Who's Faster? Mid-Tigers Lineup or Mt. Rushmore?
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:05 am
What would you call a ball player who is seven for 32 in September with one double, three runs scored, three rbi, and no homers or stolen bases?
I call it mediocre.
Those stats belong to Miguel Cabrera.
I know.
I know because I own Cabrera on a lot of teams and follow most of his games. Cabrera has been the anti-CarGo, the anti-Tulo, the anti-Youk. He's hurt, but wants to play anyway.
We admire this characteristic. Guys like CarGo, Tulo, and Youk make it easy for us to blister them for missing weeks with, well, a blister.
Cabrera moves like Alex Rodriguez. And that's not a nice thing to say about anybody.
We don't know why he is playing.
It could be for the love of the game.
It could be because of the pennant chase.
It could be because of his pursuit of another Triple Crown.
It could be because the prisoner runs the prison in Detroit.
Cabrera does not belong on the field. Sure, he could wake up, fall out of bed, and still hit a single, and that is to be applauded.
But Cabrera has turned in his SuperMan cape and now moves as if trying out for a walking dead role in Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video.
The first thing Cabrera does when reaching second with Prince Fielder on first?
He reminds Fielder not to over run him on the base paths.
Prince Fielder!
Cabrera is powerless to move two bases on any hit that an outfielder does not have to turn his back on.
With Cabrera, Fielder, and Martinez on the bases, time stands still.
They are as fast as Mount Rushmore.
And early betting in Vegas has Rushmore giving odds.
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Meanwhile, Cleveland is starting to play like the Tigers. They have hitters up and down their lineup and enough pitching to keep them in most games. Their best pitcher, Justin Masterson, hasn't thrown in September, so they even have something to maybe look forward to in the coming days.
I'm not a fan of any Major League team, but I can't help but pull for the Indians.
The Yankees are stodgy, get too much press, and raise your hand if wanting to see ARod more than we have to...
The Rays are fun, but I don't think of them as a team. Rather, assembled parts that Joe Maddon puts together for each game.
The Orioles best pitcher is Chris Tillman. After that it is Feldman, TBA, Chen, and again, TBA.
The Indians are like their Ohio-mate, the Reds.
They have a staff of average or above right handers, an average defense, and a lineup that can rake.
In a word, fun.
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Speaking of Indians, here's a stat that'll floor you.
We all know how hot Ryan Zimmerman has been, right?
Zimmerman has hit nine homers in September.
He has played 14 September games, had 62 at bats, and 12 rbi.
All well and good for you, Ryan Zimmerman.
But, somebody else has 12 rbi during September.
Another Ryan.
Ryan Raburn.
Raburn has been a rainbow in the dark all season. Beautiful, but unnoticed.
And while Zimmerman has had nine homers to help garner his 12 rbi, Raburn has done it with one homer.
And here is the thing that will truly separate these two Ryan's-
Zimmerman has had 62 at bats for his 12 rbi, Raburn, just 15.
That's right, 12 rbi/15 at bats.
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Speaking of HOT and RBI....
Hunter Pence has 25 rbi this month.
Wilson Ramos has 22 rbi this month.
No other player has more than 14.
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I fully expect Ron Shandler to embrace Mike Trout over the off season.
When experts are wrong about a player, they do not stand on numbers or principle.
Instead, they'll take the 'if you can't beat them, or beat up on them, join them' mantra.
I say this because of who is leading Major League Baseball in taking a base on balls in September.
That's right.
Mike Trout.
And while a guy like Shandler finds leading in walks to be an admirable trait.....I don't.
Fantasy-wise, we would think that Mike Trout hitting .333 with 19 walks during September would lead to a fantasy orgasm.
More like blue balls.
Trout has only stolen four bases, even with his 19 free passes and 16 hits.
And has only scored 12 runs.
I'll say it one more time....
A guy that walks a lot is not a good thing for fantasy owners.
Trout is being avoided by pitchers. He is not 'working a walk'.
And this can be construed without watching a Trout game this month.
Sure, Trout does have 19 walks and 16 hits. Pitchers are willing to let Trout have those stats.
Why? Because of the stat not shown.
Trout has just four rbi in September.
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Jose Altuve has 12 runs scored and five stolen bases in September.
He's hitting .435 and has 10 rbi.
Altuve does not have a walk this month.......
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Do you own Arencibia?
Think he sucks?
He does.
Two for 33 in September.
Owners leaving Mauer in their lineups have a leg up on Arencibia owners.
I call it mediocre.
Those stats belong to Miguel Cabrera.
I know.
I know because I own Cabrera on a lot of teams and follow most of his games. Cabrera has been the anti-CarGo, the anti-Tulo, the anti-Youk. He's hurt, but wants to play anyway.
We admire this characteristic. Guys like CarGo, Tulo, and Youk make it easy for us to blister them for missing weeks with, well, a blister.
Cabrera moves like Alex Rodriguez. And that's not a nice thing to say about anybody.
We don't know why he is playing.
It could be for the love of the game.
It could be because of the pennant chase.
It could be because of his pursuit of another Triple Crown.
It could be because the prisoner runs the prison in Detroit.
Cabrera does not belong on the field. Sure, he could wake up, fall out of bed, and still hit a single, and that is to be applauded.
But Cabrera has turned in his SuperMan cape and now moves as if trying out for a walking dead role in Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video.
The first thing Cabrera does when reaching second with Prince Fielder on first?
He reminds Fielder not to over run him on the base paths.
Prince Fielder!
Cabrera is powerless to move two bases on any hit that an outfielder does not have to turn his back on.
With Cabrera, Fielder, and Martinez on the bases, time stands still.
They are as fast as Mount Rushmore.
And early betting in Vegas has Rushmore giving odds.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Meanwhile, Cleveland is starting to play like the Tigers. They have hitters up and down their lineup and enough pitching to keep them in most games. Their best pitcher, Justin Masterson, hasn't thrown in September, so they even have something to maybe look forward to in the coming days.
I'm not a fan of any Major League team, but I can't help but pull for the Indians.
The Yankees are stodgy, get too much press, and raise your hand if wanting to see ARod more than we have to...
The Rays are fun, but I don't think of them as a team. Rather, assembled parts that Joe Maddon puts together for each game.
The Orioles best pitcher is Chris Tillman. After that it is Feldman, TBA, Chen, and again, TBA.
The Indians are like their Ohio-mate, the Reds.
They have a staff of average or above right handers, an average defense, and a lineup that can rake.
In a word, fun.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Speaking of Indians, here's a stat that'll floor you.
We all know how hot Ryan Zimmerman has been, right?
Zimmerman has hit nine homers in September.
He has played 14 September games, had 62 at bats, and 12 rbi.
All well and good for you, Ryan Zimmerman.
But, somebody else has 12 rbi during September.
Another Ryan.
Ryan Raburn.
Raburn has been a rainbow in the dark all season. Beautiful, but unnoticed.
And while Zimmerman has had nine homers to help garner his 12 rbi, Raburn has done it with one homer.
And here is the thing that will truly separate these two Ryan's-
Zimmerman has had 62 at bats for his 12 rbi, Raburn, just 15.
That's right, 12 rbi/15 at bats.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Speaking of HOT and RBI....
Hunter Pence has 25 rbi this month.
Wilson Ramos has 22 rbi this month.
No other player has more than 14.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I fully expect Ron Shandler to embrace Mike Trout over the off season.
When experts are wrong about a player, they do not stand on numbers or principle.
Instead, they'll take the 'if you can't beat them, or beat up on them, join them' mantra.
I say this because of who is leading Major League Baseball in taking a base on balls in September.
That's right.
Mike Trout.
And while a guy like Shandler finds leading in walks to be an admirable trait.....I don't.
Fantasy-wise, we would think that Mike Trout hitting .333 with 19 walks during September would lead to a fantasy orgasm.
More like blue balls.
Trout has only stolen four bases, even with his 19 free passes and 16 hits.
And has only scored 12 runs.
I'll say it one more time....
A guy that walks a lot is not a good thing for fantasy owners.
Trout is being avoided by pitchers. He is not 'working a walk'.
And this can be construed without watching a Trout game this month.
Sure, Trout does have 19 walks and 16 hits. Pitchers are willing to let Trout have those stats.
Why? Because of the stat not shown.
Trout has just four rbi in September.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Jose Altuve has 12 runs scored and five stolen bases in September.
He's hitting .435 and has 10 rbi.
Altuve does not have a walk this month.......
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Do you own Arencibia?
Think he sucks?
He does.
Two for 33 in September.
Owners leaving Mauer in their lineups have a leg up on Arencibia owners.