Chavez Mentoring Wallace?
by supermarc589 on Oct 8, 2009 1:12 PM PDT
40 comments
After reading Belz's interview with BB, it is pretty clear that the organization is looking at keeping Brett Wallace over at 3B. If this is the case, the 3B for the start of the season should be up for grabs, with Wallace seeming to be the guy to take over at somepoint next season, whether it be out of spring training or at some later point. His bat has carried through the minors quickly, and it is his defense that is making some skeptical. The good news is that the A's have a 6 time Gold Glover at 3rd who can help.
Here is a video of Brett taking some grounders over at 3rd. While the grounders are pretty light, he seems like his footwork is passable.
This and this are examples of Chavvy over at 3rd, and his range and arm strength are on display.
In his Major League Career, Chavez achieved a UZR above 10 twice, and a 9.9 once.
Wallace has been criticized on his defense and I guess my question is what do you think the value of having Chavez around is and what can he teach Wallace to make him a legit MLB 3B man?
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I think we all hope
That Chavez can teach Wallace to better effect than Mark McGwire’s hitting lessons for Holliday and Croby.
by el generico on Oct 8, 2009 1:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
In defense of McGwire
Crosby was bad well before he got ahold of him
by chipper1001 on Oct 8, 2009 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, and Holliday dropped the damn fly ball.
Yeah. That means something!
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Oct 9, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
never mind. no it doesn't.
I’m not here to talk about the past.
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Oct 9, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
:-(
That just makes me miss Chavez….
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by nobodyinparticular on Oct 8, 2009 2:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think we
of all people should realize the impact a coach or mentor who knows his stuff can have on a player. Ron Washington turned Scott Hatteberg from a catcher into a passable 1Bman in a matter of months. He turned Ellis and Chavez into two of the best infielders in the game during their time. If Chavvy can relay some of those teachings to Wallace then I think Wallace will get better than he is now. How much better is, of course, the question…
"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin
by Helloooo 1st on Oct 8, 2009 3:11 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
This may very well be Chavy's
opportunity to show just how a good a coach he can be. It’s pretty clear his playing days are over (or at least on the brink). Come into spring training focused on helping this kid out and see where things go from there. If he doesn’t like it or just isn’t good at it, at least he knows now before he officially walks away from playing.
CuttheMullet, from "The Thread":
"Whenever I’m about to do something, I think "would an idiot do that?" and if they would, I do not do that thing."
by DMOAS on Oct 8, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
So how good was Ted Williams at teaching hitting??
I think he had two successful students out of a whole Washington Senators team.
This idea that Chavez can “teach” because he can “do” is absurd. No one was looking at Wash during his career and saying, “Wow! A gold-glove future teacher!”
Wash was successful because he had about ten years in various duties in the minors, after his playing days were over. From his ten years, he developed a system. What works teaching someone, what they respond to, what doesn’t work. Wash worked with hundreds of guys, personalities, abilities. Now you take ONE GUY (Chavez) and expect it to be a “perfect match” with ONE GUY (Wallace).
Not worth the neurons to even consider…..
"It is the mark of a truly intelligent person to be moved by statistics. " GB Shaw
by One won lost won on Oct 8, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
that was a little harsh
but you have a point
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Oct 8, 2009 3:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A lot harsh
And hitting is a different skill than fielding.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on Oct 8, 2009 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True, but wouldn't Chavez know Wash's system?
"The A's get some action but they do not score..." -Glen Kuiper
"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles
by Cheezombie on Oct 8, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's my thought.
If I have hope that Chavez can teach defense at 3B, it’s not because he’s good at it. It’s because he used to be bad at it and he went through a methodical learning process with a good teacher.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 8, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't care if i ever get back.
by AV on Oct 9, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good, don't waste your neurons
meanwhile we’ll be having a civilized discussion about the subject over here
by chipper1001 on Oct 8, 2009 5:07 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ugh.
I see AN continues to be on its collective period. Why try and stop it when I can just join the fun?!
Anyways, you’re absolutely right about this.
This idea that Chavez can "teach" because he can "do" is absurd. No one was looking at Wash during his career and saying, "Wow! A gold-glove future teacher!"
Now, I have no idea why the fuck you said that. Noone (not Hellooooo1st, at least) suggested that Chavez WILL teach Wallace, and help him improve. Rather, he said (emphasis mine):
If Chavvy can relay some of those teachings to Wallace then I think Wallace will get better than he is now
I think what Hellooooo1st was getting at, as is the original poster, is that Chavez can have a positive impact on Wallace. I doubt he can hurt him at all, and letting Chavez try and teach is worth a shot. What’s there to lose?
Keep in mind, of course, that "the best defense of Derek Jeter's life" ranks somewhere in between "the best fiscal responsibility of Mike Tyson's life" and "the best not-getting-assassinated-ness of James Garfield's life." -FJM
by travdog6 on Oct 8, 2009 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
No soup for you...
"What a joke." ~ Booby Crosby
by MMunoz33 on Oct 9, 2009 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Chavy mentoring Wallace is worth $11million
Mostly because it has to be.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Oct 8, 2009 6:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
So sad but true...
Kendall and Zooks worked out pretty well – though Zook was already pretty talented, but who knows.
I’d say there’s a better chance than none there is still some Wash’ knowledge/ tips floating around in Chavy’s melon.
'Well, there's just something wrong with the A's ya know, I mean come on...'- Girlfriend
by brian.only on Oct 8, 2009 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey - who said teachers in America are underpaid!
by DeJay on Oct 9, 2009 1:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
NICE
What you fail to understand in your joyless myopia is that baseball is the key to life-- the Rosetta Stone, if you will. If you just understood baseball better all your other questions your, your... the, uh... the aliens, the conspiracies they would all, in their way be answered by the baseball gods.
by winchester5 on Oct 9, 2009 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Chavez can probably make Wallace better, but Wallace is not likely to ever have
much range. I’m hoping for a Jim Thome situation where he can stand at 3B for a few years and then move to 1B.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Oct 9, 2009 1:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thome played 3b
I never knew that. You learn someting new everyday.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Oct 9, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And it didn't hurt that the SS next to him was Omar Vizquel
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Oct 9, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That must be Omar's specialty.
In 1991-1992 he played SS next to Edgar Martinez at 3B.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 9, 2009 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was Edgar all that terrible
or was he just too fragile to do anything other than DH?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Oct 10, 2009 8:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really don't know. I wasn't following the team back then.
I just think it’s funny to imagine Edgar at 3B.
(I do remember Vizquel with the M’s though, but only barely. I think Blowers was at 3B then, and Edgar had moved to DH. That was Omar’s last year in Seattle before A-Rod took over. I love Omar.)
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 11, 2009 12:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
its like the old saying goes
those that can do, those that can’t teach…
"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch
Bring Back The Bash!!!
by Shippee33 on Oct 9, 2009 9:32 AM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
You're welcome to my classroom any day to prove, in person, your aphorism.
JJ Martin
The best way to catch a knuckleball is to wait until the ball stops rolling and then pick it up. ~Bob Uecker
by JJ Martin on Oct 9, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's amazing just how much social harm that attitude has managed to accomplish in this country
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 9, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is usually said by those that have never taught and don't realize how difficult it is to be a good teacher.....
"The trouble with baseball is that it is not played the year round." Gaylord Perry
by BERRYJO on Oct 9, 2009 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sho nuff.
'Well, there's just something wrong with the A's ya know, I mean come on...'- Girlfriend
by brian.only on Oct 9, 2009 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say it, but generally the actual meaning/truth of it is grossly misrepresented
Someone who’s able to do something naturally I’ve found lacks the patience of someone who struggles to do the same. They tend not to see the inner workings of how to do it since they’ve never needed to really think it through. Someone who has to bust their ass through the trials of tribulations of actually getting good at it is in a better position to understand the inner workings of what is necessary to be good (i.e. what the person with natural talent is actually doing even if they don’t know how they’re doing it themselves). That being said, when the saying is used, it is done in a remarkably unfair and demeaning fashion.
CuttheMullet, from "The Thread":
"Whenever I’m about to do something, I think "would an idiot do that?" and if they would, I do not do that thing."
by DMOAS on Oct 10, 2009 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
From what I hear, Wallace is already great at fielding
If he can get to the ball, that is. Apparently he’s a guy with soft hands, good instincts and solid arm but with very little range. I don’t see how can working with Chavez make him rangier than he already is, it seems to me he needs that coach who worked with Jeter on improving his lateral movement.
Funny thing is, Carter is supposed to be exact opposite from Wallace, athletic guy with good range who simply has a concrete glove.
by Manstein on Oct 9, 2009 1:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
For some reason
“concrete glove” to me sounds like no balls will get through… :/
100% Athletics, 100% Baseball. 2009 Athletics, 40% Baseball.
by fruitattack on Oct 9, 2009 2:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And Gold Glove just reminds me of that commercial years ago
Where Chavez tries playing with his GG, the ball keeps bouncing off.
"The A's get some action but they do not score..." -Glen Kuiper
"Anyone who calls themselves the Angels Angels should have to start over and ride the short bus." -timmeh from McCovey Chronicles
by Cheezombie on Oct 9, 2009 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And yet, there are few metals which are more malleable than gold.
Just about any other metal would be clankier than gold.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 9, 2009 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
a little genetic enginering and the A's would have the perfect fielder.
You have to include smiley faces - Poppy
;- ) :- ) :-O : -> : -] : -}
by micdog2001 on Oct 9, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow.
Wallace looks like a Thursday night softballer ready to down a pitcher and pizza after the game. I know you can’t necessarily tell by that video just how good of a defender he is, but I won’t say I’m impressed by his movement or side-armed short throwing motion.
I’m betting he’s our future first baseman.
by humdinger on Oct 9, 2009 11:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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