistics by which he was better than Simmons, even the traditional ones (innings, errors, etc)

[Xajii]

he's still put up positive oWAR (offensive WAR) despite hovering in the 90-100 OPS+ range every season since the bar for SS hitting is so low. He's still only 25 so he has time to improve offensively.

and um, he's 25. if we were planning a 10 year rebuild and wanted everyone 18 and younger, sure, trade him. the team is hoping to contend in 2017 when the new stadium is ready, making him 26-27 and just entering his prime

Aight, let me preface this by saying I like Simmons a lot and I know what it's like to be on a team that pretty much sucks and you only have one or two guys that you actually enjoy watchign and the prospect of them leaving is shitty. I'm not trying to rain on your parade here, but let's be real.

He isn't hovering in the 90-100 OPS+, his 3 full seasons have been 90, 75, and 86. His career OPS is .666. His power has gone DOWN, not up. His BB% is below league average. In fact, the only saving grace in his entire hitting profile is his low K%, but he could frankly use to increase if if it meant swinging a little freakin' harder now and then. I mean, seriously, I know he's a shortstop and a small ish guy, but he's barely even legging out doubles. And that's another thing - he's adding nothing on the basepaths. Most players of his ilk would at least be swiping some bags - something you see a lot of low-power, low-average guys like him do to add to their value - but not Simmons.

I don't know at what age I'm allowed to say someone can't hit, but nothing in Simmons' career demonstrates anything other than a below average hitter and a non-factor on the basepaths. He's not trending up, either.

Simply put, is a defense-only guy really worth building around if you can get something solid in return? I don't think so.

[Melena]

it is at least much better than it used to be, as pointed out in the fangraphs articles. Crawford winning still annoys me because I didn't see any statistics by which he was better than Simmons, even the traditional ones (innings, errors, etc)

Well since the award is voted on by managers (can't vote for your own player), and some managers being incredibly stubborn to sabermetrics, Crawford most likely got the win because A: he's the better bat, B: on a more well known and watched team, and C: can be a bit on the flashy end. Andrelton should have won, but Crawford is by no means a bad shortstop. He probably is safely the #2 shortstop and those two are probably going to be trading off on winning the gold glove every year.

The one that surprised me, and I never noticed how good of a defender he is, is Goldschmidt.

[archibaldcrane]

it is at least much better than it used to be, as pointed out in the fangraphs articles. Crawford winning still annoys me because I didn't see any statistics by which he was better than Simmons, even the traditional ones (innings, errors, etc)

SABR Defensive Index has Crawford over Simmons, and SDI is 25% of the gold glove vote as of 3 years ago.

http://sabr.org/sdi/2015-final#NLSS

[Moss]

Aight, let me preface this by saying I like Simmons a lot and I know what it's like to be on a team that pretty much sucks and you only have one or two guys that you actually enjoy watchign and the prospect of them leaving is shitty. I'm not trying to rain on your parade here, but let's be real.

He isn't hovering in the 90-100 OPS+, his 3 full seasons have been 90, 75, and 86. His career OPS is .666. His power has gone DOWN, not up. His BB% is below league average. In fact, the only saving grace in his entire hitting profile is his low K%, but he could frankly use to increase if if it meant swinging a little freakin' harder now and then. I mean, seriously, I know he's a shortstop and a small ish guy, but he's barely even legging out doubles. And that's another thing - he's adding nothing on the basepaths. Most players of his ilk would at least be swiping some bags - something you see a lot of low-power, low-average guys like him do to add to their value - but not Simmons.

I don't know at what age I'm allowed to say someone can't hit, but nothing in Simmons' career demonstrates anything other than a below average hitter and a non-factor on the basepaths. He's not trending up, either.

Simply put, is a defense-only guy really worth building around if you can get something solid in return? I don't think so.

He's averaged 1.3 oWAR per year across his 3 full seasons. As crappy as the traditional stats look, he is still above replacement level offensively at SS.

I don't care if he's "defense-only" - value is value. He is young, valuable, and cost-controlled at a prime position. Unless you're getting a hell of a prospect package, there is no logic to trading him, which then gives you a hole at SS.

Well since the award is voted on by managers (can't vote for your own player), and some managers being incredibly stubborn to sabermetrics, Crawford most likely got the win because A: he's the better bat, B: on a more well known and watched team, and C: can be a bit on the flashy end. Andrelton should have won, but Crawford is by no means a bad shortstop. He probably is safely the #2 shortstop and those two are probably going to be trading off on winning the gold glove every year.

The one that surprised me, and I never noticed how good of a defender he is, is Goldschmidt.

Nothing against Crawford. Main complaint was I hadn't seen him higher on any ranking stat until archi's post below. I wouldn't be mad unless it was Jeter or something.

SABR Defensive Index has Crawford over Simmons, and SDI is 25% of the gold glove vote as of 3 years ago.

http://sabr.org/sdi/2015-final#NLSS

welp

[archibaldcrane]

Simmons was 13th out of 20 qualifying SSs offensively, and 11th for baserunning. SS is a shit offensive position, but he's simply mediocre at it, not horrible.

[Pringles]

Simmons is gonna be slightly better Brendan Ryan in 5ish years. Amazing defensive short, but not much of an offensive player, most likely hitting 8th in the lineup. If you could get some quality pitching for him, some say Mets would toss Wheeler for him eventually, you should go for it.

[Xajii]

Simmons traded to the Angels.

RIP Moss

[Moss]

Simmons has already put up more oWAR and dWAR than Ryan has for his entire career.

I don't want a really volatile asset like Wheeler, a young pitcher already with TJ surgery, over a very good position player.

[Moss]

Simmons traded to the Angels.

RIP Moss

fuck everything

[archibaldcrane]

I heard the Angels GM frequents BG and decided to pull the trigger after he saw Moss's convincing arguments about Simmons' value.

[Akiyama]

I love the Braves, but at this point, I'm fucking done. Bunch of cheap assholes getting bit in the ass for them splurging on BJ Melvin Upton and Dan Uggla.

Fuck them.

[Alderaan]

Ugh i just saw the Simmons trade. Not happy.

Trading away everyone for pitching prospects in hopes that they pan out at some point is depressing.

I blame everything on us trading Wainwright all those years ago. Haven't recovered from that yet!

[Moss]

I love the Braves, but at this point, I'm fucking done. Bunch of cheap assholes getting bit in the ass for them splurging on BJ Melvin Upton and Dan Uggla.

Fuck them.

Ugh i just saw the Simmons trade. Not happy.

Trading away everyone for pitching prospects in hopes that they pan out at some point is depressing.

I blame everything on us trading Wainwright all those years ago. Haven't recovered from that yet!

I'm done y'all.

And by done I mean I'll come back if/when we become decent again but I give zero fucks about this rebuild now. 2 solid but unspectacular pitching prospects, which we are already loaded with. What a fucking joke.

BOTH OF MY BRAVES SHIRSEYS ARE NOW DEFUNCT

[Obsidian]

At least Donaldson won a Silver Slugger.

[Akiyama]

I'm done y'all.

And by done I mean I'll come back if/when we become decent again but I give zero fucks about this rebuild now. 2 solid but unspectacular pitching prospects, which we are already loaded with. What a fucking joke.

BOTH OF MY BRAVES SHIRSEYS ARE NOW DEFUNCT

I'm not the type that quits on a team because they get bad, or because they have to rebuild. I've been a Braves fan since I was old enough to know wtf a sport was (I was 3, 1989), so I'm not gonna just quit on the Braves as a whole. I'm more done with the shit management. It's been awful for a good while. I get 'going young' but then like.. look at our catcher position or Nick Markakis. It's sad. I"d like Atlanta to get good, but.. I still hate the fact they're building another stadium.

[Moss]

I'm not the type that quits on a team because they get bad, or because they have to rebuild. I've been a Braves fan since I was old enough to know wtf a sport was (I was 3, 1989), so I'm not gonna just quit on the Braves as a whole. I'm more done with the shit management. It's been awful for a good while. I get 'going young' but then like.. look at our catcher position or Nick Markakis. It's sad. I"d like Atlanta to get good, but.. I still hate the fact they're building another stadium.

I can't actually quit on them even if I wanted to, which I kind of do. I'll still be following them just because I like baseball and I can't see myself switching to a different team and caring on the same level as I do now.

Keith Law said he was surprised by the trade just because defense is valued so highly right now, he would have expected a serious haul. He still called it a "fair value" trade, which has me off the ledge a little bit. Still:

"You can make an argument that we'll win more games with Aybar," Coppolella said.

No shithead, no you can't. His offense isn't any better and his defense is way worse. Shut up and call it like it is.

[Xajii]

I feel for you guys. I'm sitting here just waiting for my team to be plunged. Difference is we won't get any return.

[Melena]

It's an even year. I'm already planning for the parade.

[Bregor]

Plenty of room on the THEO bandwagon, former Barves/Oreos fans