Interesting read on ESPN called "Defining who's Mr. Average"

by rinsana11 on Jan 30, 2012 3:54 PM EST

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/20348/defining-whos-mr-average#comment

Two Bucco Players are brought up in the article

Catcher: Rod Barajas, .258 Equivalent Average (EqA). Sure, he struggles to get on base, but Barajas’ modest pop at the plate -- delivering a .200 ISO last season -- and solid receiving skills makes him the acme of average from the backstop bin. In Pittsburgh, he might help propel their latest bid for a .500 season.
Runner-up: The Brewers’ Jonathan Lucroy, .254 EqA.

Shortstop: Clint Barmes, .257 EqA. Here we have another Pirates offseason acquisition, which might be taken as proof that average is the new up, or that it takes a certain kind of player to choose to go to Pittsburgh. But more fundamentally, Barmes reflects today’s higher standard for adequacy on offense at short, because beyond premium defense he ripped a dozen homers for the Astros.
Runner-up: The White Sox’s Alexei Ramirez, .256 EqA, and another example after knocking 15 homers of his own.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the managing editor (Charlie) or SB Nation. FanPosts are written by Bucs Dugout readers.

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runner up to Cody Ross in LF... Jason Bay...

ouchie!

by white angus on Jan 30, 2012 4:16 PM EST reply actions

If those 2 play at league-average. . .

I would be ecstatic.

Everything that guy just said is bullshit . . .thank you

by Scranton on Jan 30, 2012 6:01 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, they’re definitely worth 9MM dollars.

Wouldn’t league average be 0 WAR?

by H2O on Jan 30, 2012 9:47 PM EST reply actions

Not really

0 WAR would be replacement level or a guy right on the cusp of being sent down to AAA. I don’t remember where I’m pulling this number from but I think the average starter in MLB is worth about 2 WAR (although they’re still both worth their contracts IMO).

by KentuckyPirate on Jan 30, 2012 10:08 PM EST up reply actions

I've always used that estimate

And have no idea where it’s from. Same as 1.0 WAR is worth $5 million. I think they’re Fangraphs?

by SuperBaes on Jan 31, 2012 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

IIRC, fWAR and bWAR each have different numbers for "average" performance

fWAR is 2-2.5 (varies season to season); I think bWAR is lower.

by JRoth95 on Jan 31, 2012 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

So we got 4 WAR, or $20MM, for 9MM!!!?!?

Bargain!

NEAL WITH THE STEEEEEAAAAALLLL!!!!!

by H2O on Jan 31, 2012 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

I'm ok with average....

It’s the below average that kills us.
The Bucs had below average at C, 1b, ss, 3b, and at least one (or two) OF slot last year.
If we can get average at C, SS, while getting close to average at 1b and 3B, we could have an average offense.
An average offense is 100 runs better than what we did last year.

by Tintin049 on Jan 31, 2012 8:36 AM EST reply actions

If McGehee plays to 2010 form

then a Jones/McGehee platoon should put up similar production to the numbers they have here for Freeman.

They also don’t have average offensive production out of RF… but I’d rather have the speed/defense of Tabata over the prototype power RF. A huge if, but if Pedro can lay off of out of the zone breaking stuff, then a Presley/Tabata/McCutchen top of the order can give him plenty of opportunities to sit on fastballs… Pedro is the key to this team, and I really believe that his leash will be very short.

I could feel his muscle tissues collapse under my force. It's ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm. ~~ Mike Tyson

by Cheap Beer on Jan 31, 2012 9:20 AM EST up reply actions

i still don’t get why the leash on pedro is so short and everyone already wants the guys head so quickly?? the guy is only 24 years old and has not even played a full season of major league ball yet. people are jumping to conclusion way too fast in my opinion. I really see alot of comparisons between Pedro and Alex Gordon of the Royals.

Both were highly regarded power-hitting 3rd baseman out of college with great hitting numbers at big baseball programs (Nebraska for Gordon, Vanderbilt for Pedro) and had alot of hype surrounding their future careers. Both were maybe even regarded as being the best prospect of their draft class. Both were taken 2nd overall in their draft years (2005 for Gordon, 2008 for Pedro). Both were highly regarded hitting prospects rising through the organizational depth chart. Gordon made his MLB debut in 2007, two years after he was drafted, and struggled at beginning but ended up finishing with 15 HRs and 60 RBIs. pedro also made his debut 2 years later and put up eerely similiar numbers as Gordon but alot less games played….16 HRs and 64 RBIs.

In 2008, Gordon put up similar numbers but was plagued by injuries and struggled mightily in the field by leading the AL 3rd basemen in errors and lowest fielding percentage. 2009 Gordon struggled at the beginning of the season, on the DL for 12 weeks, played a few games in the minors, then came off the designated list and rejoined the Royals halfway through the season, got sent back down to triple A for struggling, and came back in september as a call up. 2010 gordon broke his thumb at the beginning of the season and started on a minor league rehab assignment where he got switched to LF because of his consistent struggles at 3rd, played at triple A until late july and came up to the royals and struggled at the plate. finally in 2011, he became and all star at a position he wasnt drafted at in LF, had a outstanding yr with 23 HRs, 87 RBIs and a .303 batting avg. now hes 28 years old and finally had the season the royals expected from him…..SEVEN YEARS AFTER HE WAS DRAFTED!! being labeled as a young pure “power hitters” like Gordon and Pedro, it takes time to establish an approach at the plate and then execute

by rinsana11 on Jan 31, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

I don't want Pedro's head yet

But I’m not sure we should take that much comfort from the case of Alex Gordon. Gordon was never as bad in the majors as Pedro’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 2011, and when Gordon got sent back to the minors he raked, which Pedro did not do. (Disclaimer: I haven’t tried to adjust Gordon’s AAA stats for the hitter-friendly PCL.) His minor-league K-rate was also lower than Pedro’s, though closer than I’d been expecting (and again, I haven’t adjusted for the PCL, if that affects K rate.)

OTOH, Gordon had a longer track record of mediocrity than Pedro has now. That’s part of the reason I hope Pedro can put it together quickly. Also because it would be awesome if he did.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Jan 31, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Pedro also received a major league contract out of college

he really doesnt have as much time to succeed as you think.

by white angus on Jan 31, 2012 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

Regarding Alex Gordon vs. Pedro Alvarez ...

I hope that Alvarez finds his hitting before his 5th season with the Pirates. Otherwise, the Pirates will have to trade him immediately after he has a breakout season.

by BuccoFan21 on Jan 31, 2012 7:57 PM EST reply actions