Friday, August 29, 2003
Moneyball Backlash?
BP's David Cameron is puzzled (note: subscription necessary) why Angel's GM Bill Stoneman failed to renew the contract of scouting director Donny Rowland. Cameron looks at the 2000 draft and sees some high level flameouts (#1 Joe Torres) and a few intriguing arms (the aforementioned nut job Bobby Jenks). but Cameron also rates Rowland's 2001 draft as brilliant.
However, Rowland never shied away from high school players, and more importantly, the bane of Moneyball, high school pitchers. It could be that GMs like Stoneman are starting to call their scouting directors on the carpet and ask why, oh why, are we spending millions of dollars on high priced gambles. Torres, who the Angels gave a $2m+ bonus, has seen his velocity drop and now is working his way back, according to Cameron.
While a pure Moneyball-like strategy is probably not the way to go it's interesting to see how the big league clubs are responding, right or wrong.
BP's David Cameron is puzzled (note: subscription necessary) why Angel's GM Bill Stoneman failed to renew the contract of scouting director Donny Rowland. Cameron looks at the 2000 draft and sees some high level flameouts (#1 Joe Torres) and a few intriguing arms (the aforementioned nut job Bobby Jenks). but Cameron also rates Rowland's 2001 draft as brilliant.
However, Rowland never shied away from high school players, and more importantly, the bane of Moneyball, high school pitchers. It could be that GMs like Stoneman are starting to call their scouting directors on the carpet and ask why, oh why, are we spending millions of dollars on high priced gambles. Torres, who the Angels gave a $2m+ bonus, has seen his velocity drop and now is working his way back, according to Cameron.
While a pure Moneyball-like strategy is probably not the way to go it's interesting to see how the big league clubs are responding, right or wrong.
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Angry Beavers
You have got to admit, the image of 19 guys chasing one foul-mouthed squishyball-throwing lout is pretty funny. What I want to know is how that guy could get caught. I'm sure he was wearing shoes. If you have sneakers on, you can easily make a bunch of guys on concrete with metal cleats look like the failures from the Ice Capades just by cutting repeatedly. Of course you'd probably have to be pretty hammered to get to the point where you are badgering USF's own Tagg Boized incessantly, then throwing something at him. So I guess even walking might have been as hard as running.
You have got to admit, the image of 19 guys chasing one foul-mouthed squishyball-throwing lout is pretty funny. What I want to know is how that guy could get caught. I'm sure he was wearing shoes. If you have sneakers on, you can easily make a bunch of guys on concrete with metal cleats look like the failures from the Ice Capades just by cutting repeatedly. Of course you'd probably have to be pretty hammered to get to the point where you are badgering USF's own Tagg Boized incessantly, then throwing something at him. So I guess even walking might have been as hard as running.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
Parts Are Parts
Xavier Nady is a pure hitter. He could hit falling out of bed. Jason Bay has pure power potential. Give him 500 ABs in the bigs and he will get you 30 bombs, no doubt. Cory Stewart is a lefty who can throw 94 mph. This is his second season in the minors where he is throwing more strikeout than innings pitched. Oliver Perez is another lefty who shows signs of being a Kirk Reuter/Jamie Moyer type of pitcher with some seasoning.
None, alone or in total, equal up to Brian Giles. No way. No how.
Xavier Nady is a pure hitter. He could hit falling out of bed. Jason Bay has pure power potential. Give him 500 ABs in the bigs and he will get you 30 bombs, no doubt. Cory Stewart is a lefty who can throw 94 mph. This is his second season in the minors where he is throwing more strikeout than innings pitched. Oliver Perez is another lefty who shows signs of being a Kirk Reuter/Jamie Moyer type of pitcher with some seasoning.
None, alone or in total, equal up to Brian Giles. No way. No how.
