Comments on: The UmpBump All-Star Team http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:48:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56196 Paul Moro Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:27:30 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56196 Simon, are you saying that we don't give Michael Young any love? Three out of the four who voted for an AL SS picked Young. I had to abstain because I have morals. No SS in the AL deserves much credit this year. As for everybody else, that's probably because Young has only had one really good season - in 2005. The others have been good, but nothing amazing. Simon, are you saying that we don’t give Michael Young any love? Three out of the four who voted for an AL SS picked Young. I had to abstain because I have morals. No SS in the AL deserves much credit this year.

As for everybody else, that’s probably because Young has only had one really good season – in 2005. The others have been good, but nothing amazing.

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]]> By: Simon http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56195 Simon Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:17:52 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56195 Why does Michael Young get no respect? One of three players in baseball history with 200 hits five straight seasons. On pace to do it again this year. Plays above-average defense. Doesn't date supermodels. What's not to love? Why does Michael Young get no respect? One of three players in baseball history with 200 hits five straight seasons. On pace to do it again this year. Plays above-average defense. Doesn’t date supermodels. What’s not to love?

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]]> By: Danny O http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56194 Danny O Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:16:08 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56194 Smell? Where the hell is Svee? Smell?

Where the hell is Svee?

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56193 Paul Moro Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:53:31 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56193 Isn't that a little backwards? JD Drew has been a big leaguer for 11 years now. Josh Hamilton has played 180 games in his entire career. We've seen enough of JD Drew to know who he is - a guy who OBPs around .400, slugs around .500, has a tendency to get injured, and is hated by every team's fans. We haven't seen nearly enough of Hamilton. The guy's obviously an incredibly talented player. But he hasn't played enough to prove all that much. And he too will be "inconsistent" at certain points in his career. Happens to everyone. Isn’t that a little backwards? JD Drew has been a big leaguer for 11 years now. Josh Hamilton has played 180 games in his entire career. We’ve seen enough of JD Drew to know who he is – a guy who OBPs around .400, slugs around .500, has a tendency to get injured, and is hated by every team’s fans. We haven’t seen nearly enough of Hamilton. The guy’s obviously an incredibly talented player. But he hasn’t played enough to prove all that much. And he too will be “inconsistent” at certain points in his career. Happens to everyone.

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56192 Lyndsay Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:14:04 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56192 Sarah - I think it's because most shortstops are mediocre at best. thus, relative mediocrity makes Lugo look better. which is very aggravating. I think Lugo is probably a better hitter than we give him credit for, but his horrendous fielding overshadows his potential at the plate. my definition of "streaky" is up and down through the first three and a half months of a season. since you brought up OPS to defend your position on Hamilton v. Drew, I dont' think you're looking at it over the full course of the past few months. if you look at the stats since the first regular season game (and thats what All-Star should be based on, not the past 7 or 30 days), Hamilton has been more consistent than Drew. Drew's OPS in June was an unbelievable 1.310 while April, May, and July have all been in the .700 range. but his pre-OPS avg together is .964. Hamilton's is .922, but his lowest OPS between April and July was .813 in June, while his highest, in April, was .982. you can make the same comparison between the two if you look at batting average, HRs and hits - same trend. so yeah, one outstanding month and three fairly average months vs. three and a half great months is streaky vs. consistent to me. Drew had a freakish June, and that's all you're basing it on. I also don't think it's fair to leave Hamilton out just because he's done meth, pitchers haven't figured him out yet, he switched leagues, or whatever else there is. none of that matters. to me, the jury is still out on DREW, not Hamilton. and poor Joe Mauer - he's been batting over .300 since May and yet he almost lost the vote to a guy batting a pre-all star .220. Sarah – I think it’s because most shortstops are mediocre at best. thus, relative mediocrity makes Lugo look better. which is very aggravating. I think Lugo is probably a better hitter than we give him credit for, but his horrendous fielding overshadows his potential at the plate.

my definition of “streaky” is up and down through the first three and a half months of a season. since you brought up OPS to defend your position on Hamilton v. Drew, I dont’ think you’re looking at it over the full course of the past few months. if you look at the stats since the first regular season game (and thats what All-Star should be based on, not the past 7 or 30 days), Hamilton has been more consistent than Drew. Drew’s OPS in June was an unbelievable 1.310 while April, May, and July have all been in the .700 range. but his pre-OPS avg together is .964. Hamilton’s is .922, but his lowest OPS between April and July was .813 in June, while his highest, in April, was .982. you can make the same comparison between the two if you look at batting average, HRs and hits – same trend. so yeah, one outstanding month and three fairly average months vs. three and a half great months is streaky vs. consistent to me. Drew had a freakish June, and that’s all you’re basing it on.

I also don’t think it’s fair to leave Hamilton out just because he’s done meth, pitchers haven’t figured him out yet, he switched leagues, or whatever else there is. none of that matters. to me, the jury is still out on DREW, not Hamilton.

and poor Joe Mauer – he’s been batting over .300 since May and yet he almost lost the vote to a guy batting a pre-all star .220.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56191 Paul Moro Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:28:29 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56191 Danny, you didn't know? The Braves smell. Danny, you didn’t know?

The Braves smell.

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]]> By: Danny O http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56190 Danny O Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:21:57 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56190 Sarah - What do you got against the Braves? Sarah -

What do you got against the Braves?

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]]> By: Sean http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56189 Sean Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:29:36 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56189 Sarah - I am honored by your verbal tongue lashing, and apologize for questioning your judgment. Actually, you guys need to let my wife pick her all stars, it would be just like that Bugs Bunny baseball episode, but instead of Bugs, all positions would be played by Cole Hamels: first base, Cole Hamels, second base, Cole Hamels. You get the idea. I know he's a pitcher - but this would not deter her. Sarah – I am honored by your verbal tongue lashing, and apologize for questioning your judgment.

Actually, you guys need to let my wife pick her all stars, it would be just like that Bugs Bunny baseball episode, but instead of Bugs, all positions would be played by Cole Hamels:

first base, Cole Hamels, second base, Cole Hamels.

You get the idea.

I know he’s a pitcher – but this would not deter her.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56188 Sarah Green Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:45:57 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56188 Okay okay okay okay, first of all, Sean, I know your heart is in the right place, dude, but I am a little insulted that you really expected me to vote for 'Tek. He's having such a terrible year at the plate! Do you really think so little of my judgment? I CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT YOU. Second, Keagan gets props for voting for Russell Martin. I love Martin. He's on my fantasy team. And I think I actually voted for him on my real All Star ballot back in May. I love that he's a catcher who steals. Hotness! And finally, I completely disagree about Hamilton, Lyndsay. We have no way of knowing whether he's streaky or not, actually---because he was off doing DRUGS and getting TATTOOS for so many years. I read a very convincing article---maybe on BP? can't remember now---arguing that pitchers still haven't managed to adjust to him because of his relative lack of experience in the bigs and his subsequent switching of leagues. I think the jury is still out on Hamilton. And Drew has the best OPS of any AL outfielder. How can you deny him? And about the shortstops....Michael Young is actually a better choice than Jeter, at least by the numbers. Looks like I didn't have to go over to the Dark Side after all. Guess who has the best OBP, though, of any AL shortstop? Yes, it is none other than...JULIO LUGO. GAAAAAAAH! How is that even possible?! Okay okay okay okay, first of all, Sean, I know your heart is in the right place, dude, but I am a little insulted that you really expected me to vote for ‘Tek. He’s having such a terrible year at the plate! Do you really think so little of my judgment? I CANNOT EVEN LOOK AT YOU.

Second, Keagan gets props for voting for Russell Martin. I love Martin. He’s on my fantasy team. And I think I actually voted for him on my real All Star ballot back in May. I love that he’s a catcher who steals. Hotness!

And finally, I completely disagree about Hamilton, Lyndsay. We have no way of knowing whether he’s streaky or not, actually—because he was off doing DRUGS and getting TATTOOS for so many years. I read a very convincing article—maybe on BP? can’t remember now—arguing that pitchers still haven’t managed to adjust to him because of his relative lack of experience in the bigs and his subsequent switching of leagues. I think the jury is still out on Hamilton. And Drew has the best OPS of any AL outfielder. How can you deny him?

And about the shortstops….Michael Young is actually a better choice than Jeter, at least by the numbers. Looks like I didn’t have to go over to the Dark Side after all.

Guess who has the best OBP, though, of any AL shortstop? Yes, it is none other than…JULIO LUGO. GAAAAAAAH! How is that even possible?!

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/07/10/the-umpbump-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-56187 Lyndsay Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:49:42 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=2437#comment-56187 ...and were there really NO other options better than Jeter at SS? …and were there really NO other options better than Jeter at SS?

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