Comments on: Running the Bases – Part 2 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:34:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108879 James Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:26:17 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108879 Also (in Ichiro's case) there's the rather obvious "Hit for power" Also (in Ichiro’s case) there’s the rather obvious “Hit for power”

]]> By: James http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108878 James Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:25:45 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108878 Joe R has it exactly right. Players are selected (most of the time) for the most impactful two skills, hitting or pitching. Take Emilio Bonifacio, one of the best baserunners in the league. That's nice, and got him some early Sportscenter highlights, but if that OBP doesn't get far from .300, he won't be on a baseball diamond for long. Beyond that, the simple level of impact allows for a pyramid. It is easy to see the difference between a 2.5 ERA (probably best or near best in the league), 3.5 ERA (good), 4.5 ERA (average-ish), 5.0+ ERA (bad) pitchers because there is a broad range. For baserunners the total spread is so narrow that no pyramid can develop. Joe R has it exactly right. Players are selected (most of the time) for the most impactful two skills, hitting or pitching. Take Emilio Bonifacio, one of the best baserunners in the league. That’s nice, and got him some early Sportscenter highlights, but if that OBP doesn’t get far from .300, he won’t be on a baseball diamond for long.

Beyond that, the simple level of impact allows for a pyramid. It is easy to see the difference between a 2.5 ERA (probably best or near best in the league), 3.5 ERA (good), 4.5 ERA (average-ish), 5.0+ ERA (bad) pitchers because there is a broad range. For baserunners the total spread is so narrow that no pyramid can develop.

]]> By: Choo http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108788 Choo Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:57:42 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108788 You are correct. Adjusting for defensive value transforms the diamond into more of a pyramid. There is still a stalagtite of defensive suck at the bottom, but those are your typical DH-stuck-in-the-NL type mashers . . . and Vernon Wells. You are correct. Adjusting for defensive value transforms the diamond into more of a pyramid. There is still a stalagtite of defensive suck at the bottom, but those are your typical DH-stuck-in-the-NL type mashers . . . and Vernon Wells.

]]> By: Nathaniel Dawson http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108787 Nathaniel Dawson Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:43:01 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108787 Why would you say that baserunning is not pyramidal? I really dont have any other information to disagree, but since you're commenting to this post, I assume it's in response to the list above. It only lists the top 11, so we don't know what the other results look like, but there's one player at 8, one at 7, three at 6, and six at 5. That looks pyramidal to me. Why would you say that baserunning is not pyramidal? I really dont have any other information to disagree, but since you’re commenting to this post, I assume it’s in response to the list above. It only lists the top 11, so we don’t know what the other results look like, but there’s one player at 8, one at 7, three at 6, and six at 5. That looks pyramidal to me.

]]> By: Joe R http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108664 Joe R Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:27:46 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108664 Just saying, on a team with Figgins, Morales, Hunter, and Aybar, Abreu was quite the interesting person to hitch the wagon to. Just saying, on a team with Figgins, Morales, Hunter, and Aybar, Abreu was quite the interesting person to hitch the wagon to.

]]> By: ineedanap http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108644 ineedanap Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:45:52 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108644 A guy has to make a living somehow. At least he gets to do it writing about baseball, even if homerism is one of the requirements. A guy has to make a living somehow. At least he gets to do it writing about baseball, even if homerism is one of the requirements.

]]> By: Kampfer http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108497 Kampfer Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:11:25 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108497 There are many things which Ichiro cannot do. I don't know about Utley though. There are many things which Ichiro cannot do.

I don’t know about Utley though.

]]> By: hmm http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108484 hmm Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:25:07 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108484 as BP might say, these are 'theoretically' useless. as BP might say, these are ‘theoretically’ useless.

]]> By: Steve http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108480 Steve Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:11:50 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108480 not have a terrible haircut? not have a terrible haircut?

]]> By: Joe R http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/running-the-bases-part-2/#comment-108459 Joe R Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:56:41 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=11588#comment-108459 TV in general, he'd drop a couple f-bombs and cause FCC butthurt out the ying yang. TV in general, he’d drop a couple f-bombs and cause FCC butthurt out the ying yang.

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