Useful Idiot

I'll tell you who the trolls are. Simple reality that I can come here, express my heart felt view, and get insulted in return, and then 3-4 other members see fit to pile-on by voting up the reputation of the person just for those insults...THOSE are the true "trolls" here on this board. Mind you, I'm not claiming any "injury" to have resulted. Just clarifying that it's not as complex to read the landscape here, as you seem to think it is. Some might call that particular behavior a kangaroo court, others call it a shark tank. I believe that "monkey cage" is the most apt description. Don't stand too close. 😄

OH yes, I now see the error of my ways, you are the stat god, the stats you cherry pick are so much more worthy that my personal observations. Please tell me that my accolades are worthy of your approval.....

Just because I am unwilling to be "heeled" into the conversation you might prefer I have, is no reason to brand me a troll. Earlier when you were lamenting about a former member who in your opinion became a PITA, I was tempted to quip that you likely found any member unwilling to have the discussion you prescribed for them as a PITA. but I avoided the temptation to editorialize on you personally.

Between the late start to the season, and the time he spent on the DL, I think it would be an exaggeration to claim that his April performance was anything close to a representative "month". Even so, you'll have to admit that any complaints by me about Javy, were few and far between in the month of April, so whatever point you are trying to establish seems tenuous, at best. Plus, I've learned from experience what a monkey cage this forum can be when unpopular opinion is vented, so I simply waited for someone else to start this thread, and in so doing sidestepping the scat-throwing guilt peddlers questioning the need for the thread in the first place. However, once the target was established, I swooped!

Well, I'll concede that the plate discipline of the candidate you offer, is far superior to Javy. You do agree that Javy Baez is an amazin' man?

Actually, the way I recall it, I came onto this board shortly after we signed Baez, lamenting that I felt it was the wrong choice. And it was the superiority complex typical of this board assuring ME that I didn't know what I was talking about, etc etc. I believe there was even a confident assurance from you personally that Javy was going to do just fine. So if ANYTHING, you have the conceit on the wrong foot. I'm merely basking in vindication. Of course, it likely didn't seem like "conceit" to you at the time. You probably just felt as though you were schooling the ignorant? 😱

Well, that just the thing. Historically this organization has shown reluctance to cut large contracts irrespective of low performance level. No matter how bad the shortstop might be, they are gonna keep trotting him out there, for the price they are paying. (Shortstop? I don't need a shortstop, I'm paying a shortstop $20M+/year already,...etc) But with a retread pitcher at league minimum, take a shot, gamble on a possible high return, and cast him to the rocks if it doesn't pan out. In the chance that it pays off, Keuchell get's good enough to stimulate a deadline trade, we get a couple prospects for $500K You know how highly this organization values "cheap and controllable". So ante up $500K and roll the dice!!

I acknowledge that complex concepts can initially be hard to grasp, so to assist towards that end I've created a new metric, the "Neifurter Scale" .... illustrated in the following graphic. I'll update it for you from time to time, as necessary.

Of course the noteworthy difference being, Price got traded here, whereas Baez signed a contract and came here of his own will. But initially when still in the optimism stage,... I, like you, worried whether Baez could be happy here. Especially the first few weeks of the season, the game face he wore did not look like a happy man. And I found myself concerned that he might not wish to stay with us. Lately, that's been far less a concern for me, personally.

I don't care if you advanced analytics guys wanna argue that you've seen Baez on a photometer, and he's not that bright. The balance of similarities outweigh the differences.

I think it's pretty much a lock that no one is gonna make Baez tradable by the deadline.

I was thinking more towards the time where we paid Brandon Inge everyday, to put on an A's uniform. If Avila was slick enough to pull this off with Keuchel, I would consider it a bright spot on his otherwise disappointing resume. What? We'd end up paying pro-rata of league minimum for the balance of this year? Wouldn't that be something like $500K ? Even with this season in the krapper, little itch could look at it like a trip to the casino. Bet $500K that Fetter can make Keuchel tradable (for prospects) by the deadline. And if that don't pay off, cheap coverage for the remainder of the season.

I guess there are quite a few teams who will be in line in front of us. Doubtful they will all pass? I guess even the Twins would have dibs before us.

As Randy Marsh pointed out in the game day thread, The White Sox have DFA'ed Dallas Keuchel, and as bad as he has been lately, I still think we should make a "high potential upside" gamble on him. As depleted as our pitching corps are, and the season seemingly in the toilet, I don't see much down side. Who knows? Give him a fresh start, new playground, a few favorable matchups, and if the stars line up trade him at the deadline for cheap and controllable prospects Get 'er done, big Al !!

I know!! But Avila signed him anyway,....... didn't even ask me.

I don't disagree with anything you say......although I'll qualify that by saying I don't begrudge any player an opportunity to reach their full potential...so "more power to Avisail" etc etc. But to my point, where were the obergruppen statenazi-fuhrers when everyone was calling Avisail little Miggy? These guys here are self-deluding in thinking they are somehow"schooling" me that there are documented differences between Baez and Perez. Excuse me for disregarding the differences when the similarities are the rage of the midway.... Where were they when the "little miggy" comps were floating around? Perhaps I get the attention because I "matter" ? 😇 I be special thata ways....

Those who can....do Those who can't....teach Nice to see how I still own you, 84...been like 12 years running now.

I don't recall the statistics police going spazo back when people started calling Avisail Garcia "little Miggy", despite a raft of differences in their records. So I'm consequently inclined to interpret all the excitement I've generated in christening "Neifi" Baez ®️ , as a compliment.

You won me over. If you really believe that Grossman's performance merits a thread of it's own, then I completely believe there is no good reason why you shouldn't start one. However, you'll have to come up with a catchy nickname of your own, because I'm reserving "Neifi" for Mr Baez

Ahhh,...I see. So then sabermetrics is a more reliable tool for predicting outcomes that cannot be immediately verified? 😃

Let me guess,....was this person named "Jake"?

That was some real magic he displayed to end the game tonight!

It was relevant to the "self anointed experts ending up wrong" point i was illustrating.

The main thing he has going for him right now is that any game he goes 1 for 4, his batting average improves.