NL Rookie of the Year

[Warner2BruceTD]

As far as the Votto/Tulo debates on FG, its not the guys siding with Tulo I'm annoyed with, its the arguments both sides have used.

Votto has the edge in nearly every "conventional" stat, all of the clutch stats (both conventional and "metrics"), has played every day while Tulo spent a long stretch on the DL, and you could reasonably argue Tulo isn't even the most valuable player on his own team (he isn't). The Reds are cruising into the playoffs, and nobody in their right mind thinks that could have happened with Miguel Cairo at 1B.

Could you imagine the shit I would get over there if I posted that? I'd get VORP'd into submission. And that's my point. These stats can be fun, but sometimes we don't need to look so deep. That's all.

 

[Senser81]

Who is the staunchest purist?

 

[FirstTimer]

Heh.

I can tell you, however, that many of these people who "enjoy baseball statistics" don't watch the games. Go read some of the debates on Fangraphs, on Tulo vs Votto for MVP. I cant be convinced otherwise.

Earlier this year, Votto came up with two outs and two on in Dodger Stadium, 8th inning, Reds trailing. Reds had not won a game in LA since 2006. Broxton gets ahead 0-2, and Votto battles back, fouling off several pitches and working the count to 3-2. The 12 pitch AB ends with a Votto single, and the Reds go on to win. This was an epic AB, and a season defining moment for the team, and they have since left STL in the dust.

Votto shouldn't win MVP based on that one AB, but its little things like this that get lost in "metrics". Some would discount the clutch (dirty word!) hit by dismissing the clutch opportunity as a product of surroundings. Some would actually argue that his single is no different than a single with two outs in the 4th, bases empty.

I mean, I love baseball stats and even get into the newer ones. I own everything Bill James ever wrote. But how did we get here? Can't we just applaud a guy for driving in 140 runs, instead of ripping him for his low VORP? Opportunity is one thing, BUT YOU STILL MUST DELIVER.

I just think the statistical overanalysis of baseball has gone a bit too far, and sometimes people lose sight of the obvious.

Awesome post.

Agree on all counts.