The Old Milwaukees

Fielder, Braun among Bill James’ favorite young men

October 22, 2007

The new Bill James book, available Nov. 1 (pre-order now!), includes a new metric: the Young Talent Inventory. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are on that list. Eric Munson is not.

1. Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman, age 23
2. Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins shortstop, age 23
3. Fausto Carmona, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher, age 23
4. David Wright, New York Mets third baseman, age 24
5. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners starting pitcher, age 21
6. Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay starting pitcher, age 23
7. Jose Reyes, New York Mets shortstop, age 24
8. Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher, age 22
9. Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians center fielder, age 24
10. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher, age 23
11. Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals third baseman, age 22
12. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies shortstop, age 22
13. Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins third baseman, age 24
14. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers third baseman, age 23
15. Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers starting pitcher, age 24

Thank you for that chart, Dave Studeman.

Paps. Bro. Would you take a hometown discount?

October 21, 2007

Let’s say he blows out his arm this off-season playing wiffle ball, rehabs, then returns to the mound for the Red Sox in 2009. First outing back, he goes double Dave Dravecky (you’d really have to see it) and everyone says, “Wow, he could’ve been really something.” He retires, Eric Gagne makes several All-Star appearances, and the world forgets the name Papelbon. In 2013, he is ready to return for the league minimum, if any team can overlook his amputation.

Despite the t-shirt, this is the only scenario in which John Papelbon ever signs with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Haudricourt (the blogger) mixes it up with readers

October 16, 2007

Far be it for the Journal Sentinel to allow comments on its print content, but kudos to the baseball staff there for exposing themselves in a (mostly) unmoderated blog.

I like it. It’s cute. They’ll figure out this “news has more than one publishing period per day” thing yet.

And Tom Haudricourt is not just posting team press releases and half-written teases of what’s going to be in tomorrow’s paper. I mean, he is, but he’s also slugging it out in the comments. Think what you will about his old-school approach to statistics and his tendencies to side with Ned and the front office, the prince of prose does not mind defending himself.

Well, if “sregdab1″ had bothered to do any research or look into the situation in any depth, rather than just trying to be flip and insulting, he would have seen that most of those blown saves came in the first half when Brian Fuentes was the closer.

So No. 1, his feelings are easily hurt. This is going to be awesome in coming posts.

But No. 2, when two guys are arguing about bullpens and both trying to use saves as a meaningful number, aren’t they both wrong?