Stuck in my Craw(ford)

[DOUGHBOYS]

'Brandon Crawford went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and a game-tying solo homer in the ninth inning of Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks.
Crawford had three of the Giants' eight hits and their only two RBI in the extra innings defeat. The longball came off of David Hernandez, who was filling in at closer with J.J. Putz unavailable. Crawford is now batting .320 with four homers and 10 RBI on the season. He won't keep it up, but ride him while he's hot.'

I usually put snipet's like this, under the 'Rotosnips' thread. But this one was different. It pissed me off.
I don't know whether Dave wrote it or somebody else, I think RotoWorld should have 'bylines' for each update like CBS does.
At least that way, I know who to be pissed at.

Anyway, this is typical 'expert talk'. Brandon Crawford has never shown signs of doing anything like this before, therefore, 'he won't keep it up'. THEN, if Crawford has a breakout year, this same expert will exclaim that he had a breakout year and that everybody was surprised by it.
These RotoWorld guys have been all over Brandon Belt since he entered the Majors. He had Minor Leagues credentials, therefore, he should hit at the Major League level. They have given him excuse after excuse for his failings.
'It's his lineup spot...It's his manager...It's his ball park...It's his matchups'
BAH!
Maybe, just maybe, Brandon Belt isn't even the best Brandon in the Giants lineup.

I know I take things like this out on all 'experts', but too bad. Some have to open their eyes and not rely on the past so much. Maybe they're trying to cover their asses for eight, ten, and 12 team leagues. Leagues in which there may indeed be more viable options than the up and coming Crawford.
At the same time...OPEN YOUR EYES! Don't just phone it in that Crawford 'can't keep it up'. This is another reason why I avoid 'expertisms'. They don't think past a players past and are sure to miss the , Wade Miley's, Jose Bautista's, and other players who had no 'real' years like their breakout years.
Some experts rely soooo much on the past, that they forget about the present, and that affects the futures of fantasy players who follow them.
This is a major reason why 'sheep' lose.

For my part, Brandon Crawford has impressed me this year. I wish now that I would have paid more attention to him during spring training. This writer has probably not taken the time to watch Crawford this year, boxing him in his past.
I see more for Crawford. He is hitting out of the worst spot in baseball, the 8-hole in the National League. By the end of the year, I'll estimate that he will be hitting either in the sixth position, or even second if Scutaro gets hurt or under performs.
I also can see 12-15 homers and 10 stolen bases.
And I can also see RotoWorld at the end of the year exclaiming breakout for him while giving Belt a pass because he came down with a bad case of Youkitis or some other reason for failure.

Removing soap box and we now take you back to your regularly scheduled show......

[Outlaw]

Totally agree Dough about all the "experts". BS filter is always on when listening to any of them opine. As for Crawford, I liked him too and should've went with what i was seeing the past year. I have him on 1/2 my teams, wish i had him on all of them. He's held the Starting job since mid 2011 when he came up and made improvement each year so far. Add to the fact he was the starting SS on a world series winning team at age 23, no small feat.

[rockitsauce]

Despite starting the game on the bench Belt was brought in as a PH late in the game against DBacks the other night. He delivered the GW hit....against a lefty no less! (pretty sure it was the same night the AZ bullpen blew my, I mean Miley's Win)

Next night, another lefty on the hill for AZ, another seat on the bench for Mr. Belt...so that the great Joaquin Arias can showcase his skills. Oh, BB hit a game-tying HR in the 9th that night as well.

Ryan Howard gets a hit every 4,786 AB vs a lefty, but Cholly ain't benching him. Meanwhile Blockhead Bochy refuses to give the kid a chance. It's APRIL. APRIL. How the hell can you judge how good a player he is from 50-60 AB's ? Esp. when your playing time is so sporadic.

The only way we'll ever find out if Belt is a player is if he gets traded.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Truth be told, I don't think Belt will ever be a great hitter in a Giants uniform. It's not Bochy though.
He had 411 at bats last year with just seven homers.
AT&T Park just kicks Belt's ass. His power is mostly from right center to left center.
Death Valley.
Belt showed his power in spring training in the desert air of Arizona and friendlier dimensions. If traded to another park with shorter alley ways, he could become a force.
Until then, suffering.

(And no, RotoWorld has never mentioned this, choosing to blame Belt's failures on other person's rather than fixtures )

[headhunters]

the big diff. with howard is the contract. the one the gm gave him. the manager will get fired- not the gm. bochey doesn't have that reason to play belt against lefties- and if we are saying he should so belt can be ryan howard against lefties- well after 6 years of trying, howard is getting worse not better at hitting lefties.

[rockitsauce]

I realize the difference b/w Howard & Belt, (contractually) just frustrated (as a Phillie fan) to watch the big guy against LHP. He is truly awful. They'd be better off platooning his ass w/ Ruf.

Belt, we just don't know. 411 AB, wow. Really Dan. We're gonna judge him after 1 season (411 AB last yr & 187 in 2011 = 598 AB). He's 25 for crissakes. The baby giraffe is still growing So perhaps there's power to come, but why does he even hafta be the second coming of another former Giant w/ the initals BB ? I remember watching an outstanding 1B who never seemed to hit more than a dozen HR's or so....Keith Hernandez. What about the Mayor, Sean Casey ? Another great hitter, and I don't think he ever hit 30 in a season.

My point is just b/c he's a 1B doesn't mean he hasta hit 40 bombs. Not that many players at ANY position are doing that nowadays. He could still be a valuable contributor to his team if Blockhead gave him a chance. Look at his #'s so far, he's far from clueless, ala Howard against lefties. I could see if they had a right-handed bat who was, you know...good (like Posey), but Arias. Really?

[DOUGHBOYS]

Let's look at it the other way, Dave.
What reason has Belt given to Bochy to play him everyday?
When he has played everyday in the past, he has not succeeded. His playing time is then reduced.
I agree, Arias isn't a great player either, far from it, but players have to play well enough to force Managers to make them play every day.
Belt has not done that.
With a trade, he becomes a different player in a better ball park. As of now, we're talking a James Loney type with less than double digit homers, and those type hitters are benched some times.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Belt IS the Giants 1B. But, I feel Bochy is doing the right thing. Belt was not producing in batting under .200 in consecutive starts from the 5th to the 20th.
Belt is anything but an established star. Sometimes letting a player ride the pine is the best thing for him.
Of course, that doesn't help your fantasy team, does it

[headhunters]

dan you are correct on all counts with belt but i understand the rockets frustration. belt just looks like a player that needs a different park. rizzo is a good comp. rizzo needed out of petco- his power doesn't play everywhere and belt would look much better in wrigley or toronto or baltimore.

[rockitsauce]

oh no, not the James Loney comp.

good discussion guys, will be interesting to see how this plays out, (long term) esp. considering the Giants are def. going to want to rest Posey at 1B w/ ever increasing frequency.

btw, from a defensive standpoint (perish the thought) isn't it far better to have a left handed 1B ? I wonder if Lord Zola or some other numerish-type out there has any data to support/refute this. Just seems better to me esp. w/ regard to pick-off throws over to 1B.

Of course if it's a choice b/w right-handed Votto & the aforementioned Loney...I'll take the hit to my defense