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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Eric Wedge unconcerned by Grady Sizemore’s batting average

But it seems to bother the kinetic kubiszyns out of Hoynsie.

Manager Eric Wedge doesn’t know how good Grady Sizemore can be. He won’t even take a guess. “Usually you have an idea of how good someone can be,” Wedge said. “I just don’t know with Grady.”

When the subject of Sizemore’s declining batting average was broached - .290 in 2006 to .277 in 2007 to .268 last year - Wedge brushed it aside.

“Batting average, unfortunately for a lot people, and it’s only been really noted in the last five or 10 years, that it is somewhat of an overrated stat,” Wedge said. “There are so many other numbers that are more important to a team winning a ballgame - that’s all that matters. “It doesn’t worry me.”

Do you think anyone had the nerve to tell Ted Williams, the last man in the big leagues to hit .400 in a season, that batting average was overrated?

Wedge wouldn’t name names, but said, “You can compare Grady with the great ones.”

Can a player be called great if he isn’t close to being a .300 hitter? Sizemore’s career average is .279.

...The Indians love that Sizemore attacks a part of his game every spring training. Why not attack his failing batting average?

Repoz Posted: February 24, 2009 at 12:57 PM | 28 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: indians, sabermetrics

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1. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: February 24, 2009 at 01:47 PM (#3084484)

Eric Wedge has my sympathies.

2. tribefan Posted: February 24, 2009 at 01:54 PM (#3084487)

what the #### does ted williams have to do with anything?

3. jwb Posted: February 24, 2009 at 02:12 PM (#3084495)

"Our All-Star Centerfielder Isn't Willie Mays!"

4. Vegas Watch

Posted: February 24, 2009 at 02:47 PM (#3084507)

If I had written this, I wouldn't want my byline on it either.

I guess it was Hoynes, his e-mail is at the end. The Ted Williams line is pretty hilarious, I'll give him that.

5. alkeiper Posted: February 24, 2009 at 03:43 PM (#3084544)

I bet Williams would just give him the cold stare.

6. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: February 24, 2009 at 03:58 PM (#3084555)

I love the idea that you can "attack" your batting average. As if Sizemore were somehow not concentrating on getting hits, and thus needed to think more seriously about that aspect of his game ...

7. Robinson Cano Plate Like Home Posted: February 24, 2009 at 04:04 PM (#3084557)

Sizemore had 190 hits in 2006, 174 in 2007 and 170 in 2008. Can you explain this, Eric Wedge? Where did those 4 hits go?!?!?!

8. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: February 24, 2009 at 04:10 PM (#3084561)

I love the idea that you can "attack" your batting average. As if Sizemore were somehow not concentrating on getting hits, and thus needed to think more seriously about that aspect of his game ...

I mean, I suppose a player--espcially one like Sizemore who is quick--could probably get more hits if he started bunting more, putting more balls in play, etc. But why anyone would change an approach that makes him one of the better players in baseball I can't imagine.

9. Perros Posted: February 24, 2009 at 04:16 PM (#3084565)

..The Indians love that Sizemore attacks a part of his game every spring training. Why not attack his failing batting average?

You have a wonderful relationship with the woman you love, she's perfect in nearly every way, but she's put on 10 pounds since you met her. Do you attack her for it?

Only if you are a loser.

10. The District Attorney Posted: February 24, 2009 at 04:32 PM (#3084582)

I bet Williams would just give him the cold stare.

Heh.

But seriously, folks, I guarantee-damn-tee you Ted Williams understood that what we'd now call "secondary average" is extremely important.

11. The importance of being Ernest Riles Posted: February 24, 2009 at 04:48 PM (#3084599)

Huh.

Two articles this morning: one about the World Series winning manager saying he wants his hitters to hit for higher average, and the other about a manager whose team finished .500 last year saying he doesn't care about batting average.

I guess sabermetrics really *is* dead, huh?

12. Tim Stauffer, Trot Nixon's Coming (Dan Lee) Posted: February 24, 2009 at 04:51 PM (#3084603)

Can a player be called great if he isn’t close to being a .300 hitter?

I dunno. Maybe you should go ask Cal Ripken, Reggie Jackson, Joe Morgan, or Johnny Bench.

13. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: February 24, 2009 at 05:11 PM (#3084621)

Can a player be called great if he isn’t close to being a .300 hitter?

I dunno. Maybe you should go ask Cal Ripken, Reggie Jackson, Joe Morgan, or Johnny Bench.

ah yes--the old Chadwick Ratio rearing its ugly head again

14. Perros Posted: February 24, 2009 at 05:13 PM (#3084622)

I immediately thought of Reggie Jackson, but guess whose age 25 season was most similar to Sizemore's?

Ironically, this player his .248 the year before, .301 his age 25 season.

Finished his career with a sub-.300 average.

Who is he?

15. Eric J is Financed by a Rich Grandpa Posted: February 24, 2009 at 05:25 PM (#3084634)

guess whose age 25 season was most similar to Sizemore's?

That's not how the B-R similarity scores by age work - they compare career totals up to that age, not individual seasons.

I still enjoy the comparison, though.

16. Perros Posted: February 24, 2009 at 05:27 PM (#3084638)

"Through age 25" works even better.

Thanks for the correction.

17. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: February 24, 2009 at 05:34 PM (#3084644)

Probably the guy whose actual age 25 single season was closest to Sizemore's was ... Tony Clark. I hope that bit of data has no predictive value ...

Edit: Given that Clark was as slow as a stalled ox, it most likely doesn't :)

18. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: February 24, 2009 at 06:37 PM (#3084723)

Ted Williams would have a .400 career OBP if he'd had a .262 Batting Average. Yeah, he knew the value of a walk.

19. Ron Johnson Posted: February 24, 2009 at 06:52 PM (#3084752)

Sure Williams understood the value of a walk, but he never went up there trying to walk, nor did he advocate this to anybody he was teaching.

He was willing to accept a walk rather than swing at a pitch he couldn't drive.

20. Walt Davis Posted: February 24, 2009 at 08:11 PM (#3084856)

If there's a greater threat to our children than steroids, it's teaching them that BA doesn't matter!! And what organization does more to spread this heretical philosophy? None other than the BBWAA.

Rickey Henderson 279
Cal Ripken 276
Ryne Sandberg 285
Gary Carter 262
Eddie Murray 287
Ozzie Smith 262
Dave Winfield 283
Carlton Fisk 269
Tony Perez 279
Robin Yount 285

Need I go on? The BBWAA makes heroes out of these empty shells while they play and then has the gall to bestow baseball's greatest honor upon them.

The madness must stop now!! HoF voting must be opened up to the only group which truly understands the value of BA -- bloggers.

21. Los Angeles El Hombre of Anaheim

Posted: February 24, 2009 at 08:29 PM (#3084887)

Do you think anyone had the nerve to tell Ted Williams, the last man in the big leagues to hit .400 in a season, that batting average was overrated?

Guys like this were the same guys who used to criticize Williams for taking too many walks or not hitting enough sac flies.

22. AJM Posted: February 24, 2009 at 08:31 PM (#3084890)

He was the best player in the league last year. STFU, guy who wrote this!

23. Tripon Posted: February 24, 2009 at 08:48 PM (#3084915)

He was the best player in the league last year. STFU, guy who wrote this!

Dustin Pedroia is looking at you cross-eyed.

24. galaxieboi Posted: February 24, 2009 at 09:37 PM (#3085010)

Dustin Pedroia is looking at you cross-eyed.

Ahhh...I was gonna make a short joke, by why bother anymore.

I bet Williams would just give him the cold stare.

I'm Ted ####### Williams!!! is what he woulda said, IMHO.

25. Athletic Supporter leads the nation in drifters Posted: February 24, 2009 at 09:55 PM (#3085035)

PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE GRADY SIZEMORE HE IS A JOY TO WATCH KTHXBAI

26. Blackadder Posted: February 24, 2009 at 10:24 PM (#3085092)

I agree, the Sizemore/Bonds comparison had jumped out at me before he was #1 on Sizemore's similarity score (they actually had the same OPS+, with a similar shape, through age 24). Of course, Bonds' age 25 season was when his hitting really took off, whereas Grady hit at about his career norms last year.

27. TDF, situational idiot Posted: February 24, 2009 at 10:42 PM (#3085129)

Sure Williams understood the value of a walk, but he never went up there trying to walk, nor did he advocate this to anybody he was teaching.

He was willing to accept a walk rather than swing at a pitch he couldn't drive.

Uh, ok. So do we know Sizemore is "trying to walk", or his he "willing to accept a walk rather than swing at a pitch he (can't) drive"?

28. Ron Johnson Posted: February 24, 2009 at 11:07 PM (#3085170)

Uh, ok. So do we know Sizemore is "trying to walk", or his he "willing to accept a walk rather than swing at a pitch he (can't) drive"?

I'm just guessing, but his distribution of balls in play suggests that he's trying to drive the ball pretty much every time up there. Only 9 ground balls to the left side all of last year, so most of his ground balls are an attempt to pull the ball -- which looks positively Williams in approach. Not quite Williams in execution but I'd settle cheerfully.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Eric Wedge unconcerned by Grady Sizemore’s batting average

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