FanGraphs Chat – 2/22/12





Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.

9 Comments
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Built2crash
14 years ago

are you excited about Vinnie Catricala?

Psst
14 years ago

“I like sour”… Shocking

Deer in the Woods
14 years ago

Cheesecake Factory is the best eating place. Well, it’s tied with the salt lick out by old Miller Pond, but as far as places where you can actually sit down and pay $20 for a plate of salt, it’s the best.

The Nightman
14 years ago

Russet apples AINEC. lol Jay Bruce

Math Nerd
14 years ago

I don’t think people understand how good Bonds was before the alleged steroids. His numbers were already good enough for the HOF before ’99. He would have been an all-time great without any enhancements…

So yeah, comparing Bruce to an all-time great is a little “ambitious”.

jcxy
14 years ago
Reply to  Math Nerd

that’s actually not what is at issue here.

someone pointed out that, among the “success stories” on jay bruce’s b-ref through 24 comparables were reggie jackson, strawberry, and bonds. looking at bonds age 20-24 stats, it’s an apt comparison to make. bruce had a bit more power, but bonds had more speed. both were considered very good or excellent defensive OF.

i think it’s completely fair to say we’ve overlooked about bruce. if we’re obsessed with potential. well…he’s like the OG bryce harper, the OG heyward…and all he’s done is throw up a +20 UZR, hit 100 career HR, and produced positive value on the basepaths.

hitters peaks are 26-29, right?

Matt
14 years ago
Reply to  jcxy

At first I thought Dave off-base (and still think ‘one of the worst comparisons ever’ is bit hyperbolic), but looking at their stats it’s not really close. Bonds has significantly better walk and strikeout rates. Bruce’s power numbers are slightly better. Bonds was putting up 30 SB seasons while Bruce hasn’t cracked 10. Bruce has one great defensive season, one good one, and two average ones (Bonds has two good and two great, but the numbers probably aren’t as reliable as it predates UZR/DRS). Considering the era, though, the offensive stats Bonds put up are much more impressive (wRC+115, 116, 144, 123) compared to Bruce (93, 96, 122, 116). Bruce is a quality player, but his 5 win 2010 seems close to his ceiling.

Drew
14 years ago

That’s not what nonplussed means.

Hutch
14 years ago

Cameron’s bitter about Moneyball because they cast him as fat Jonah Hill.