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Odds & Ends: Draft, Ibanez, Indians

By Tim Dierkes [May 7, 2009 at 1:28pm CST]

Links for Thursday...

Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post did a little research on pitchers drafted within the first ten picks. Meanwhile, Boswell's colleague Chico Harlan spotted Nationals' acting GM Mike Rizzo chatting with Scott Boras.
The latest from Baseball America: Tanner Scheppers' stock is rising, Grant Green's is falling.
Yahoo's Jeff Passan writes about Raul Ibanez. In the article, it's revealed that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't buy into defensive stats outside of fielding percentage.
ESPN's Tim Kurkjian looks at the early returns on free agent signings.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer learned that Mark Shapiro is initiating the calls to other GMs.
Will Sommer of Mets Fans Forever chatted with ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Comments

What happened to this week's chat? :(

Posted by: William | May 07, 2009 at 01:40 PM

Not buying into defensive stats? I can understand that. They've all got their pros and cons.

But buying into fielding percentage? That's the easiest one to see is crap. Jason Giambi's .992 career fielding percentage says far more about the stat than about the player.

Posted by: yanksfan | May 07, 2009 at 01:55 PM

I'm pretty sure he just means that while defensive metrics are very rough, fielding percentage is very definitive in what is measures (errors/opportunities). At least I HOPE that's what he meant and Amaro isn't actually judging defense based on errors.

Posted by: explodet | May 07, 2009 at 02:00 PM

Fielding percentage is definitive in what it measures, but what it measures is near meaningless.

Again, back to the Giambi example. He caught almost everything hit right at him. Hit the ball two feet away from him and it went right by him, rarely even making an attempt to catch it. Results in an awesome fielding percentage, but terrible scores on every other fielding stat. And it's obvious that he's a bad fielder to even the most casual of fans.

Posted by: yanksfan | May 07, 2009 at 02:44 PM

"Yahoo's Jeff Passan writes about Raul Ibanez. In the article, it's revealed that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn't buy into defensive stats outside of fielding percentage. "

That's not a good thing.

Posted by: melonis rex | May 07, 2009 at 03:46 PM

Just another reason why Phillie fans should be concerned about Amaro Jr. being at the helm.

Posted by: scribbletone | May 07, 2009 at 04:06 PM

Anyone who has just written a negative comment about Ibanez or Amaro Jr. is an idiot.

Currently the Phillies have the worst starting rotation in baseball. Look it up. However, they remain at the top of the NL East. If you have watched ONE SINGLE PHILLIES GAME this season, you can attribute their success to Amaro's offseason moves.

Ibanez covers the small left field territory at the Bank just as good as any left fielder in the game could. He tracts down balls Burrell couldn't reach by throwing his glove. He also is crushing the ball regularly, which everyone knows.

More Amaro Jr. moves:
Madson extension - Amaro locked up the eighth inning guy that could replace the ailing Lidge if need be.

Howard extension - got paid, yes. Flat out delivers, offensively and now defensively.

Ibanez signing - Obvious.

Cut Trash - Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins. Also did not tie up any long term bad dollars.

Posted by: broadandolney | May 09, 2009 at 08:25 PM

melonix rex and scribbletone,

you do realize that your theories on baseball aren't the ONLY way to go right? There are teams that have won that don't subscribe to your theories right? It honestly sounds a little elitest to me the way you speak.

Have you watched Ibanez play this year, even a game other than a highlight?

Posted by: philsWSchamps | May 13, 2009 at 07:18 AM

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Odds & Ends: Draft, Ibanez, Indians

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