Comments on: The Worst Regular in Baseball http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/ Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:20:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John Galt http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81306 John Galt Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:29:48 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81306 It was very apparent when Giles turned down a trade to a contender last year that all he was interested in was playing out the string and staying in his comfort zone. He's got no fire, no competitve drive. Stick a fork in him - he's done. It was very apparent when Giles turned down a trade to a contender last year that all he was interested in was playing out the string and staying in his comfort zone. He’s got no fire, no competitve drive. Stick a fork in him – he’s done.

]]> By: Stella Gomez http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81259 Stella Gomez Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:40:58 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81259 Ouch! Condemned by a Padre fan for being a drug-abusing, vain, misogynist, girlfriend-suing cheat with no bat speed. Hilarious. Ouch!

Condemned by a Padre fan for being a drug-abusing, vain, misogynist, girlfriend-suing cheat with no bat speed.

Hilarious.

]]> By: Dinglehoser http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81118 Dinglehoser Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:49:04 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81118 Ditto on Yuniesky Betancourt kissing the bottom. wOBA of .254 (-13.6 runs) and an embarassing UZR of -9.6. -1.2 WAR, -$5.5m value. His numbers are atrocious, but his attitude is worse. His physical talents are undeniable and was once touted as a five-tool knockout, but he's categorically refused to do anything more than the bare minimum now that he's got his bucks. He can't make the excuse that he's old, either. Yuni is generally the only one on the team not taking extra batting/fielding practice, seemingly ignores the management's growing disenchantment with his propensity to swing at everything, and treats his multitudes of errors as a joke, generally laughing about them after they happen. If he were innately a below-average player, that would be one thing. But Yuni is so much better than this. That he doesn't care should be earning him a one-way ticket to DFA land. Ditto on Yuniesky Betancourt kissing the bottom. wOBA of .254 (-13.6 runs) and an embarassing UZR of -9.6. -1.2 WAR, -$5.5m value. His numbers are atrocious, but his attitude is worse. His physical talents are undeniable and was once touted as a five-tool knockout, but he’s categorically refused to do anything more than the bare minimum now that he’s got his bucks. He can’t make the excuse that he’s old, either.

Yuni is generally the only one on the team not taking extra batting/fielding practice, seemingly ignores the management’s growing disenchantment with his propensity to swing at everything, and treats his multitudes of errors as a joke, generally laughing about them after they happen.

If he were innately a below-average player, that would be one thing. But Yuni is so much better than this. That he doesn’t care should be earning him a one-way ticket to DFA land.

]]> By: jwood http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81113 jwood Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:16:33 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81113 As a Padre fan. It does not get much worse than Brian "the only thing I can hit is my girl" Giles. Giles is simply pathetic. Everyone who's grown up in this area knows he was on steroids as early as his high school years. That, combined with his affection for tanning booths, make him the most pathetic person in the game today. Then add the fact that he tried to counter-sue his girlfriend for abuse on him? Sack up Giles, and start pretending that ball is your girl and maybe you finally get some hits. As a Padre fan. It does not get much worse than Brian “the only thing I can hit is my girl” Giles. Giles is simply pathetic. Everyone who’s grown up in this area knows he was on steroids as early as his high school years. That, combined with his affection for tanning booths, make him the most pathetic person in the game today. Then add the fact that he tried to counter-sue his girlfriend for abuse on him? Sack up Giles, and start pretending that ball is your girl and maybe you finally get some hits.

]]> By: Lailoken http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81033 Lailoken Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:13:42 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81033 Don't be surprised if Yuniesky Betancourt keeps in the race for the dubious title of Worst Regular in Baseball. Young, Giles, & Matthews may all be ahead of him right now but a mental collapse in the field for a few days & he'll be right up there. At least Giles & Matthews are older veterans who have struggled with injuries for a few years. Betancourt & Young are close to disgracing the game considering their athletic talents. Both of those guys should be plus defenders with the ability to take a pitch now & then but have instead chosen to fritter away their considerable talents. Don’t be surprised if Yuniesky Betancourt keeps in the race for the dubious title of Worst Regular in Baseball. Young, Giles, & Matthews may all be ahead of him right now but a mental collapse in the field for a few days & he’ll be right up there. At least Giles & Matthews are older veterans who have struggled with injuries for a few years. Betancourt & Young are close to disgracing the game considering their athletic talents. Both of those guys should be plus defenders with the ability to take a pitch now & then but have instead chosen to fritter away their considerable talents.

]]> By: John C http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81032 John C Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:58:03 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81032 Rofl. That should be a motto for him at this point Rofl. That should be a motto for him at this point

]]> By: Sunking1056 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81016 Sunking1056 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:49:26 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81016 Jeff Francoeur: He's "surprisingly not close" to being the worst regular in baseball. Now there's a news clipping for his scrapbook ;) He'll find a way, I'm sure. Jeff Francoeur: He’s “surprisingly not close” to being the worst regular in baseball.

Now there’s a news clipping for his scrapbook ;)

He’ll find a way, I’m sure.

]]> By: JCP http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-81004 JCP Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:17:37 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-81004 At least Young has some upside. For a team as money-conscious as the Pads to be spending this kind of money on such a horrible player is a surefire recipe for disaster. It makes their mediocre record all the more impressive, as coming into the season they looked like a 60-65 win team with Giles having a normal decline path. At least Young has some upside. For a team as money-conscious as the Pads to be spending this kind of money on such a horrible player is a surefire recipe for disaster. It makes their mediocre record all the more impressive, as coming into the season they looked like a 60-65 win team with Giles having a normal decline path.

]]> By: John C http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-80998 John C Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:29:00 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-80998 Francouer has actually been a + fielder to date though, so Giles basically kills him in that respect. Despite Francouer's fall from grace, he's still 25 and cheaper than Giles. It's surprisingly not close. Francouer has actually been a + fielder to date though, so Giles basically kills him in that respect. Despite Francouer’s fall from grace, he’s still 25 and cheaper than Giles. It’s surprisingly not close.

]]> By: Greg http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-regular-in-baseball/#comment-80989 Greg Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:10:22 +0000 http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/?p=5579#comment-80989 Hey, don't forget about Jeff Franceour! He's not going to give up without a fight. A .255 wOBA is definitely within his reach. Hey, don’t forget about Jeff Franceour! He’s not going to give up without a fight. A .255 wOBA is definitely within his reach.

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