Chris Carter (oak)
by Asfan4ever723 on Jul 14, 2008 12:18 AM EDT
72 comments
what is your opinion on this likely DH, but part time OF/3b?
came over in the haren deal, but earlier was traded for carlos quentin (great trade for white sox)
he was rated as a fringe top 100 guy by BP. he has those "old skills", power, obp, etc. doesnt hit for a high avg/k's alot. he is a huge guy, but not a great athlete and without a position. sounds like jack cust lol.
but since june he's hitting .330+, cut down the k's. i dont know if its a coincidence but when they moved him out of DH, his offense improved.
turns 22 at the end of the season.
is he legit or a produt of the cal league 25hr/70+rbi?
so is he just one of those minor league sluggers that may fade away at higher levels or do you see him having a chance w/ that power/obp combo?
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maybe a major leaguer but not likely a star
Strikes me as a bit of a Chris Davis wannabe, except doesn’t hit for nearly the same average and at 22 is doing this in high A instead of having already torched the entire minors and established a beach head in the majors. The strikeouts are pretty fearsome and his doing this in Cal League raised further questions. Still, he is hitting more hrs than anyone else in the Cal League and while he’s not especially young for his league he is also not especially old. At least in my opinion if he is top 100 at all its definitely the last 10 or 20 slots on the list.
by Dalman on Jul 14, 2008 12:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
yes at the end
90. Max Scherzer, rhp, Diamondbacks
91. Casey Weathers, rhp, Rockies
92. Dexter Fowler, of, Rockies
93. Wladimir Balentien, of, Mariners
94. Neil Walker, 3b, Pirates
95. Michael Bowden, rhp, Red Sox
96. Joe Savery, lhp, Phillies
97. Ben Revere, of, Twins
98. Trevor Cahill, rhp, Athletics
99. Chris Carter, 1b, Athletics
100. Lars Anderson, 1b, Red Sox
by Asfan4ever723 on Jul 14, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's 21.
He will turn 22 in December. For the record, 10 players in the California league with 200+ AB have a seasonal age lower than his. http://minors.baseball-reference.com/bat_leaders.cgi?yid=2008&lvl=A%20&lid=CAL&sort=age
by BobbyMac on Jul 14, 2008 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would wait until he starts hitting well at a higher level
Many prospects hit very well in the California league before losing alot of status when they hit AA or higher. That being said, he is hitting very well even considering the context of the league he is in. Stockton is not one of the extreme hitters parks in the league also.
If he can keep the K% down at AA while maintaining around the same OBP, his stock should jump. Right now would be the time to promote him, even if he is relatively young for the league, because he is just hitting for fun with those #s(realistically he has a chance at matching Brandon Wood’s 2005 California league #s if they keep him there the whole season).
by tdot mariner fan on Jul 14, 2008 1:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He has about 50 days
(out of about 150 in the minor league season) left. So his pace is for about 37 HR… slightly less than Wood.
Still damn impressive, though. He might have the best raw power of any legitimate prospect in the entire minors. And he’s showing improvement—he was really poor in April and May but since June 1, he’s hitting over .300 and has cut down on his strikeouts.
I still think I leave him in Stockton to finish out the year, because when he and Doolittle are on the same team they start interfering with each other’s playing time. Next year they can each move up a level.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 14, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stockton is not a hitter's park overall, but it's an extreme HR park.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on Jul 15, 2008 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've seen that mentioned before, and I'm still trying to figure out how that's possible
Physically, I mean.
Does it have foul territory the size of Texas? That’s about the only explanation I can come up with.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Banner Island Ballpark
It’s 300 foot to left field. And just looking at pictures the foul ground is nothing extreme. Average to below average, would be my guess.
So, I can’t imagine how it wouldn’t be an extreme batter’s park.
by Emmett89 on Jul 15, 2008 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But it's not an extreme batter's park, that's the point
Run scoring there is not particularly high, despite the high HR totals. Something about the park depresses other forms of hitting enough to compensate for the homers. I just can’t figure out how that’s possible.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There are other more extreme parks for HRs in the league
You are corect, I thought High Desert and Lancaster were the worst ones but according to the baseballthinkfactory 2007 park factors, Stockton has a 1.34 compared to 1.2 in Lancaster or 1.15 in High Desert.
by tdot mariner fan on Jul 15, 2008 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watched Chris Carter in Kannapolis
He was head and shoulders the best player on the field and the ball just exploded off his bat as he swung and tattooed every first pitch he saw during the game. He had great size, but was a bit awkward on the bases and at first base. He may never hit much higher than .260 in the bigs, but the 30+ HR power is VERY real. He was the most impressive player I watched in that league last season.
Mike N.
Jadedvoices.blogspot.com
by Fivebucs on Jul 19, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i posted this on my league
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 14, 2008 1:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i posted this on my league's website after i drafted tyler flowers:
i just want to talk for a second about why i selected tyler flowers over chris carter, who is performing significantly better.
firstly, i’ve projected tyler flowers to develop enough power to potentially be a top tier catcher, with the potential, if he develops more, to be a top tier 1B. he is playing half of his games in a terrible hitting environment, but he has started to hit for power in the last two months, and i think he’ll explode next year in AA. i don’t know how well he calls a game or how well he throws runners out, but he could be a tremendous producer if he sticks at catcher, even if he doesn’t peak.
secondly, though carter has been tremendous this season, while being d**n near a year younger and playing at the same level, there are two warning signs that i’ve seen. 1st, he’s hitting only .260. i know that flowers is hitting only .270, but there are two other advantages that flowers has. one is that he’s got a chance to stick at catcher, but the other is that he’s stolen 5 bases.
it is my opinion that every legitimate prospect should be able to steal 7-10 bases while in A-ball. this isn’t so much about speed, and it isn’t really about trying to improve my team’s stealing ability, but it’s really about showing a feel for the game, and knowing that even with fringe speed and athleticism, a player has the recognition to be able to pick his spots and steal a base in a critical situation.
i mentioned that flowers has 5 SB, my first pick, todd frazier has has 7. my second pick, jordan schafer, had 23 while in A ball last year. my third round pick, jason donald surprisingly had only 5, but this year, he has 9 in 11 attempts in AA.
do with it what you will.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 14, 2008 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Were McGwire, Pujols, Piazza, Thomas, Howard and Fielder not legitimate prospects then? Also Flowers has a 50% SB success rate – hardly “showing a feel for the game, and knowing that even with fringe speed and athleticism, a player has the recognition to be able to pick his spots and steal a base in a critical situation.”
by DeJay on Jul 15, 2008 5:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
in order
mcgwire: couldn’t stay on the field until he started taking steroids. he was also a gold glove fielder
pujols: another gold glove fielder
piazza: GG.
thomas: actually stole 7 bases as a 22 year old in AA.
howard: stole 5 bases in low A as a 22 year old.
fielder: stole 11 bases in AA as a 20 year old
it’s not a steadfast rule, and it really is a secondary consideration, but i’d think it’s an important method of judging the long term future impact of a C/1B/LF/DH. if the player’s skillset is as one dimensional as chris carter’s appear to be, the player’s offensive skillset had better not have any holes. and considering that carter is playing in the california league, and that his best skills are drawing walks and hitting for power, i think he’s a classic case of a player that has an old player skillset that will not age well.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Response
I was just pointing out the huge flaws in your logic. You said you don’t consider a player a proper prospect unless they steal 7+ SB in A ball – you didn’t mention anything about being a gold glover.
McGwire stole 1 base in a full season at A ball. At the time he was one of the top hitting prospect in the league. He hit 49 homeruns in his rookie season. Whatever he did later on in his career he was most certainly a bonafide prospect at the beginning of it. And while he did win a gold glove a few years into his career, he was actually considered a poor defending 1B when he was drafted and in the early stage of his career.
Piazza was certainly no Gold Glover. In fact he was considered one of the poorer defensive catchers around.
Frank Thomas stole 0 bases in 55 games in A ball. I’m not sure what stats you are looking at.
Ryan Howard did indeed steal 5 bases in A ball – 2 less than your cut off point.
Chris Carter hit .291 in his first full minor league season and has been hitting over .300 for the past month or so. It is not like he has had a long history of poor contact hitting.
by DeJay on Jul 15, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
now we're parsing words. perhaps i should rephrase my opinion
were i the director of a farm system, one of the first blanket policies i would put forth is that all players, regardless of position, must steal 7 bases each year in A ball.
i think this is a very useful cutoff point in terms of identifying players who exhibit old player skills. and again, it’s not so much about basestealing, it’s about encouraging the honing of athletic ability, and enhancing the awareness and baseball sense of every player in the minors.
plus it gives the guys an excellent reason to get piss drunk that night.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
That would be a pretty weird policy. You might get some strange (wtf) looks in the dugout.
by Colorado Fan on Jul 15, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At first I assumed he was being sarcastic
And that last paragraph suggests he is, but frankly that joke is so strange (who’s getting piss drunk what night? The night before they steal their bases? Isn’t that over the season? Wtf is going on?) that I am entirely mystified
www.loftylantern.com
by OldProspects on Jul 15, 2008 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it gets weirder
i’d also overhaul the strength and conditioning program, and mandate that no player lift a weight heavier than 30 pounds. i believe the most efficient way to gain strength and retain athleticism is resistance training and bodyweight excercises, but i’m pretty sure neither is the focus of any american team’s in season training regimen.
and the players getting piss drunk would presumably happen one night in august when a 240 lb. 1B finally steals his 7th base.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Micromanagement!
Are you going to personally shave racing stripes into their pubic areas as well?
by gogotabata on Jul 15, 2008 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe, but i might just limit it to a rule where no facial hair can extend
below the corner of a player’s eye, or outside the corners of a player’s mouth.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol
and every trainer in america would prove to you that you’re wrong….proper strength conditioning with power lifting included will add velocity to pitchers and power to every hitter on your team….don’t kid yourself with your 30-lb weight BS….lol….
by biggentleben on Jul 16, 2008 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
personally, i really enjoy a good deadlift, squat, and power clean
but i think velocity increases more as a function of flexibility than as a function of physical strength. that’s from personal experience.
and for a 21 year old 1B in the california league, i think he’s better served by adding lean muscle mass and attempting to increase bat speed through the strike zone (not to mention his running the bases and defense in the field, both of which are sacrificed through the addition of bulk muscle mass), than slowing his bat down with bulk muscle, and trying to pull off everything looking for a homerun with each swing.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 16, 2008 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
bulk
where did i say bulk?
bulk muscle is blamed for a lot, yet i’ve watched men over 300 lbs that could bench press over 500 lbs that could do the splits or outdo any wide receiver on an nfl roster in the sit-and-reach measure…..proper training uses explosive lifts to strengthen those muscles required for power so as to add power and velocity and also protect against injury, flexibility workouts that require stretch holds to 30+ counts, plyometrics, agility workouts, and constant skill workouts and reviews….
they’re just one system, but the one closest to what i would consider a perfect baseball system is bigger faster stronger, and you can check their website at http://www.biggerfasterstronger.com ....
by biggentleben on Jul 16, 2008 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
A proper trainer can put together a powerlifting program that’s almost entirely neurological training. There are a lot of people around who know how to make people a lot stronger without making them much bigger. I totally agree that many players could really benefit from this type of training.
by 31Boots on Jul 17, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why should I care if Chris Carter "exhibits old player skills"?
So he’s likely to peak at a younger age. Well, gosh, gee whillickers. Turns out the A’s have him for a younger age period (at this point his pre-free-agent MLB career looks like his age 23-29 seasons). So… they have him for his peak years. Which is what you want.
Maybe your thought process is clear to you, but it sure as heck isn’t clear to me.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if you've been around this site for a while
from john’s look back at his 1995 prospect list:
LESSONS LEARNED:
A) Beware of guys with extreme old player skills.
B) Beware of guys with great tools but poor plate discipline.
C) Beware of guys who haven’t hit yet but who scouts think will hit in the future.
D) Injuries will bite pitchers in the butt.
from the 96 list:
Old Player Skill Bust
Ron Wright, 1B (injuries a major factor)
Tom Evans, 3B (injuries a major factor)
Pat Cline, C (injuries a major factor)
Ricky Ledee, OF (borderline case)
from the 98 list:
Some guys with “old player’s skills” like Grieve and Daryle Ward did not last very long
the fear isn’t so much that he burns out as a 28 year old like richie sexson did, the fear with a guy like carter is that if he has no defensive value, and if he hits .250, or if his power is a cal league mirage, or if his plate discipline regresses, he has absolutely no tangible value, and would just be a brian dopirak, strugging in the high minors at a young age, with his only plus tool, his power negated by the fact that he can’t make contact often enough to show it.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really don't understand what you are trying to argue.
First off you say beware of guys with extreme old player skills. Then you show us some old player skill busts that all had their careers shortened by injuries which does nothing to validate your point. I saw you put Howards name on that list because he stole 5 bases 1 year. I just have to LOL. Look at the rest of his minor league stats.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/ryan-howard.shtml
Did he ever come close to approaching that again? Wait he stole 1 base the rest of the way. Yeah that 5 stolen bases that one year was the key to sucess right there.
Your formula isn’t even based on cumalative measures its just some random thought pulled out of your ass.
BTW did you actually look up Chris Carters stats? Might wanna take a look.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Chris-Carter-5.shtml
by AthleticsReign on Jul 15, 2008 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Daryle "Old Player's Skills" Ward
Isn’t he on the Cubs 25-Man Roster?
by Colorado Fan on Jul 17, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, and he's still a very good left-handed hitter
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on Jul 24, 2008 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So basically. . .
Ryan Howard, Mark McGwire, Adam Dunn, Frank Thomas, Cecil Fielder, Prince Fielder, David Ortiz are all players who you wouldn’t want on your team. You are JP Ricciardi. What do I win?
by clubberlang on Jul 15, 2008 5:51 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
aside from the fact that ryan howard, frank thomas, adam dunn, and prince fielder all satisfied this requirement
you’re also assuming that my dogma is rigid and unwaivering.
it’s not, and i’d gladly welcome all of those players onto my team once they hit free agency.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's funny
When I hear the term “blanket policy,” I generally tend to assume that it represents a dogma that is rigid and unwavering. Because that’s what that phrase means.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 15, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i've seen too many people get bit in the ass by having an inflexible policy and not allowing any dissenting opinions
i’m not in the business of perfection, just projection.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you're in the business
of making things up and then saying you’re ‘in business’
by gogotabata on Jul 15, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and what exactly are you doing right here?
you’re just attacking something which you don’t even both trying to understand the merit of.
good job internet tough guy. meet angry young guy. i think you’d have a lot in common.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 15, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK
I have concluded that you are insane, and that there is therefore no purpose in continuing this.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 16, 2008 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
some props for aaron cunningham
missed a month of the season + most of spring training due to wrist injury
had a tough july + needs to get his k’s in check
but on fire since
by Asfan4ever723 on Jul 15, 2008 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Carter vs. Doolittle
Considering that Carter walks a little more than Doolittle, and K’s slightly less (still a lot, I know), and considering the way Carter has hit in June and July, I’m thinking I might like him a little better than Doolittle.
by ozzman99 on Jul 16, 2008 12:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Doolittle has an edge on Carter
mainly because Doolittle is considered a very good defensive 1B, especially compared to Carter.
facepalm.jpg
by Zonis on Jul 17, 2008 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
question for variablesdont
are these arguements that you are making serious? because i’m having a hard time figuring out if you’re trying to be sarcastic/funny or serious about these “policies” that would govern a team if you were running it.
by joltinjoe on Jul 16, 2008 1:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
27 Homers
Carter hit another one last night. On Pace to hit 40+
May: 179/304/326
June: 319/452/714
July: 357/390/821
by Colorado Fan on Jul 17, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Plus
He is the only player amongst the top five minor leaguer HR hitters who is not a 4A player.
by faketeams on Jul 17, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yet.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 17, 2008 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it should probably be noted that this was said tongue in cheek.
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 17, 2008 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yet
At 21, we have four years of watching him crush HRs before he is finally written off as a 4A. :)
by faketeams on Jul 18, 2008 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't Ryan Howard 25 when he stuck in the majors?
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
by PaulThomas on Jul 18, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Part of that was because Thome was blocking him
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on Jul 24, 2008 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And
Howard went to college. He was in A ball at 22, and went 280/367/469 at Lakewood with 19 HR
Carter is 21 at High A albeit the California League with 27 HR with 266/369/576. As a 20-year-old in the Sally league (where Lakewood is), he hit 25 HRs and 291/383/522.
There appears to be a good argument that Carter is a better prospect than howard was at the equivalent age.
by faketeams on Jul 25, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's right your amazing seven stolen base rule PREDICTS IT will be so
by clubberlang on Jul 17, 2008 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
HEY JOHN, CAN WE GET AN IP CHECK?
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 17, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and it's okay that you're new
but when you start acting like a douche for the point of being a douche, you cross the line, phoenix-rising
ANATOMY OF ERA:
Variables Don't; Constants Aren't
by variablesdont on Jul 17, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry
I was treating your totally silly argument with the lack of seriousness that I felt it deserved. If that’s considered trolling here (I am new) I apologize, but frankly I think you would benefit from a slightly thicker skin (esp. since it’s hard to see the tongue in your cheek on the interweb.)
by clubberlang on Jul 18, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't worry..
.... I thought you were being quite restrained. Nice moniker btw.
by DeJay on Jul 18, 2008 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stolen base rule
If your SB rule is intended as satire then I applaud you. If you are being serious then…, well, I’m not quite sure what to say…
by DeJay on Jul 18, 2008 9:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Stolen bases and foot speed
Showing you have the ability to steal bases, means you are a little more athletic and you have the foot speed necessary to play the game.
Baseball is still considered a sport and if I have two midlevel prospects with the ability to hit for power, I’d take the guy with the ability to run the bases and is basically more athletic than a one-dimensional slug who can only hit for power.
While you may not be expecting certain types of players to be stealing bases, you don’t want them to run like Bengie Molina [or a reasonable facsimile of him].
Just to delve into a related subject, maybe for all of Oakland’s success in the decade, one of things they have consciously overlooked is guys who can run the bases.
Maybe it has contributed to their lack of success in the playoffs. It doesn’t mean they had to sign slap-hitting, low on-base guys who can steal bases on a whim.
As an organization however, it might have helped them to have a team with guys who can run a little and know what they are doing as opposed to the Jack Custs of the world.
by BBFan1 on Jul 18, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't think SB's automatically mean someone knows or doesn't know how to run the bases.
You can know how to run the bases, or be athletic, or have speed and NOT steal bases. Likewise, there are a lot of players who have speed, and steal a lot, who have absolutly no clue when they are on the basepaths, and only get SB numbers because they outrun the throw.
facepalm.jpg
by Zonis on Jul 18, 2008 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is also the ability
To make it more clear – I’d want to have someone who can run the bases and who can advance from first to third on a base hit to the outfield. I wouldn’t want to have a station to station base runner, even if my team is built around the three-run home run or on-base percentage.
No one wants more Alex Sanchez or Ruben Rivera types – they seem to fit the mold of athletic guys who are capable of stealing bases, but seem to lack something ‘up top.’
by BBFan1 on Jul 19, 2008 3:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My point was just that Baserunning Ability =/= Stealing Bases
You can be slow and be a good baserunner. The trick is knowing when to run, being quick about doing so, and making instant decisions on the basepaths.
facepalm.jpg
by Zonis on Jul 20, 2008 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
Cristian Guzman during his time with the twins was never a big base stealer, but he was widely considered the best baserunner in baseball at the time for how he ran the bases, often stretching a double to a triple or going first to third on a routine single when he was on base…..
by biggentleben on Jul 20, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They have guys with good footspeed
But that’s where you’re wrong. The A’s have had guys who run the bases well and have good footspeed. Jay Payton, Terrance Long, Bobby Crosby, Mark Ellis, Eric Chavez, Miguel Tejada, Eric Byrnes, Mark Kotsay, Marco Scutaro, and even Jose Guillen all had more than serviceable or great footspeed.
Of course looking at the SB numbers you wouldn’t see that, but they definitely could steal bases if they wanted to. They just didn’t do it very often.
by nobodyinparticular on Jul 22, 2008 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
false dichotomy
It’s not as if you always have a choice between great hitters with no speed and great hitters with great speed. Now given a choice between slow guys who can hit and fast guys who can’t, yes the A’s have chosen the guys who can hit. But it’s not as if they chose Cust when they could have had Beltran at the same price. It’s more like they chose Cust and Payton over Juan Pierre.
by ozzman99 on Jul 22, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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