11/7/10

Cutnpaste: - Frenchy, Sabermetrics, Drugs and Congress, Free Agency Needs and 50 Large


Mack Ade
 Frenchy:



In news that will surprise no one, Jeff Francoeur wants to play every day. Just like Chen wanting multiple years, this is understandable. I want Sonny Sharrock, ‘The Reverend’ Frank Wright, Peter Kowald, and Elvin Jones to play my next birthday party, but that probably isn’t going to happen, either. So much has been written about Jeff Francouer that extensive analysis can wait until he does sign somewhere, likely in a part-time role. Suffice it to say that despite short stretches of seeming to be good in New York and Texas, Francouer has been worth almost exactly replacement level in total from 2008 to 2010. It isn’t as if he has been hurt or seen reduced playing time, either, averaging almost 600 plate appearances a season over that time. His wOBA in that period is the worst among qualified outfielders at .298 — that is not a misprint. Given that he’s hardly even worth using as a platoon player, why would a team give him more than the league minimum, much less promise him a full-time job?


fangraphs  



Sabermetrics:


In the coming days and weeks, we look to both expand and focus our sabermetric attention. We are expanding coverage through daily columns devoted to specific aspects of baseball. If you look to the masthead, you'll notice our many great writers are in two columns: Columnists and Featured Writers. While our featured writers are working on pushing the boundaries of sabermetric research, our columnists will be providing you with new and interesting sabermetric content on a daily basis.


http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/  



Drugs and Congress:



Congressional hearings that have put the likes of Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Roger Clemens in the crosshairs appear to be far less likely to occur as the Republicans seized control of the House of Representatives this week.



Rep. Darrell Issa, the incoming chairman of the House subcommittee that called the iconic hearings into steroid use in baseball, has no interest in exploring performance-enhancing drugs in sports, his spokesman told FanHouse



fanhouse  


Mack Ade
 Free Agency Needs:



1. Starting pitcher: With Johan Santana out until perhaps June, only three credible starters return. But the rotation needs more than Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey and Jonathon Niese to compete with the arms of the NL East.



2. Second baseman: Ruben Tejada showed glimpses of progress late last season. Daniel Murphy is playing some second in the Dominican Republic this winter. Luis Castillo is still on the roster, at least. Appealing options are hard to find.



3. A power hitter: On the 2010 team, only one player finished with a slugging percentage above .500 and an OPS above .800. That, of course, was David Wright. He needs protection within the lineup

NJ.com  



$50,000:



That takes us to the $50,000. Okay, you've piqued (or peaked, whatever you want) my attention. But clubbies get nice tips all the time, and managers probably get higher tips than everyone. $50,000? If Jeff Francoeur is guilty of anything it's giving any non-family member that much money assuming he's going to make it back with a huge contract while his OPS was wallowing around .662. But again, this happens. To just throw it out there while leaving it to everyone's active imagination seems a little nutty to me. But that's the world we live in. Now, if there's a $50K betting slip on the Clemson Tigers lying around under one of Eric Valent's broken bat handles in Samuels' living room, I'll start worring. Mainly because ... well, who the hell bets on the Clemson Tigers for any reason?* Until that fictional betting slip is found to actually exist, breathe. Deeply.


http://www.metstradamusblog.com/2010-articles/november/waiting-to-exhale.html

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