Braves sniffing around on Markakis; Official 4 years 44 million.

[thethe]

This speaks to the problem with the old guys in charge of the Braves. They don't understand value and how much it costs. Markakis isn't worth the money he'll get but a guy like Heyward making 25 mill a year is well worth it and more. Until they can fully grasp this concept the Atlanta Braves are not going to amount to much.

Or maybe not eeveryone in baseball buys into defensive metrics.

[GovClintonTyree]

Oh. I thought Wren told Fredi who to play and where to bat them.

Heh. Yeah, I think there was some of that going on.

I was just putting the ball up on the tee for you to whack it to the moon.

[BedellBrave]

Someone should hire Neyer to be their GM. He's brilliant.

[thethe]

I think it's more about starting the process of changing the makeup of the team. Seriously. Instead of an athletic, toolsy player with marginal leadership skills, you get a skilled baseball player who's good in the clubhouse. And perhaps more importantly, makes contact with the baseball.
You don't flip the whole team into gritty skilled ball players, because then you have a Towers problem. But you need some guys like this.

Agreed. We needed someone who wouldn't go and strike out all the time while not costing an arm and a leg.

[Dalyn]

Heh. Yeah, I think there was some of that going on.

I was just putting the ball up on the tee for you to whack it to the moon.

[The Chosen One]

Agreed. We needed someone who wouldn't go and strike out all the time while not costing an arm and a leg.

Aoki.

Plus he can teach everyone how to bunt and move runners over.

[GovClintonTyree]

Neyer crucifies the deal: http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-...orioles-120314

The Atlanta Braves are going to be puking their guts up in a few years. That's what happens after you give them $44 million and they buy 2400 Nick Markakis plate appearances.

A slapdash piece that uses WAR to value players. I'm unimpressed. Markakis may not pan out, but it won't be properly measured with WAR.

I think he'll be a moderate success and I think he'll age well, with his body type and skillset.

[Carp]

His last 3 years disagree with you. And he only gets on base at a good clip compared to his new teammates.

2 of the last 3 yrs with an OBP north of .340. Not sure how that disagrees with what he said.

[GovClintonTyree]

Or maybe not eeveryone in baseball buys into defensive metrics.

I don't. Very primitive; overweighted, particularly in the OF.

Pretty sure guys who base their contract offers and deals on WAR don't last very long.

[thethe]

Aoki.

Plus he can teach everyone how to bunt and move runners over.

I like aoki but have a feeling hell cost more.

[GovClintonTyree]

Do you think in light of our national discourse on domestic violence that this is an appropriate picture?

[thethe]

I don't. Very primitive; overweighted, particularly in the OF.

Pretty sure guys who base their contract offers and deals on WAR don't last very long.

It's just another hot to trot stat that everyone idolizes that will be extinct in five years. There is no way to properly value defense right now. We know the good ones from the bad ones but measure of "goodness" and "badness" have yet to be quantified well.

[GovClintonTyree]

Someone should hire Neyer to be their GM. He's brilliant.

Yeah, he's ****ing Einstein.

[BremanFan88]

Or maybe not eeveryone in baseball buys into defensive metrics.

The ones winning most of the championships over the last 10 years have bought into them. But I'm sure our FO knows better...

[thethe]

The ones winning most of the championships over the last 10 years have bought into them. But I'm sure our FO knows better...

Do you have connections to these front offices?

[BremanFan88]

Do you have connections to these front offices?

The Cardinals, Giants and Red Sox have embraced advance metrics to build their teams. That's a fact. Defense, offense, pitching. They take it all into account. Why do you think the Cardinals wanted Heyward? I wish ours knew just a little about them. Maybe we'd have a little more success instead of going into the tank.

[The Chosen One]

It's just another hot to trot stat that everyone idolizes that will be extinct in five years. There is no way to properly value defense right now. We know the good ones from the bad ones but measure of "goodness" and "badness" have yet to be quantified well.

The eye test and stats both pass the test when it comes to guys like Heyward and Simmons.

[thethe]

The Cardinals, Giants and Red Sox have embraced advance metrics to build their teams. That's a fact. Defense, offense, pitching. They take it all into account. Why do you think the Cardinals wanted Heyward? I wish ours knew just a little about them. Maybe we'd have a little more success instead of going into the tank.

But nobody knows eexactly what they are looking at. Making the assumption that they are using into the popularized defensive metrics may be right or wrong.

[Braves1976]

It's just another hot to trot stat that everyone idolizes that will be extinct in five years. There is no way to properly value defense right now. We know the good ones from the bad ones but measure of "goodness" and "badness" have yet to be quantified well.

Wow...

[BremanFan88]

But nobody knows eexactly what they are looking at. Making the assumption that they are using into the popularized defensive metrics may be right or wrong.

Bill James works for the Red Sox. Bill James loves Jason Heyward. Feel free to infer just a little.