How did this guy slip under the radar?

by Zabat on Dec 19, 2005 8:28 PM PST

Twins sign Tony Batista.

I know this happened a while ago, but I just began thinking about it. Why did this guy opt to go to Japan last season?

Good power (32 HRs in 2004), decent speed (14 SBs in 2004), Ok fielder (35 errors). He was a good player.

How did he slip pass the A's, too? He is an Ex-Athletic they should of see nthat this guy would have been a great DH for the A's. He hits well against both right handed and left handed pitchers. Also is good right handed pop and wiould make a decent backup for Chavez if need be.

He was perfect I can't believe Beane let the Twins get him.

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Comments

How did we miss him?

I dunno, players with a sub-.300 career OBP just have a way of slipping right past our GM.

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Dec 19, 2005 8:31 PM PST reply actions

well...

.298 is ok but he was still worth getting

by Zabat on Dec 19, 2005 8:33 PM PST up reply actions

Not really

.298 is not OK. The single most important thing a hitter can do to help is team is not make outs. Tony Batista is not good at that.

Here are players who did not manage a .298 OBP in 2005: Corey Patterson (.254), Cristian Guzman (.260), Steve Finley (.271), Eric Byrnes (.294).

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Dec 19, 2005 8:39 PM PST up reply actions

Hey, Byrnsie was the highest of the 4...

And, before the A's traded him, he had a .336 OBP (.389 versus lefties).

by FoolshGame22 on Dec 19, 2005 10:46 PM PST up reply actions

Think about it like this...

People get hits at a higher percentage then Bautista gets on base.

"Baseball is 90% mental -- the other half is physical." Yogi Berra

by smartkidfromcarmel on Dec 20, 2005 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

THe Batista...

who hits for a lot of power and plays great defense is a player who is palatable, if not any great help to a team. But more likely you get the flailing 290 obp Batista who strikes out 170 times and leads your team in outs made...

by Little Rickey on Dec 19, 2005 8:38 PM PST reply actions

Some things to consider...

A .298 OBP isn't ok, it's horrible
35 errors isn't ok, it's bad
Based on Batista's stance, I'd say the guy can't even figure out where the pitcher is
See #5
See #4
How did you even see this?

Nico

by Nico on Dec 19, 2005 8:47 PM PST reply actions

7: ???

8: Profit!

There are only two races in Baseball, Right Handers and Left Handers.

by Zonis on Dec 19, 2005 8:49 PM PST up reply actions

9. No poofters!

"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." - Yogi Berra

by vignette17 on Dec 20, 2005 10:33 AM PST up reply actions

#10: The larch.

There will now be a medium-sized intermission.

Albatross! Get it on a stick!

Nico

by Nico on Dec 20, 2005 10:44 AM PST up reply actions

...and if we get Huff...

...sorry,
wrong diary!

"...It might have been a great year with a real DH."

by A s Eh on Dec 19, 2005 9:46 PM PST reply actions

Tony Batista is about as useful to a major league

baseball team as I am to a national hockey league team.

And for the record, I've never ice skated.

by walk off bunt on Dec 20, 2005 3:00 AM PST reply actions

Then you have to play goalie!

"HRs by second basemen are sexy. They're rare and exotic." -Kyli

by McFood on Dec 20, 2005 7:35 AM PST up reply actions

Then Batista should play 2nd base

I mean be the actual base... ;)

"Don't go getting all Alexander Haig on me," Beane told Forst.

by Poppy on Dec 20, 2005 8:46 AM PST up reply actions

Fun Fact

Tony Batista somehow managed to slug under .400 in a year where he hit 26 home runs.

I can't confirm this, but I have to believe that no one else has done that before.

by regfairfield on Dec 20, 2005 10:49 AM PST reply actions

According to Lee Sinins'

Sabermetric Encyclopedia, the only other player who did something comparable was Rob Deer, who put up this line in 1991:

539 PAs, 25 HR, .179/.314/.386

Wowie!

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Dec 20, 2005 10:57 AM PST up reply actions

Luckily, his team's

starting pitchers credited him for their success, and so all was forgiven.

Nico

by Nico on Dec 20, 2005 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

I understand that

as DH, he called pitches from the bench.

Copernicus felt the same way about the geocentric crew.

by salb918 on Dec 20, 2005 11:25 AM PST up reply actions

Tony Batista

I don't know where you've been, he was the most sought after free agent besides Burnett.

See, I'm a murderer, I kill what I eat. I'm a hunter-gatherer, I kill what I eat. I'm a steelworker, I kill what I eat. I'm a bricklayer, I kill what I eat.

by Cutthemullet on Dec 20, 2005 3:18 PM PST reply actions