Bruce the Boss? Not For the Numerish....
Posted: Mon Dec 16, 2013 10:08 am
On a fantasy level, we all have our prejudices. The only thing we all have in common is that we like players who contribute heavily in every category. The only problem being that those players are gone after the first round.
One prejudice that amuses me comes from the Numerish Borough of our fantasy society. The Numerish have a thing about strike outs. They don't like them. So, it is no surprise that the Numerish avoid the bullies of baseball.
Adam Dunn embodies everything the Numerish do not like in a player. His home runs come at the cost of batting average due to the dreaded strike outs. It's not limited to Adam Dunn. The Numerish do not enjoy any of these bullies being taken in high rounds of drafts. Nor do they like rookies that are on their way to becoming bullies.
This year, Jay Bruce is being taken in the second round of some drafts. Very close to his teammate and Numerish-beloved Joey Votto.
This does not set well in Numerville.
Jay Bruce struck out 185 times. And only hit .262
What is he doing even close to Joey Votto?
Let's start with a Bruce strength. Literally....his power.
Bruce hit 30 home runs last year. Only 14 players hit 30 home runs last year.
Seven of these players are generally being taken ahead of Bruce in drafts.
Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis, Edwin Encarnacion, Adrian Beltre, Evan Longoria, Paul Goldschmidt, and Adam Jones.
Leaving only six others besides Bruce.
David Ortiz is one of those hitters. He is highly approved by the Numerish, but he doesn't have a position.
Worth a drop in roundage for any player.
Brandon Moss hit 30 homers. But few expect a repeat and he is Adam Dunn. It's just that the A's know he's a platoon player, the White Sox don't know that about Adam Dunn. And even at that, Moss only hit .256 as it was.
So, what does that leave us in the way of 30 home run hitters?
It leaves Jay Bruce, Mark Trumbo, Alfonso Soriano, Pedro Alvarez, and Adam Dunn.
That sound you just heard was a collective sigh rising up through Numerville. If the Numerish were Andy Taylor, these five players would be on the 'Most Wanted' posters in the top drawer of Andy's desk.
These five players were all not only in the top 14 of homers, but top 12 in striking out. And it is fantasy blasphemy to think that one of these players could be going in the second round of a draft.
While most of the fantasy community judge players on the batted ball, the Numerish contemplate the unbatted ball.
They know it is six more times likely that Bruce strikes out rather than hit a home run.
But, less strike outs is not a roto category. Homers are. Those drafting a hitter like Bruce know those homers come at the cost of batting average. Still, Bruce is a monster three category player.
30 home runs, 109 rbi, and 89 runs are hard to find.
23rd in runs. 11th in homers, Fourth in rbi.
Every year, a drafter says they can find a player like Bruce in later rounds and every year, they come up short. His shortness on average gives that illusion.
Jay Bruce has had 74 extra base hits the last two years. No other baseball player can say that. Not Trout, not Cabrera, not any first rounder.
Sometimes, we have to give a player his due. Even if he does strike out a lot. Some of the Numerish may splinter and take Bruce in some drafts. They won't be barred from Numerville. Just looked down upon. They won't be saying 'Bruuuuuce! They'll be saying, 'Boooooooo!'And that'll probably last till next year.
That is when the Numerish may have another 'Most Wanted' player in the top drawer of Andy Taylor's proverbial desk.
Wil Myers.
Until then, they'll continue to fight the good fight over Bruce. Myers will be a battle for another day.
One prejudice that amuses me comes from the Numerish Borough of our fantasy society. The Numerish have a thing about strike outs. They don't like them. So, it is no surprise that the Numerish avoid the bullies of baseball.
Adam Dunn embodies everything the Numerish do not like in a player. His home runs come at the cost of batting average due to the dreaded strike outs. It's not limited to Adam Dunn. The Numerish do not enjoy any of these bullies being taken in high rounds of drafts. Nor do they like rookies that are on their way to becoming bullies.
This year, Jay Bruce is being taken in the second round of some drafts. Very close to his teammate and Numerish-beloved Joey Votto.
This does not set well in Numerville.
Jay Bruce struck out 185 times. And only hit .262
What is he doing even close to Joey Votto?
Let's start with a Bruce strength. Literally....his power.
Bruce hit 30 home runs last year. Only 14 players hit 30 home runs last year.
Seven of these players are generally being taken ahead of Bruce in drafts.
Miguel Cabrera, Chris Davis, Edwin Encarnacion, Adrian Beltre, Evan Longoria, Paul Goldschmidt, and Adam Jones.
Leaving only six others besides Bruce.
David Ortiz is one of those hitters. He is highly approved by the Numerish, but he doesn't have a position.
Worth a drop in roundage for any player.
Brandon Moss hit 30 homers. But few expect a repeat and he is Adam Dunn. It's just that the A's know he's a platoon player, the White Sox don't know that about Adam Dunn. And even at that, Moss only hit .256 as it was.
So, what does that leave us in the way of 30 home run hitters?
It leaves Jay Bruce, Mark Trumbo, Alfonso Soriano, Pedro Alvarez, and Adam Dunn.
That sound you just heard was a collective sigh rising up through Numerville. If the Numerish were Andy Taylor, these five players would be on the 'Most Wanted' posters in the top drawer of Andy's desk.
These five players were all not only in the top 14 of homers, but top 12 in striking out. And it is fantasy blasphemy to think that one of these players could be going in the second round of a draft.
While most of the fantasy community judge players on the batted ball, the Numerish contemplate the unbatted ball.
They know it is six more times likely that Bruce strikes out rather than hit a home run.
But, less strike outs is not a roto category. Homers are. Those drafting a hitter like Bruce know those homers come at the cost of batting average. Still, Bruce is a monster three category player.
30 home runs, 109 rbi, and 89 runs are hard to find.
23rd in runs. 11th in homers, Fourth in rbi.
Every year, a drafter says they can find a player like Bruce in later rounds and every year, they come up short. His shortness on average gives that illusion.
Jay Bruce has had 74 extra base hits the last two years. No other baseball player can say that. Not Trout, not Cabrera, not any first rounder.
Sometimes, we have to give a player his due. Even if he does strike out a lot. Some of the Numerish may splinter and take Bruce in some drafts. They won't be barred from Numerville. Just looked down upon. They won't be saying 'Bruuuuuce! They'll be saying, 'Boooooooo!'And that'll probably last till next year.
That is when the Numerish may have another 'Most Wanted' player in the top drawer of Andy Taylor's proverbial desk.
Wil Myers.
Until then, they'll continue to fight the good fight over Bruce. Myers will be a battle for another day.
