Comments on: SS carousel in Boston http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/ss-carousel-in-boston/ People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Sun, 20 May 2012 08:46:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/ss-carousel-in-boston/#comment-36 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:38:40 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/ss-carousel-in-boston/#comment-36 Fair question. I loved Cabrera while he was here, and I wasn't alone (as evidenced by the rousing ovation he got in 2005 upon his return as an Angel - which he clearly wasn't expecting but thoroughly appreciated, based on his immediate reaction and his postgame comments). We're told that Lugo has Cabrera's personality - his enthusiasm, his joy, his smile, his overall lover for the game... and that his personality should allow him to thrive in Boston (like Cabrera). I thought they gave up on Renteria too soon. Course, I'll never understand why he left St. Louis - a better baseball town than Boston since the fans are at least as knowledgeable and passionate, but nowhere near as suffocating and... well, nasty. The fact that Lugo compares favorably with Renteria offensively is a good sign to me, yes. As for Gonzalez, he was such a joy to watch defensively. As you note, the defensive stats indicate that Cabrera is slightly better. That said, I freely admit that current defensive stats do not seem to be as good as offensive stats. Defense is difficult to measure. I liked Cabrera's defense, but I *loved* Gonzalez's defense. In short, I didn't really understand them letting Cabrera go to pay Renteria more - considering that Cabrera clearly did thrive in that environment and it was debatable that Renteria would (and many would argue that his 2005 season proved he couldn't). I thought they gave up on Renteria too soon - although his rebound in Atlanta in 2006 could be seen two ways: (1) 2005 was just an off year, or (2) he was not (and never would be) comfortable in Boston and belongs in the NL. Maybe it's a combination of the two. As for Gonzalez, I feel they have enough offense and good enough pitching that a great defensive SS who contributes offensively on occasion would be preferable to a good offensive SS who's average defensively. For the Sox, money isn't an issue - although it should be noted that Lugo makes a lot more than Gonzalez. Bottom line: I'm fine with Lugo - but what I'd really like to see is some stability at the position. It's Lugo's turn to try and provide that, and I hope he's able to (while putting a couple WS rings on his fingers, preferably). And as I compared the stats, Lugo fared better vs. the other three than I thought he would... so I guess that's good. In other words, I don't like Lugo any more or less than I liked the last three SSs (none of whom I liked as much as Nomah, for the record) - and I'm just hoping we have more than one season of Red Sox stats to ultimately compare him to his predecessors. Fair question. I loved Cabrera while he was here, and I wasn’t alone (as evidenced by the rousing ovation he got in 2005 upon his return as an Angel - which he clearly wasn’t expecting but thoroughly appreciated, based on his immediate reaction and his postgame comments). We’re told that Lugo has Cabrera’s personality - his enthusiasm, his joy, his smile, his overall lover for the game… and that his personality should allow him to thrive in Boston (like Cabrera).

I thought they gave up on Renteria too soon. Course, I’ll never understand why he left St. Louis - a better baseball town than Boston since the fans are at least as knowledgeable and passionate, but nowhere near as suffocating and… well, nasty. The fact that Lugo compares favorably with Renteria offensively is a good sign to me, yes.

As for Gonzalez, he was such a joy to watch defensively. As you note, the defensive stats indicate that Cabrera is slightly better. That said, I freely admit that current defensive stats do not seem to be as good as offensive stats. Defense is difficult to measure. I liked Cabrera’s defense, but I *loved* Gonzalez’s defense.

In short, I didn’t really understand them letting Cabrera go to pay Renteria more - considering that Cabrera clearly did thrive in that environment and it was debatable that Renteria would (and many would argue that his 2005 season proved he couldn’t). I thought they gave up on Renteria too soon - although his rebound in Atlanta in 2006 could be seen two ways: (1) 2005 was just an off year, or (2) he was not (and never would be) comfortable in Boston and belongs in the NL. Maybe it’s a combination of the two.

As for Gonzalez, I feel they have enough offense and good enough pitching that a great defensive SS who contributes offensively on occasion would be preferable to a good offensive SS who’s average defensively. For the Sox, money isn’t an issue - although it should be noted that Lugo makes a lot more than Gonzalez.

Bottom line: I’m fine with Lugo - but what I’d really like to see is some stability at the position. It’s Lugo’s turn to try and provide that, and I hope he’s able to (while putting a couple WS rings on his fingers, preferably). And as I compared the stats, Lugo fared better vs. the other three than I thought he would… so I guess that’s good.

In other words, I don’t like Lugo any more or less than I liked the last three SSs (none of whom I liked as much as Nomah, for the record) - and I’m just hoping we have more than one season of Red Sox stats to ultimately compare him to his predecessors.

]]> by: shtiny http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/ss-carousel-in-boston/#comment-35 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:21:07 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/ss-carousel-in-boston/#comment-35 So, is that good? Are you happy that Lugo is the SS rather than Renteria, Cabrera or AGon? My choice will be and always has been Cabrera. He is arguably the best defender - your stats support that. He is the best baserunner - why would you use rate stats for everything, and then counting stats to determine speed? Especially with something like stolen bases, which is very dependent upon the team's philosophy. Did Lugo become slower in the second half of last year, after moving from TB to the Dodgers? Of course not. Any player will steal more bases for the Devil Rays than they would have on the Dodgers. Cabrera's 64/9 ratio of SBs is superior to the rest. He seemed to be the only one out of the bunch that thrived in Boston. Renteria, clearly was effected by the climate of Fenway, and we'll see if there is a similar effect re:Lugo. So, is that good? Are you happy that Lugo is the SS rather than Renteria, Cabrera or AGon?

My choice will be and always has been Cabrera. He is arguably the best defender - your stats support that. He is the best baserunner - why would you use rate stats for everything, and then counting stats to determine speed? Especially with something like stolen bases, which is very dependent upon the team’s philosophy. Did Lugo become slower in the second half of last year, after moving from TB to the Dodgers? Of course not. Any player will steal more bases for the Devil Rays than they would have on the Dodgers. Cabrera’s 64/9 ratio of SBs is superior to the rest. He seemed to be the only one out of the bunch that thrived in Boston. Renteria, clearly was effected by the climate of Fenway, and we’ll see if there is a similar effect re:Lugo.

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