Hosmer vs Teixeira or Respect to the 'Experts'
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:38 am
Thankfully, the 'look at my team' portion of our show is almost over.
Say what you want about 'experts', but they have to look at these types of posts and e-mails all year. If it were me, I'd probably go all Vermeilesque on them and tell them to put their bigboy pants on, and look at the minuses and pluses themselves.
When Thursday gets here, those post stop because we'll have enough problems with our own teams to worry about theirs.
'Value' starts Thursday. Thank you! Actually, value was added to some rosters yesterday. If you drafted Colon, Wilhelmson, or some other known entity, I will be the first to say that you got value. It is the only time in ANY draft that somebody actually got 'value'. After the season starts, it won't matter if you got your best player in round one or six, you're just glad you have him.
Usually, I won't chime in on player vs. player posts. ANY player can be of value if put in the right situation on a roster. A thread has started in General Discussion about the merits of Eric Hosmer going high in the second round. The same thing happened before Joey Votto was cemented in a first round. Some folks don't believe that a player should rise to such heights so quickly.
Why not?
Look, some kids that come up just 'get it' immediately. Ryan Braun did it. Albert Pujols did it. It happens.
A player comes along and never sees hardly more than a first round selection for their entire career. I happen to believe that Hosmer is one of those players.
Kansas City does not do many things right, but they have done things right with Hosmer.
Some drafters prefer 'crusty dusties' to kids and will compare life long stats with the short time a kid has been in the majors. Mark Teixeira has been going where Hosmer was taken yesterday. I like Teixeira. I really do. Consistency has been branded on him. It shouldn't, but it has.
Gradually, over his career, Teixeira has become more 'pull happy'. His batting average has suffered for it. While formerly being a 'consistent 30/100/300 hitter, now, he has become a better role model for Adam Dunn and Carlos Pena.
The shift frustrates him. Enough to put out to the press that he would lay down bunts this year.
Gee, quite a threat from a cleanup hitter. THAT will show them!
Teixeira has had the good fortune to play in two of the best venues for hitters in baseball in New York and Texas.
Let's put it this way, if Teixeira and Hosmer played in Oakland this year, which player would be more highly drafted?
I think it would be Hosmer.
Hosmer's game plays in whatever venue. The ball park may even assist in a higher average and he may thieve a couple more bags than in KC.
Teixeira's power output would be limited. There, one sentence and we've taken away the crux of why drafters take Teixeira.
At best, Teixeira is a three category player. He may be THE BEST three category player. But, Hosmer is a five category player. Rare for a first baseman.
If you took Teixeira over Hosmer, you're ok. You'll just need more batting average around you and a little more speed. It's the great thing about our game. Almost anything can be remedied. In some cases, Teixeira may even be the better fit.
Standing alone though, I'll take my chances with Hosmer.
Man!
Here's a nice post about only four more days of 'Rate my team' and it turns into another rant. Another reason why I couldn't be an 'expert'. Some schmo would send me a question and I would go off on something he never asked about.
Respect to the experts.
Say what you want about 'experts', but they have to look at these types of posts and e-mails all year. If it were me, I'd probably go all Vermeilesque on them and tell them to put their bigboy pants on, and look at the minuses and pluses themselves.
When Thursday gets here, those post stop because we'll have enough problems with our own teams to worry about theirs.
'Value' starts Thursday. Thank you! Actually, value was added to some rosters yesterday. If you drafted Colon, Wilhelmson, or some other known entity, I will be the first to say that you got value. It is the only time in ANY draft that somebody actually got 'value'. After the season starts, it won't matter if you got your best player in round one or six, you're just glad you have him.
Usually, I won't chime in on player vs. player posts. ANY player can be of value if put in the right situation on a roster. A thread has started in General Discussion about the merits of Eric Hosmer going high in the second round. The same thing happened before Joey Votto was cemented in a first round. Some folks don't believe that a player should rise to such heights so quickly.
Why not?
Look, some kids that come up just 'get it' immediately. Ryan Braun did it. Albert Pujols did it. It happens.
A player comes along and never sees hardly more than a first round selection for their entire career. I happen to believe that Hosmer is one of those players.
Kansas City does not do many things right, but they have done things right with Hosmer.
Some drafters prefer 'crusty dusties' to kids and will compare life long stats with the short time a kid has been in the majors. Mark Teixeira has been going where Hosmer was taken yesterday. I like Teixeira. I really do. Consistency has been branded on him. It shouldn't, but it has.
Gradually, over his career, Teixeira has become more 'pull happy'. His batting average has suffered for it. While formerly being a 'consistent 30/100/300 hitter, now, he has become a better role model for Adam Dunn and Carlos Pena.
The shift frustrates him. Enough to put out to the press that he would lay down bunts this year.
Gee, quite a threat from a cleanup hitter. THAT will show them!
Teixeira has had the good fortune to play in two of the best venues for hitters in baseball in New York and Texas.
Let's put it this way, if Teixeira and Hosmer played in Oakland this year, which player would be more highly drafted?
I think it would be Hosmer.
Hosmer's game plays in whatever venue. The ball park may even assist in a higher average and he may thieve a couple more bags than in KC.
Teixeira's power output would be limited. There, one sentence and we've taken away the crux of why drafters take Teixeira.
At best, Teixeira is a three category player. He may be THE BEST three category player. But, Hosmer is a five category player. Rare for a first baseman.
If you took Teixeira over Hosmer, you're ok. You'll just need more batting average around you and a little more speed. It's the great thing about our game. Almost anything can be remedied. In some cases, Teixeira may even be the better fit.
Standing alone though, I'll take my chances with Hosmer.
Man!
Here's a nice post about only four more days of 'Rate my team' and it turns into another rant. Another reason why I couldn't be an 'expert'. Some schmo would send me a question and I would go off on something he never asked about.
Respect to the experts.
Were you LOL after you made that pick ? Did your cheetoh covered fingers mispick ? Or did you have a change in heart after reading the 1st round value in the 2nd round write up in Baseball Xperts R Us.com ? 
