AJ article
Sportsline has an intersting article on AJ's and his new team.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/8569874/1
Obviously, we shouldn't have traded for the guy. But should we have re-signed him?
A few points/thougts/opinions of my own
1.) Clearly he is a better hitter than Matheny
2.) Almost all our pitchers are worse this year than last.
a.) Clearly, it is a pretty tough case to make that Matheny has been any great help with the pitchers.
b.) I doubt he has made them worse, but it isn't out of the question.
3.) Tomko had a career year with AJ catching him a lot.
a.) Is it possible that he was better because he was pissed off at AJ instead of inside his own head?
b.) Or is the catcher's pitch calling mostly irrelevant.
4.) I have no clue what to think of the Conte incident and wouldn't be suprised if it was BS. If true though, they probably couldn't keep him irrespective of money.
5.) How did players not named Tomko feel about the guy?
6.) The ChiSox pitchers are a heck of a lot better this year, even if they may be getting lucky.
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Matheny helps pitchers.
The Giants ERA would be 7.00 without Matheny.
I sense doubt. If you do not choose to believe, we have ways to convince you.
by Grant on
Jun 17, 2005 11:29 AM PDT
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Free Yorvit!
I really wish the Giants would make up their mind about our backup catcher. If they don't trust him to be an everyday catcher, why dick him around season after season while a more expensive starting catcher rolls into town and either kicks the trainer in the crotch or lets runners steal at will? Either trade Yorvit so he can finally be a starting catcher somewhere (and try to get some value for him in return) or let him play more than once or twice a week.
This goes to a larger issue that hasn't been discussed much here, which is the sometimes strange, passive-aggressive ways the Giants braintrust have in dealing with their 'troublesome' players. For example, they trade Jerome Williams and then let some vague rumors about Williams' 'personal problems' float out there in the ether. Don't they have enough faith in their own abilities to turn around supposed problem children like Williams? Same for AJ. The Stan Conte story was blatantly put out there after they let him walk away for nothing, as if to justify how badly they fucked up handling him.
by Kitspool on
Jun 17, 2005 12:04 PM PDT
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good point
One of my problems is that they seem to ditch players after a bad performance in an important game.
Examples:
- Hernandez
- Nathan
- J. Cruz
- Mohr
- Hermanson
by irwin on
Jun 17, 2005 12:13 PM PDT
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Agreed . . .
by Lemaster10 on
Jun 17, 2005 1:41 PM PDT
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Milton's contract
by The Balls of Summer on
Jun 17, 2005 3:25 PM PDT
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two things
2.) Livan was more or less an average pitcher who soaked up innings. Valuable. Brower: Not so much. Moss: not so much. The had to count on rookies the next year, which is a darn risky strategy. They basically chose him over Alfonzo, when they had feliz.
by irwin on
Jun 17, 2005 3:42 PM PDT
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AJ sucks
However, I agree with the logic on Yorvit. I also don't think getting Matheny was a mistake. Even if Yorvit is outperforming him in catching base stealers and pitcher ERA, Matheny's sterling reputation is obviously due to something. Even if it is all intangibles (i.e. work ethic, rapport with pitchers), these are things worth imparting to Yorvit, and (maybe) worth matheny's salary. Hopefully, at the end of the day, we'll have a young catcher with some pop, a cannon, and a great sense of how to keep the battery positive (heh heh...).
by Hayes on
Jun 17, 2005 12:38 PM PDT
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The only problem with that
by Nick Schulte on
Jun 17, 2005 12:46 PM PDT
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Reputation means he is good?
I think it is probably a similar situation with Reuter. Everybody loves the guy, so he has a better rep than his performance deserves.
As an aside, Tomko's cancer comments were pretty bush league. 1st of all, you shouldn't rip a teammate in the paper. 2nd, if you do, own up top it. It think that is just as bad as anything that AJ may have done [like I said, I have my doubts about the Conte story. Especially if it comes from Tomko.]
by irwin on
Jun 17, 2005 1:46 PM PDT
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Good points, all, but...
Dustin Hermannson aside, how sweet would a SF/ChiSox World Series be? (Hello: pipe dream!) I can envision Brett going Marichal on AJ -- so sweet.
by tomzilla on
Jun 17, 2005 3:12 PM PDT
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Hahaha
by ironchefcurry on
Jun 19, 2005 12:37 PM PDT
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Those double plays count
Last year was significantly more extreme:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/wsnlpos/#c
The truth lies somewhere in between. I think there is ample evidence to show that A.J. is not as good a hitter as his counting stats would indicate, and Matheny's defensive advantage pretty well cancels out A.J.'s offense. Still, I can't believe we're paying Matheny twice as much.
Yorvit is still better than both of them.
I really feel like there's an opportunity here. We're wearing that Matheny contract to the bottom of the ocean, but one of the five contending NL East teams with big problems at catcher - New York, I'm looking in your general direction - might be fleeceable. I'd rather keep Yorvit and two million bucks than Matheny, but since that isn't an option, I'd like to get value for our super backup.
by antinous on
Jun 17, 2005 2:02 PM PDT
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Question
From a purely gut feeling, I can't see how Matheny's very good defense makes up for his helpless offense. Especially with stolen base's seemingly becoming less important.
While AJ is not a great hitter, it seemed like he was a much better fit for the Giants from a lineup construction perspective because he gave them another badly need lefty bat.
by irwin on
Jun 17, 2005 2:17 PM PDT
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Hey, leave AJ alone
by Leee on
Jun 19, 2005 5:03 PM PDT
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