The Eric Patterson Hits Explosion
by Gaijin_Suketto on Sep 30, 2009 9:45 AM PDT
44 comments
How about that Patterson, eh?
He sure stinks it up off the bench, but now that he's in there every day, he's doing a fine job. Just like Mr. Davis in center, playing every day allows him to get his rhythm, and put some numbers up on the board.
Too bad the A's can't have a 12 man lineup, 'cause a lot of our players (Barton, Patterson, Davis are the best examples) just can't get it done off the bench. They need to be in there every day to keep up their hitting, and their timing is faulty coming off the bench.
Unless Patterson is penciled in to a starting spot next year (I would be surprised if he is, with all the depth ahead of him), he should be traded this offseason, possibly for a reasonably low-priced veteran bench presence who can produce without having to play every day.
My completely right brain analysis is that I don't like the cut of his gib. He shouldn't have been allowed to wear #1, which had been unofficially retired since Billy Martin was managing the club, and he's totally got the bad face. He shouldn't wear his pants low and baggy either... It makes him look like he has stick legs with no calves.
As for the left brain analysis, hopefully that will follow below, from AN's team of crack sabermetrician commenters. I don't do that sort of stuff, because I'm the philosophy guy, not the math guy. It's not in my job description. Union rules, sorry.
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I'll be honest
My interest has waned this season, and I’ve kind of resorted to half-heartedly checking the box scores, just, you know, because.
Somehow, I entirely missed that Eric Patterson is kind of hitting like a major leaguer. I mean I saw his home run that other night and I thought “Aww, cute, Eric Patterson hit a home run.” But like if you had asked me I’d have said I was at least 80% sure he was still hitting .215 or something.
That said, my money’s on the under for E-Pat next season.
we in the losin baseball binness. and cousin, binness is a boomin.
by walk off bunt on Sep 30, 2009 9:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I mourned the death of the 2009 A's in May,
so this is all just extended 2010 Spring Training to me.
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Sep 30, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I started mourning in the 15th inning in May.
That’s the day I felt sure the A’s weren’t going anywhere in 2009.
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 Sep 30, 2009 6:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't bring myself to watch an entire game anymore.
The “last” button is getting worn out on my remote.
by IM4Oakgal on Sep 30, 2009 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep him
I think EP will be a valuable utility player for this team next year. He can play the outfield and 2B/SS. I’m not sure we have a jack-of-all-trades type player for this team heading into next season. He is too valuable, IMO, to trade away for prospects or draft picks or whatnots.
by batterbatter on Sep 30, 2009 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He's a horrific defender, though.
Why bother keeping a utility guy if he sucks at defense?
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Sep 30, 2009 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A B -3X = Swedish girls like chocolate @('.')@
by monkeyball on Sep 30, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, hey, he said something other than TWSS!!!!!
Well, he kinda said something.
by Joey C. on Sep 30, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zenlike, but not really,
except really,
but no.
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Sep 30, 2009 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
Given the run-is-a-run-is-a-run, if he can hit enough to be a WAR or 2 he’s a fine utility guy. You just use him as a PH rather than a late inning defensive replacement.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on Sep 30, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The problem with that is
that he can’t seem to hit well in a PH role. He’s looking like one of those guys that needs regular AB’s to be productive.
by VV A's fan on Oct 1, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
and that's why we should trade him after this year...
someone’s gonna like his September and give us something for him… at least I hope.
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Oct 1, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is why we should keep Landon Powell.
a lot of our players (Barton, Patterson, Davis are the best examples) just can’t get it done off the bench. They need to be in there every day to keep up their hitting, and their timing is faulty coming off the bench.
The truth is, most players aren’t as good when they don’t get regular playing time. But since you have to have bench guys, that leaves a bad choice. Either you sink your resources into someone who is good enough to be an everyday player, just to come up with OK level of bench production; or you settle for a guy who really is just a bench player. The first is too expensive and wastes resources that could be better spent elsewhere; the second leaves you with a bench that sucks.
The answer is to find those rare guys who actually are good off the bench but probably couldn’t keep it up every day. Like Landon Powell.
Now if we could just get a Powellesque utility infielder and a Powellesque fifth outfielder, I’d be happy.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Sep 30, 2009 4:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Powell for utility infielder!
Just think of the comedy!
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 Sep 30, 2009 5:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They'd start playing Benny Hill music over the PA.
by LoneStranger on Oct 1, 2009 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someone needs to bring a saxophone to the park,
sort of like trumpet guy, and then play that tune whenever it’s called for. That would be awesome.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 1, 2009 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That would be great.
Anyone on AN know how to play the sax?
by LoneStranger on Oct 2, 2009 9:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let would need one hell of a laugh track
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 1, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rocco Baldelli?
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 Sep 30, 2009 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pre-Rickyization Rajai?
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on Sep 30, 2009 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Definitely not Rajai
He needs regular playing time. The point is to find someone who doesn’t.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Sep 30, 2009 10:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
F. Thomas Mark III?
In play, tease(s)? by ElQuesoCapitan on Aug 15, 2009 3:27 PM PDT
by brian.only on Oct 1, 2009 12:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good idea.
Rocco Baldelli can produce off the bench and in spot starts.
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Sep 30, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not familiar with Rocco's track record,
but if he meets my bench-player description, I’m on board. Is he a free agent?
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 1, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has a weird mitochondrial abnormality (channelopathy)
which causes him extreme fatigue when he plays for extended periods of time. Like Landon Powell, he is probably medically incapable of everyday playing time.
However, he has hit quite effectively (OPS around .775) off the bench in limited time for the last two seasons. And he’s a free agent.
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 1, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you think Powell is capable of DHing 80 games
and catching 30?
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Oct 1, 2009 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's probably capable,
but he’s a much worse hitter than Cust, so I have no idea why you’d want him to DH.
by Elston Gunn on Oct 1, 2009 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I figured he'd DH occasionally when Cust needs a day off and no one else is amazingly hot.
Not sure about 80 games. Maybe 80 PAs. Catching for 30 games doesn’t seem out of reach though.
by LoneStranger on Oct 2, 2009 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Much worse hitter than Cust?
If this year is just a regression for Cust, then maybe so.
However, I don’t believe the cynics that think that Powell is too old to improve much.
If this something that only stands out in the more complicated metrics, then I’m not qualified to argue it (nor interested).
But in the old school, right brain, gut feeling, dreaming on a player respect, I think Powell’s got room to improve. He’s getting around on the fastball a lot better than he was last year with the RiverCats, and I would not be surprised if he put up an OPS close to .800 if he were a half-time player rather than a once or twice a week player.
Plus, he’s gonna be dirt cheap next year, and likely the year after that, too, and Cust is not.
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Oct 2, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think (hope) that the more rational reason for optimism
is that Powell’s R/L splits were pretty extreme this year, but they’ve always been much less of an issue in the minors. If he can get back to hitting LHs well, he could DH instead of Cust against the tougher lefties.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Oct 2, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also that injuries have impacted Powell's progress to date
Like Pennington, it’s possible — even if not more than 50% likely — that with full(er) health Powell would have shown better hitting skills to date, and would project better going forward, and that if he’s healthy in 2010 could still improve upon 2009/minor league #s.
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 2, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, a much worse hitter than Cust.
Cust, in by far his worst season in the majors, has a .340ish wOBA (or 110 OPS+ if you prefer). Powell, in hitting better than you would have expected based on his minor league numbers, has a .320ish wOBA. Even if you think Powell has a lot of room to improve, I can’t see how you can justify thinking he’ll ever be better than a .340 wOBA player, which as I already said, Cust is already doing at his worst. Powell’s a really good hitter for a catcher, but he’s not nearly good enough to DH.
by Elston Gunn on Oct 2, 2009 10:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if you prefer OPS...
Cust has a OBP-heavy .780 OPS in his worst season, Powell has a very SLG-heavy .730 OPS. Even if Powell improves to the tune of 50 OBP points, he’s still basically Cust at his worst.
by Elston Gunn on Oct 2, 2009 10:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You'd rather have an OBP-heavy .780 OPS
than a SLG-heavy .780 OPS?
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 3, 2009 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes by a lot
OBP is 1.7x more valuable for creating runs than SLG.
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 3, 2009 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very much so.
One of the reasons that wOBA (or EqA) was created is that OPS doesn’t weight things properly. Adding OBP and SLG together only works if they’re both equal contributors in offensive production, but they’re not. OBP is pretty heavily more valuable.
I won't heal, given time.
I won't try to change your mind.
I won't feel better in the cold light of day.
But I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to stay.
by danmerqury on Oct 3, 2009 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's only on a one year deal with Boston,
for 500k
"Flea Markets aren't just for blind dates anymore!"- The Reverend Billy Lard
by Gaijin_Suketto on Oct 1, 2009 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like the way you think.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 1, 2009 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Covelli Crisp?
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
by DyeLongJustice on Oct 1, 2009 8:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vets like Giambi can handle bench roles
In his case, he’s more effective that way because of his aging body.
by OaklandSi on Oct 1, 2009 5:55 AM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Step 1: Resign Giambi
Step 3: Profit!
by Elston Gunn on Oct 1, 2009 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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