2011-12 Hot Stove Thread

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

One more aspect on the Fielder signing: He's now with the team where his dad had his most success.

That means Prince could be hearing more than a few questions about Cecil at the press conference and at spring training. And unless things have changed recently, that's not a subject Prince likes to discuss.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

They can just put up the AL Central banner now. The Indians had an outside chance with V-Mart hurt. Now? Unless the Twins' porcelain middle of the order miraculously stays healthy, the Tigers waltz to the division title.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

As a Royals fan: FUCK.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Agreed, but it is the American League. There's no reason he can't DH, so the defensive factor isn't a big part of the discussion.

And I think you're overstating Prince's baserunning. He'll score from second most of the time, particularly at Comerica, where there's a lot of ground to cover. No, he won't go first to third very often, but don't forget, he does have an inside-the-park home run to his credit!

I'd say some of the negatives against him, such as fielding and baserunning, were taken into account with the average annual value of the contract. That is why the annual value so close to Gonzalez's even though he's got better numbers in HRs, RBIs, OBP, SLG, OPS and OPS+.

It's really the length of the contract that is out of whack with the market.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Well, there is that. I guess while I sit here and philosophize about what a bad waste of resources this is, Tigers fans will just enjoy seeing their team be really good at baseball this year.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

He's been on second base for 109 singles in his career, and scored on just 42 of them. He stopped at third 61 times and has been thrown out six times.

I made a long post here before laying out how bad his baserunning really is, and the number I came up with is similar to what sites like Fangraphs and B-R have him: his baserunning costs his team about five or six runs per season compared to an average baserunner in the same situations. Don't make me show my work again, though I will if I have to

Depending on how good of a year he has, that's about 10-20% of his offensive value.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Every other fan of the AL Central looking at the Royals' young talent: FUCK.

Your time will come and it won't be very long now.

The Tigers have a two-year window to win one before the Royals' pitching cavalry arrives.

And Illitch wants one before he croaks.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

According to B-R, Gonzalez's park factor in San Diego was about 90 every year, and Fielder's was 103. Using their similar numbers as justification for similar contracts is a dangerous game.

Comerica is (perhaps surprisingly) about the same park factor as Miller Park, though. So in the short term, until the injuries and extreme fatness take their toll, the same production can be expected.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

As a Tigers fan, all I can say is... YES!!!!!!

I'm not paying him so I don't care, and this really softens the blow of losing Martinez. Verlander, Cabrera and Fielder on one team will make season tickets soar through the roof.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Oh, you'll care. Maybe not now. But you'll care.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

You have no idea how many Cubs fans thought I was crazy for not being excited that they signed Alfonso Soriano.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

If we win a Series, I won't. Trust me. I just want one, to get 2006 out of my subconscious.