2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

Why?

 

His Defensive WAR (5.7) tied the all-time record and his Defensive Runs Saved by just about any measure is twice that of any other shortstop.

 

I hate the arguments that teams made a mistake for not taking Wacha No. 1 overall. At least right now. First off, Byron Buxton is likely going to be the best player from that class. Secondly, once teams see more and more of Wacha, they'll adjust. Let's see if he can even perform as well as Correa, whom the Astros picked No. 1 overall, or pitchers Mark Appel or Luke Giolito.

 

Supposedly, the knock on Wacha was that his breaking ball is not all that great. He's getting by with mostly an overpowering fastball and knee-buckling change-up right now.

Very few starting pitchers have had great success with only two dominant pitches (Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson being some notable exceptions). It will be interesting to see what happens with Wacha long-term, but I'd be willing to bet he picks up a slider or curve at some point this offseason.

 

Even the statheads agree that the current defensive metrics are flawed at best.

That said, Simmons is damn impressive with the glove.

 

Whatever. His numbers are twice everyone else's IN EVERY CATEGORY. If the defensive metrics are flawed, they're all flawed in the same direction.

 

When even the statheads say a metric doesn't work, I'm not impressed by it. I have been impressed by actually watching Simmons play.

 

All metrics are flawed

 

Some are just flawed. Others don't work at all.

 

That distinction seems, ironically (maybe?), arbitrary.

 

As I said, when so many of the statheads themselves admit that it doesn't work, that makes the distinction very clear.

 

http://tracking.si.com/2013/10/28/matt-harvey-tommy-john-surgery-mets-return/?sct=hp_t2_a15&eref=sihp

So, Harvey had TJ surgery basically five minutes ago and they're already trotting out the "ahead of schedule" line. That might be a record.

When's the last time a player on rehab was behind schedule? Or right on schedule? Has it ever happened?