Comments on: The Young Dilemma

By: giantsrainman

giantsrainman — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:05:29 +0000

I sure the Giants would be glade to trade Barry Zito for Michael Young. This can be worked out but it has to be bad contract for bad contract.

By: Isaac A.

Isaac A. — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:50:20 +0000

Nice moneyball reference, John!

By: John C.

John C. — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:11:12 +0000

Pickin’ machine!

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:33:00 +0000

How much is his improved defense attributable to the Ron Washington; who from what I hear is one of the best defensive infielding instructors in baseball? If Young were to be traded, and remain at SS, could we expect a far more rapid decline in his defense without the tutelage of Washington, only making him less valuable to other teams.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:57:15 +0000

Peak age for defense and having the potential to get better through hard work are really two separate issues.

“Peak age” speaks more to a player’s ceiling (i.e. the room he might have for improvement). Eventually the ceiling begins to become like a trash compactor as a player ages (think of it lowering every year past age 24-25 until there is a point where getting better isn’t even a possibility).

Young is at an age where he probably doesn’t have much head room…..

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:54:49 +0000

Just a general question too, do you numbers guys ever run an ANOVA to see if the differences from player to player are really that significant?

By: Dave Cameron

Dave Cameron — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:54:23 +0000

Yes, fielding peaks at age 24 to 25. No, Young has not been improving every single year according to advanced metrics.

Google for aging curves, do some reading, and then maybe we can have a discussion.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:53:25 +0000

Cabrera basically projects as a 2 win player in ’09 as well. Given the market, some team will probably get him for just a 2 year commitment at a cost less than a single year of Young.

Unless a team is star-struck (and not many seem to be at least when they focus on free agents) or enamored with BA w/RISP, it looks almost impossible for Texas to trade Young without giving up a lot of money (would the commish even allow the kind of money likely necessary to flow?) and settling for very little in return.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:51:35 +0000

So fielding peaks at 24-25 yet Young has been improving every year according to your advanced metrics?

Which is it? You’re overextending your argument.

By: Nick P.

Nick P. — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:37:50 +0000

Can I assume a cross-up between you and Marc?