Show #139: Interviews with Roger McDowell and Larry Parrish
We talk with the Braves’ pitching and hitting instructors as well as discuss the future of Brooks Conrad.
110 Responses to “Show #139: Interviews with Roger McDowell and Larry Parrish”
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 » Show All
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 » Show All
March 24th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Minor still might be in the rotation to start the season. JJ left after one inning with an injury.
March 24th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thanks Matt I’m in.
March 24th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Kate what happened to JJ. What kind of injury?
March 24th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
I think Andruw will have a tough time making the HOF. If he does, it’ll be based on a decade of stellar play in center. His offensive numbers, placed in the context of the steroid era, leave much to be desired, as well as his complete lack of usefulness past 30.
A few numbers for comparison:
Career BA: .256, .276, .297
Career OBP: .338, .376, .381
Career Slugging: .488, .527, .477
That’s Andruw, Jim Edmonds, and Bernie Williams. Just a couple contemporaries off the top of my head – none of whom screams HOF.
Defense: Edmonds has 8 Gold Gloves, and Williams has 4 to AJ’s 10. Jones was one the most exciting players I’ve ever seen roam an outfield – I’m young with a New Media memory, though. Edmonds was fantastic as well, and played the position admirably for much longer than Jones.
Offense: Despite knocking a good number of dingers, Andruw’s slugging percentage for a middle of the order guy was average and with the exception of his one standout year, he didn’t really drive in runs at an exceptional clip. He never hit for average, didn’t take many walks, and struck out way too often. His career slugging percentage is barely better than Bernie’s, who was really a glorified 2-hitter. Both Edmonds and Williams have a significantly higher OPS, my favorite metric of a hitter’s overall ability along with Ks/BBs for a career. And it’s worth noting that because Williams and Edmonds both have more at bats after the prime of their careers than Jones, their averages are more diluted than Jones’s will be at the end of his career (assuming that his career isn’t already over from fatness).
Durability: Edmonds lost an entire season of his prime to injury, but has been relatively healthy. Williams was a gamer, and while Andruw’s weight was under control, he showed up pretty much everyday. As noted ad nauseum in the thread and my post, AJ’s collapse as even a marginally useful player at age 30 is a major knock.
Context: During the past few years HOF voters just started considering “Steroid Era” players. So far, the iconic players of the era, McGwire, Sosa, et. al., have not been favorably received despite outstanding statistics. I assume Bonds and Clemens will not be either. An argument can easily be made that these guys are being scapegoated, but whatever. I really have no idea how it will shake out for guys like Bagwell – who was never caught but many suspect – and Palmeiro – who was caught but claims he was innocent. But I suspect that the voters will be much less forgiving. It’ll take sustained success, and any major peaks or valleys not easily explained by injury or late career decline will be viewed with suspicion. Guys like Andruw, Javy Lopez, Adrian Beltre, Brady Anderson, Luis Gonzalez, who would be considered unlikely to marginal Hall of Famers anyway, will likely be passed on because of the taint of the era in which they played. In Andruw’s case, the best year of his career, could very well undermine any chance he has of making the Hall based on his defensive prowess and above average bat.
March 24th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
From DOB: Jurrjens had “discomfort in his right side’ and was removed from game as a precaution. More to come.
March 24th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Here’s a tweet from DOB about Beachy: “We made the decision that Beachy was ahead of Mike at this time in the 5th starting pitcher competition. We will make final decision this weekend.” That’s hedging, and obviously because of the Jurrjens situation.
He’s also saying the JJ thing is just a leg cramp. But I’m horrified right now.
March 24th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Thanks guys I’m horrified too.
March 24th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
More from DOB: “Jurrjens said he came to dugout and told Fredi and Roger about the discomfort, and they told him he was coming out, that it wasn’t worth pushing it this close to the season. Jurrjens said he learned last year that it doesn’t help to not fully disclose such matters, to keep them secret until they worsen.”
I feel better after reading that.
March 24th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
I feel a little better. But it’s kind of immeasurably better. It’s amazing how the loss of JJ (or Lowe, Hanson, Hudson) would leave me feeling like the team is amazingly vulnerable all of the sudden. Foul mood.
March 24th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
59 was me, btw.
March 24th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
My Murphy crusade continues. IT IS A JOKE that he does not merit more consideration. Some of this is a repeat.
Murphy finished his career with 398 home runs (19th in MLB history at the time of his retirement) and a .265 lifetime batting average. His MVP awards in 1982 and 1983 make him one of only four outfielders in major league history with consecutive MVP years; at the time, he was the youngest to have accomplished the feat. His many honors also include seven All-Star appearances, five Gold Gloves, and four Silver Sluggers. Murphy led the National League in home runs and RBI twice; he also led the MAJOR LEAGUES (emphasis added) in home runs and runs batted in over the 10-year span from 1981 to 1990.
One of the most productive and decorated players of the 1980s, Murphy led the National League in games, at bats, runs, hits, extra base hits, RBIs, runs created, total bases, and plate appearances during the decade. He also accomplished a 30-30 (30 home runs with 30 stolen bases) season in 1983. Murphy played in 740 consecutive games, at the time the 11th longest such streak in baseball history.
March 24th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Diory was optioned to AAA. Doesn’t that mean Ed Lucas gets a spot on the bench to fill the backup SS role? I think so.
March 24th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Matt, what a great idea! I better not though. First, I’m barely going to have time to keep up with baseball. Second, there are some sore losers on this board (not naming names) and I’m sure to kick serious butt.
March 24th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Curt, your man-crush is making me feel a little awkward.
March 24th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
How dare you sir
March 24th, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Bad news:
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/03/24/braves-mcguirk-unaware-of-potential-sale-by-liberty-media/
on a side note – can Terry McGuirk fall into a wood chipper at some point?
March 24th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
I really don’t see how Bernie Williams or Jim Edmonds gets mentioned in the same sentence as Andruw. Just me.
In 2002 the first year UZR(Utltimate Zone rating) started. Edmond’s UZR from 2002 -2008 doesn’teven go above 10.0. Andruw is in double digits each year from 2002- 2007. In 2008 he had a .4 which is the bad year with the dodgers.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1153&position=OF
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=96&position=OF
Yes Andruw had offensive holes but in my book if you are a once in a generation defender and an above average offensive player. You are a Hall of Famer. Plain and simple. Defense puts him in. Too bad we don’t know Dale Murphy’s UZR.
March 24th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Just got my first listen to a podcast. Glad I found this site. Keep up the good work guys.
March 24th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Why is my comment in moderation?
March 24th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
You made a moderate comment? Where?
March 25th, 2011 at 7:44 am
Thanks Jace. Keep on listening. We appreciate it.
March 25th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Hi Jace – Thanks for listening and joining us on the board.
Walker (and everybody) – if you put more than one URL in a comment it gets auto-moderated. And, to be honest, the moderated pile is not something we check very often. I did just approve yours and it’s #67 now.
March 25th, 2011 at 8:32 am
All,
I’m reposting the Fantasy BB post from Brave in NY (Matt) from yesterday. Join us. We’re putting together an all ABT group. Me, Curt, Matt and Brandon are all in. Before I tweet about it and open it up to our Twitter followers, I want to make sure our folks here on the comments board get first dibs. Don’t delay!
Hey everyone, I created a friendly Fantasy Baseball League for everyone to take part in. No money will change hands, just bragging rights…
The league is on yahoo. Here is the link to sign up:
http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1/register/joinprivateleague_league_select?.scrumb=
The League ID is 180643 and the Password is podcast.
There is a 12 team max so sign up now.
The live online draft is scheduled for Monday 3/28 at 8pm ET. You can always pre-rank if you can’t make it.
Matt
March 25th, 2011 at 9:29 am
STEVE, stop with the temptation. How much time does such a thing take? Do you set it up and watch it go or is there maintenance?
March 25th, 2011 at 9:37 am
Leah, you can either sit there and draft players live… which will take about 1.5-2 hours, or pre-rank players and have the thing autodraft for you…
You don’t need to check it daily as there are enough pitcher spots on the roster where you won’t have to worry about changing pitchers daily.
Matt