Freese is having a very bad year on defense, but Alvarez has improved his range this year. He's not worse than CJ and I don't think Panda is either overall. They've all been better than CJ over the course of their careers too. Plus if they had Simmons playing next to them (and CJ didn't), then this would be a different conversation.
jpx7 (08-19-2013)
In the last 3 years Johnson has been -28 DRS. The next worse is at -21. Miggy is -18.
Tom @Haudricourt 34m
#Brewers 1B Juan Francisco whiffs to strand two in the first. He has five straight Ks and 6 of 7 going back to Saturday.
Cabrera only played 3B for the last 2 years. And DRS is only part of the equation. Miggy's UZR at 3B is -20.3 same time frame johnson is -14.6 Only reason Johnson is worse than Miggy in your sample is selective sampling. Johnson isn't good or acceptable at 3B. But Miggy is so much worse. Cabrera is basically a modern day Williams, all he cares about is hitting. Tigers screwed up signing Tubby Fielder and moving Miggy to 3B.
Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg
Johnson's has 300 more innings in that time period and his UZR and UZR/150 are both lower.
I love how everyone here that thinks Chris Johnson is nothing but lucky thinks we'll have a **** fit next year if Johnson hits .285. Hello. Last time I checked .285 is a solid average.
ChapelHillMatt (08-20-2013)
It's not the sucking, it's just that his value is pretty easily replaceable if he's not hitting very high.
If he's hitting around that line his WAR would probably be around 1.5 which isn't horrible at all, but it could be replaced relatively easy and for less than Johnson will be due to amke next year.
My thing with Johnson is we should see if someone will trade for him while his value is at an all time high.
Stockholm, more densely populated than NYC - sturg
Chris Johnson's defense is not bad. He's adequate. Again it's like 50% of the people on this board don't even watch the games.
ChapelHillMatt (08-20-2013)
I'm sorry but I'm not a guy who goes by these UZR and whatever else. I go by the eyeball test and yes Chris was pretty bad in the field earlier this year but he has really improved and you can tell he has really been working hard in the field and his confidence is really good. I think Chris is a solid player and a guy every team would love to have. We have a ton of guys that can hit for power but we need a guy like Chris who can hit for a high average and does all the little things right. Will he lead the league in BA every year? No but I do think he will be a .285-.300 hitter because of his approach.
I'd much rather have Chris Johnson than another free swinging all or nothing hitter in Francisco. We have a guy named Uggla who does that and too many times has he not produced with men in scoring position because of his terrible approach.
ChapelHillMatt (08-20-2013)