BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Adam Dunn: De Aza best leadoff hitter I’ve played with

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Adam Dunn: De Aza best leadoff hitter I’ve played with

Take that Ryan Freel!

Adam Dunn paid Chicago White Sox’s leadoff batter Alejandro De Aza one of the highest compliments of De Aza’s career after an 11-4 victory over Minnesota.

“No offense to any other guys that I’ve played with, but I think he’s the best pure leadoff hitter that I’ve ever played with,” Dunn said of De Aza.

De Aza went 0-for-3 Tuesday night but he drew a walk in the eighth inning and stole his 17th base before scoring on a two-run double by Dunn.

“It seems like he gives you a great at-bat, whether the result,” Dunn said. “But he’s going to give you a great at-bat and he gets on and obviously he’s a threat to run and can steal bases.

“But he’s as good as good a leadoff hitter as there is out there, in my opinion.”

Repoz Posted: July 25, 2012 at 07:09 AM | 16 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: history, white sox

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Double-Spin Mechanic Posted: July 25, 2012 at 08:42 AM (#4191649)

Dusty Baker and Willy Taveras are both appalled.

2. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: July 25, 2012 at 08:57 AM (#4191662)

This sounds unlikely but possible. Let's see ... the other leadoff hitters he's played with are Ryan Freel, D'Angelo Jiminez, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Freel, Norris Hopper, Scott Hatteberg, Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston Jr., Stephen Drew, Cristian Guzman, Nyjer Morgan, Willie Harris, Danny Espinosa, Juan Pierre, and for most of June 2003, Adam Dunn himself. I put ADeA near the top of that list.

And Barry Larkin in 2001, 2002, and 2003, but that was part-time.

3. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: July 25, 2012 at 09:35 AM (#4191693)

Freel had a few solid seasons, with OBPs in the .370 range and good SB numbers. De Aza and him are probably a push.

4. Random Transaction Generator Posted: July 25, 2012 at 09:43 AM (#4191703)

D'Angelo Jiminez

Wow. There's a blast from the past.

5. Boxkutter Posted: July 25, 2012 at 09:44 AM (#4191705)

Ryan Freel, D'Angelo Jiminez, Felipe Lopez, Ryan Freel, Norris Hopper, Scott Hatteberg, Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston Jr., Stephen Drew, Cristian Guzman, Nyjer Morgan, Willie Harris, Danny Espinosa, Juan Pierre,

When did he play with Stephen Drew?

6. JJ1986 Posted: July 25, 2012 at 09:45 AM (#4191706)

When did he play with Stephen Drew?

August '08 to September '08.

7. Boxkutter Posted: July 25, 2012 at 10:02 AM (#4191725)

August '08 to September '08.

Crap, you're right. I had forgotten about that time, and when I checked Fangraphs it had Cinci for 2007, "2 Teams" for 2008, and then Washington for 2009.

Of course, I had pretty much forgotten that Ryan Freel ever existed until you mentioned him. And I used to love to watch him play those few years he was good.

8. The District Attorney Posted: July 25, 2012 at 10:10 AM (#4191737)

and for most of June 2003, Adam Dunn himself.

This would have been a much better quote if Dunn had said De Aza was the best leadoff player he'd ever played with "other than me."

9. boteman Posted: July 25, 2012 at 12:04 PM (#4191864)

I knew Dr. Aza would make it in the bigs.

10. The District Attorney Posted: July 25, 2012 at 12:15 PM (#4191877)

I knew Dr. Aza would make it in the bigs.

Still waiting on Dr. Acula, though.

11. rlc Posted: July 25, 2012 at 12:52 PM (#4191916)

Of course, I had pretty much forgotten that Ryan Freel ever existed until you mentioned him

Still waiting for proof that he wasn't just a figment of Farney's imagination.

12. madvillain Posted: July 25, 2012 at 02:23 PM (#4192043)

Well, after years of Juan Pierre, he's the best Chicago fans have seen in awhile too. He's also the best CF Chicago's had since, boy, Lance Johnson? It's been a while. De Aza always had the pedigree and the minor league numbers, he just had bad luck with injuries just as he hit he bigs. It's a bit surprising that he's on pace for a 4 WAR season, but the potential to be a solid regular was always there.

13. hokieneer Posted: July 25, 2012 at 02:56 PM (#4192089)

Hatteberg had 2 nice seasons with the Reds, but only started 30 games as the leadoff hitter.

Freel had some decent seasons at the top of the order, accumulating 500 or so PA while playing 6 positions and injuring himself once a week.

The rest were mostly terrible in Cincinnati (and in Washington for that matter). De Aza, best by default.

14. JP Ricciardi Posted: July 25, 2012 at 03:41 PM (#4192135)

I just got off the phone with Adam, and he says he still doesn't like baseball.

15. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: July 25, 2012 at 04:55 PM (#4192195)

Wow, I thought Norris Hopper would be the one people started saying "There's a blast from the past" about.

16. cardsfanboy

Posted: July 25, 2012 at 05:07 PM (#4192203)

Wow, I thought Norris Hopper would be the one people started saying "There's a blast from the past" about.

The blast from the past that hit me was this

14. JP Ricciardi Posted: July 25, 2012 at 03:41 PM (#4192135)
I just got off the phone with Adam, and he says he still doesn't like baseball.

Been saving that one up for a while?

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Adam Dunn: De Aza best leadoff hitter I’ve played with

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics