THE MOST BORING PLAYER OF 2016
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2017 11:01 am
A former batting coach for Yasiel Puig does not see a good future for Puig. Jon Valentin cites concentration issues in being Puig's chief nemesis. He stated that Puig could have a two or three game series, playing well, then something happens and Puig is back to being Puig.
Valentin has no ax to grind. He says that Puig is a nice kid. Doesn't smoke, party, or drink.
Just can't keep his head in the game.
This got me thinking in an abstract sort of way. I've always found Puig entertaining. More entertaining than talented.
Puig is a great athlete, trapped in a game that doesn't require supreme athleticism. As a baseball player, instincts put some players above sheer athleticism. It's what made Derek Jeter one of the best players. Mike Trout too. And it helps in holding back talent like Bryce Harper.
Instincts are not a statistic. Sabermetricians and folks like Brian Kenny cannot wrap their head around instincts. They also poo poo a good clubhouse player and think that concentration, instincts, and being a good clubhouse guy are all incidental and pedestrian.
They can't measure it in a Numerish way, so it is ignored by the group.
Anyway, the previous paragraphs were a lead in. There is a polar opposite of Yasiel Puig in baseball. I will not reveal his name until the last paragraph. There will be all sorts of hints, both by numbers and history for you to guess this player.
A player we can call...
THE MOST BORING PLAYER OF 2016
He wasn't always boring. In fact, when he arrived in the Majors, fans, especially his hometown fans thought that he was a sure-fire Hall of Famer. And for the first few years, he played well enough for fans to think that the best was yet to come.
Being the polar opposite of Puig, he had great concentration, wonderful baseball instincts, and the team could not ask for not only a better clubhouse guy, but leader.
In his sixth year in the Majors, he had his career year. It was a blessing and a curse. The numbers had fans thinking that this was the year that would springboard him towards Hall of Fame....fame.
It didn't happen.
And it hasn't happened since.
That year became his 'Ellsbury year' or his 'Headley year' or his 'Brady Anderson year' without the PED's.
He would never take PED's.
He doesn't have to, he got a contract that set him up for life.
He has been boring for years. This is born out in that he played 24 less games than the previous year, and his WAR actually went up by almost a full point.
Last year, he was so boring that he saw 4.28 pitches per at bat (fifth in all of baseball), 2,466 pitches in all...and only had 37 extra base hits.
He hits in the top third of his lineup every year. Yet, fantasy players virtually ignore him.
This year, his ADP falling to a career low of 402 currently.
He had 32 at bats from the leadoff spot last year.
Probably the most excitement this boring player has had in a long time.
It didn't work.
He scored one run. On a home run. By him.
He stole two bases.
Both times, second base was heard to be muttering, "WTF?"
Do you know who he is yet?
He has never had 100 rbi or 100 runs scored.
His career year was 2009 when he hit 28 homers. He hasn't hit half that many homers in a season, before or since.
When fantasy relevant, his career batting average was .323 at a position coveted by fantasy players.
Since that position change, he has hit .267
Last year, his mundane and boring batting line was .261/68/11/49/2
Not one of those numbers better than even Denard Span.
The 11 home runs ranking him 193rd in baseball. Where boring players live.
Yet, broadcasters say he is one of the best players in baseball
Ultimately, his best statistic may be in his contract.
He'll probably retire from baseball with more millions than home runs.
Last year, 23 million dollars, more than doubling his home run totals.
Do you know yet?
This paragraph will give it away if not.
He was once Buster Posey-like in drafts. One of the first catchers taken.
Although not guaranteed of power, his average would always help at a position where batting average was hard to find.
Since changing from catcher to first base three years ago, he has become the opposite of the' most interesting man in the world'.
The polar opposite of Yasiel Puig.
He has become----- without power.
The most boring baseball player of 2016.
Joe Mauer.
Valentin has no ax to grind. He says that Puig is a nice kid. Doesn't smoke, party, or drink.
Just can't keep his head in the game.
This got me thinking in an abstract sort of way. I've always found Puig entertaining. More entertaining than talented.
Puig is a great athlete, trapped in a game that doesn't require supreme athleticism. As a baseball player, instincts put some players above sheer athleticism. It's what made Derek Jeter one of the best players. Mike Trout too. And it helps in holding back talent like Bryce Harper.
Instincts are not a statistic. Sabermetricians and folks like Brian Kenny cannot wrap their head around instincts. They also poo poo a good clubhouse player and think that concentration, instincts, and being a good clubhouse guy are all incidental and pedestrian.
They can't measure it in a Numerish way, so it is ignored by the group.
Anyway, the previous paragraphs were a lead in. There is a polar opposite of Yasiel Puig in baseball. I will not reveal his name until the last paragraph. There will be all sorts of hints, both by numbers and history for you to guess this player.
A player we can call...
THE MOST BORING PLAYER OF 2016
He wasn't always boring. In fact, when he arrived in the Majors, fans, especially his hometown fans thought that he was a sure-fire Hall of Famer. And for the first few years, he played well enough for fans to think that the best was yet to come.
Being the polar opposite of Puig, he had great concentration, wonderful baseball instincts, and the team could not ask for not only a better clubhouse guy, but leader.
In his sixth year in the Majors, he had his career year. It was a blessing and a curse. The numbers had fans thinking that this was the year that would springboard him towards Hall of Fame....fame.
It didn't happen.
And it hasn't happened since.
That year became his 'Ellsbury year' or his 'Headley year' or his 'Brady Anderson year' without the PED's.
He would never take PED's.
He doesn't have to, he got a contract that set him up for life.
He has been boring for years. This is born out in that he played 24 less games than the previous year, and his WAR actually went up by almost a full point.
Last year, he was so boring that he saw 4.28 pitches per at bat (fifth in all of baseball), 2,466 pitches in all...and only had 37 extra base hits.
He hits in the top third of his lineup every year. Yet, fantasy players virtually ignore him.
This year, his ADP falling to a career low of 402 currently.
He had 32 at bats from the leadoff spot last year.
Probably the most excitement this boring player has had in a long time.
It didn't work.
He scored one run. On a home run. By him.
He stole two bases.
Both times, second base was heard to be muttering, "WTF?"
Do you know who he is yet?
He has never had 100 rbi or 100 runs scored.
His career year was 2009 when he hit 28 homers. He hasn't hit half that many homers in a season, before or since.
When fantasy relevant, his career batting average was .323 at a position coveted by fantasy players.
Since that position change, he has hit .267
Last year, his mundane and boring batting line was .261/68/11/49/2
Not one of those numbers better than even Denard Span.
The 11 home runs ranking him 193rd in baseball. Where boring players live.
Yet, broadcasters say he is one of the best players in baseball
Ultimately, his best statistic may be in his contract.
He'll probably retire from baseball with more millions than home runs.
Last year, 23 million dollars, more than doubling his home run totals.
Do you know yet?
This paragraph will give it away if not.
He was once Buster Posey-like in drafts. One of the first catchers taken.
Although not guaranteed of power, his average would always help at a position where batting average was hard to find.
Since changing from catcher to first base three years ago, he has become the opposite of the' most interesting man in the world'.
The polar opposite of Yasiel Puig.
He has become----- without power.
The most boring baseball player of 2016.
Joe Mauer.
