SB Nation Atlanta: All Posts by Ben Duronio

Bay for Uggla, do you do it?

2011-06-11T19:36:00Z

Semi-rosterbation but with only one move in mind. The Mets management are not the ones that signed Bay, and after a year he has obviously not panned out -- though he may in the futre. Bay is worth 16 mil per year until 2013 and Uggla is 13 mil per year until 2015. Bay also has an option at 17m with a 3m buyout.

Over the careers of both, Bay has been the better performer. It's quite possible that the Mets would be the team to turn down this trade, and I would put every cent I had on it never happening regardless, but it is an interesting idea to think about. It's far too early to think that Uggla will be a below average player for the remainder of his contract, but guys like him do age quickly. Food for thought.

Poll

Would you trade Uggla for Bay?

Yes

53 votes

No

292 votes

345 votes | Poll has closed

Dan Uggla and Kelly Johnson both have 14.3 Fangraphs WAR since 2007, Kelly's first full season....

2011-06-08T04:32:56Z

Dan Uggla and Kelly Johnson both have 14.3 Fangraphs WAR since 2007, Kelly's first full season. Think about that one for a second.

Why OPS is not as good as wOBA

2011-04-18T19:12:22Z

Why OPS is not as good as wOBA

I know some are just getting acquainted with the more advanced statistics. But there are flaws in stats like OPS that wOBA tries to mitigate. The general consensus is that OPS is the simpler metric, but when you really look at it, it isn't. Simply adding two different stats together is a bad way to go about things. Look at wOBA in the future, that's my recommendation.

August '10: Send Heyward to Minors?

2011-04-18T03:34:34Z

August '10: Send Heyward to Minors?

So today was an awful game, and I am pretty bored now that there is no baseball on and not much else to converse about. Something on twitter sparked me to go back to this link and look at how awful the article was and how awesome the comment section was.

The Problem With Three Lefty Relievers

2011-04-15T15:34:30Z

Last night was the perfect example of a point I have been trying to make for weeks now. The Braves 4-3 ratio of right-handers to left-handers in the bullpen is extremely limiting. It's even more limiting when you consider that Kimbrel and Venters are only going to be used in situations closers and set-up men are used in -- as in close games in the late innings. Martinez's role is also limiting, as he is the long reliever or innings eater in big losses. That gives you a 2-2 ratio of right-handers to left-handers that can be used for those middle innings like O'Flaherty was last night.

There are considerably more right-handers in baseball than left-handers. It is not very logical to have an even 2-2 ratio of right-handers as left-handers for those middle innings, especially when two of them are pretty terrible at getting opposite handed batters out. Moylan and Sherrill, despite Moylan's improved changeup, should not be used for full innings but rather situations with either one tough same-handed batter or a series of same-handed batters.

So O'Flaherty and Linebrink are the two relievers counted on to pitch full innings regardless of handedness of the batters. They are supposed to be the relievers that can get both sides out and can be used in almost any situation. They are, more or less, filling the Venters role from last season. Well, right-handers have a career .386 OBP against O'Flaherty. He is a nice pitcher, but he's a far cry from Venters. With this current set-up, these types of innings where O'Flaherty pitches to three right-handers and one left-hander are going to happen. He got the lefty out, and allowed three straight hits to righties.

Having three lefties is overkill, even if one is Venters. There needs to be more flexibility in this bullpen. Sherrill is a useful player for some teams, but not teams with two other capable lefties and a right-hander who has better career numbers against lefties than righties in Linebrink. I can't blame any of the players in this situation. It was easy to tell what all the bullpen arms had as strengths long before the season, and management should have constructed a bullpen that is flexible, not one that has a bunch of different specialists. Scott Linebrink being the most flexible member of the bullpen speaks for what type of shape this group is in. It looks good at the back end and on paper, but when you dig a bit deeper you can see the obvious, gaping holes.

Tango Weighs In On Heyward Batting Sixth

2011-04-13T15:31:26Z

Tango Weighs In On Heyward Batting Sixth

I realize just below this fanshot is a post about Sweet Spot weighing in, but people should read what Tango has to say as well.

Mistreatment of Kenshin Kawakami continues

2011-04-05T19:40:37Z

Mistreatment of Kenshin Kawakami continues

Pretty good summary of what has happened with the Kenshin Kawakami situation. Just one man's opinion, but a worthwhile read.

His Name Is Nate McLouth!!!

2011-04-05T00:43:58Z

His Name Is Nate McLouth!!!

That should be read siimilar to the home run call for the Marlin's broadcaster for Dan Uggla

But seriously guys, his name is Nate McLouth, not Nate McClouth. He plays for our team, let's try and get his name right. We have been dealing with this kind of stuff since the internet has been invented with Andrew Jones and Jeff Francewfwaefawe. Let's all try and type the name correctly, even if you hate him a bit.