Comments on: Who’s gonna replace Beltran on the NL All-Star team? http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:30:20 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: kensai http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59719 kensai Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:22:07 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59719 Brian B. I have other things to do right now, but no. Brian B.

I have other things to do right now, but no.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59712 Coley Ward Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:52:55 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59712 Let's compare Kemp and Howard. Batting average? Kemp by a mile. OBP? Again, Kemp. OPS? Kemp. OPS plus? Kemp. Brian, you must be talking about Howard's superior counting stats (HR, runs, and RBI). But he's only got more runs and RBI because he bats fourth in the Phillies lineup, and Joe Torre insists on batting Kemp eighth. Add in Kemp's stolen bases and the fact that he is a far better defender at a far more difficult position, and Kemp is the more valuable player. Let’s compare Kemp and Howard. Batting average? Kemp by a mile. OBP? Again, Kemp. OPS? Kemp. OPS plus? Kemp.

Brian, you must be talking about Howard’s superior counting stats (HR, runs, and RBI). But he’s only got more runs and RBI because he bats fourth in the Phillies lineup, and Joe Torre insists on batting Kemp eighth.

Add in Kemp’s stolen bases and the fact that he is a far better defender at a far more difficult position, and Kemp is the more valuable player.

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]]> By: Brian B http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59711 Brian B Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:23:34 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59711 Kensai -Howard has worse numbers than Reynolds, Sandoval, and Kemp? The all-star game is over but thats a false statement. Sandoval is sooo over-rated! He has decent power numbers and a high average. Everyone is going crazy because theirs a new name on the scene and hes batting .333!! Howard has similar numbers to Reynolds and definetly has better numbers than Kemp. Kensai

-Howard has worse numbers than Reynolds, Sandoval, and Kemp? The all-star game is over but thats a false statement. Sandoval is sooo over-rated! He has decent power numbers and a high average. Everyone is going crazy because theirs a new name on the scene and hes batting .333!! Howard has similar numbers to Reynolds and definetly has better numbers than Kemp.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59676 Coley Ward Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:34:37 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59676 Nick, you're right that Pence played mostly in CF his rookie year. Not sure how I missed that. For what it's worth, he was a below average CF, but not way below average. -3.1 UZR. But that's a relatively small sample of 95 games, and he hasn't played a minute in CF since 2007. Nick, you’re right that Pence played mostly in CF his rookie year. Not sure how I missed that. For what it’s worth, he was a below average CF, but not way below average. -3.1 UZR. But that’s a relatively small sample of 95 games, and he hasn’t played a minute in CF since 2007.

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]]> By: kensai http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59674 kensai Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:33:46 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59674 Brian B. Actually Howard has worse numbers than all 3, I think. And plays the least defensively demanding position. Brian B.

Actually Howard has worse numbers than all 3, I think. And plays the least defensively demanding position.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59666 Paul Moro Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:29:36 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59666 There's far more to defense than errors, man. Like, a lot. I can stand in one spot the entire year on the field, not make any effort whatsoever to move front, back, left or right, just let every ball by me. I'd end up with no errors. There’s far more to defense than errors, man. Like, a lot. I can stand in one spot the entire year on the field, not make any effort whatsoever to move front, back, left or right, just let every ball by me. I’d end up with no errors.

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]]> By: Brian B http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59665 Brian B Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:32:57 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59665 Glad we could calm down. I suppose defense should matter when picking all stars, but I guess when you consider the fact that an average Major League team only makes about 1 error per game it is well worth the risk to pick good hitters over good defenders. I am a huge Phillies fan so maybe my opinion is a little biased, but I think Manuel picked a good team. I suppose Howard was a stretch but the only all star snubs were Mark Reynolds, Pablo Sandoval, and Matt Kemp.... and I think Howard has better numbers than those 3. Werth has been smoking hot so I think it was a good pick over Kemp. And like they said on Phillies post-game today: "Other NL fans may not like Manuel's picks but he won the World Series, so he is given the right to pick who he pleases," Plus its not like he put someone undeserving like Rollins on the team. Glad we could calm down. I suppose defense should matter when picking all stars, but I guess when you consider the fact that an average Major League team only makes about 1 error per game it is well worth the risk to pick good hitters over good defenders.

I am a huge Phillies fan so maybe my opinion is a little biased, but I think Manuel picked a good team. I suppose Howard was a stretch but the only all star snubs were Mark Reynolds, Pablo Sandoval, and Matt Kemp…. and I think Howard has better numbers than those 3. Werth has been smoking hot so I think it was a good pick over Kemp. And like they said on Phillies post-game today: “Other NL fans may not like Manuel’s picks but he won the World Series, so he is given the right to pick who he pleases,” Plus its not like he put someone undeserving like Rollins on the team.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59663 Nick Kapur Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:30:38 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59663 Coley, this is nitpicky, but didn't Hunter Pence play center field his entire first season in the bigs? He wasn't that terrible at it either. Coley, this is nitpicky, but didn’t Hunter Pence play center field his entire first season in the bigs? He wasn’t that terrible at it either.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59658 Paul Moro Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:28:17 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59658 Brian, I'm not going to be as nice as Coley. No, there is no guarantee that outfield defense will make or break the All Star Game. On that much, you're correct. But the Game is supposed to feature the best players in baseball. And last time I checked, defense is an important part of baseball. If you suck at it, then you're not as good as your offensive numbers suggest. But you are right. Coley is a dumb name. Brian, I’m not going to be as nice as Coley.

No, there is no guarantee that outfield defense will make or break the All Star Game. On that much, you’re correct. But the Game is supposed to feature the best players in baseball. And last time I checked, defense is an important part of baseball. If you suck at it, then you’re not as good as your offensive numbers suggest.

But you are right. Coley is a dumb name.

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]]> By: Coley Ward http://umpbump.com/press/2009/07/10/whos-gonna-replace-beltran-on-the-nl-all-star-team/comment-page-1/#comment-59657 Coley Ward Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:11:26 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/?p=6242#comment-59657 You're right, Brian. I was a little snooty before. But really, Manuel shouldn't have picked Howard for the team, and the fact that he's from St. Louis really shouldn't matter at all. Moreover, I don't see why defense wouldn't matter in an all-star game. It matters all the time in regular season games. Over the course of 2-3 innings, I think Ryan Braun or Justin Upton, playing out of position, have the potential to do more than a little damage with their gloves. You’re right, Brian. I was a little snooty before. But really, Manuel shouldn’t have picked Howard for the team, and the fact that he’s from St. Louis really shouldn’t matter at all.

Moreover, I don’t see why defense wouldn’t matter in an all-star game. It matters all the time in regular season games. Over the course of 2-3 innings, I think Ryan Braun or Justin Upton, playing out of position, have the potential to do more than a little damage with their gloves.

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