Replacing Reyes

Posted by Wasserman on Dec 6, 2011 in Blurbs

by Tyler Wasserman | @tylerwasserman | tjwasserman@fieldofignorance.com |

$100 million over the next six years.

Analysts have already been dissecting Reyes’ numbers to see if this is a good deal for the Miami Marlins. But let’s take a look at this from another perspective: how do the Mets replace him?

Last year, Reyes produced 98 wRC in 586 plate appearances. He did this with a career high .353 BABIP. This demonstrates a certain amount of luck, as a much higher percentage of the balls that he put in play fell in for hits. However, his line drive percentage also increased by 3.5 percentage points over his 2010 numbers, evidence that it wasn’t all luck; Reyes, in fact, was hitting the ball harder. So let’s call 95 wRC in 600 PA a reasonable estimate of Reyes’ 2012 production.

Interview with Jason Martinez

Posted by Behr on Dec 4, 2011 in Featured Story, Interviews

MLBDepthCharts.com is the creation of baseball junkie Jason Martinez, who has been intrigued by the construction of rosters since childhood. The website, and a soon-to-be-released digital magazine, allows readers to follow along as he deconstructs and rebuilds the pieces to the roster puzzle for all 30 major league organizations. The website has become a valuable resource for baseball fans, fantasy geeks, beat writers, reporters, scouts, and front office executives. In July 2011, MLBDepthCharts was named to SI.com’s inaugural Twitter 100, a list honoring the most essential twitter feeds in the sports world.  

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Jesse Behr: Since the story is hot off the press, what’s your reaction to the Marlins reeling in Heath Bell?

Jason Martinez: I understand the concerns people are going to have. Giving a 34-year-old with a declining strikeout rate a three-year, $27 million deal is risky for obvious reasons. But let me put a positive spin on this, since I’ve watched him on a daily basis here in San Diego. His stuff is still there. I couldn’t tell you the reason why his K rate is down, but the mid-90′s heater and sharp breaking ball haven’t gone away. He’s been one of the best relievers in baseball for the past five seasons, first as a setup man to Trevor Hoffman, then as the Padres’ closer. Bell will be fine for the first two years in Miami. I’d worry how effective he’ll be in year three of the deal when he’s 36 years old. But that’s less of a concern for a team that has a sense of urgency to compete in 2012.

Behr Thoughts: Sharing a Birthday with Dwight “Doc” Gooden

Posted by Behr on Nov 16, 2011 in Behr Thoughts

I’m not sure how many of you know or even care who you share your birthday with. Honestly, the only reason I do is because I have six (yup, six) friends in my life who share their birthday on the same date, November 16th, as I do. With the case of Doc Gooden, I learned he too shared November 16th as his birthday by flipping through a version of Yankees Magazine while I was last at Yankee Stadium.

So what’s it like sharing my birthday with “Dr. K?” Well, just as my roommate and FOI staff writer Tyler Wasserman said, “when I think of Doc Gooden, three things come to mind: those early seasons with the Mets, his no-hitter with the Yankees … and drugs.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Imperfect Roads to Becoming a Baseball GM

Posted by Field of Ignorance Staff on Nov 15, 2011 in Featured Story

Though it certainly doesn’t hurt, you don’t have to play pro ball or go to an Ivy League school to become a GM. Here are the ‘imperfect’ roads taken by the current class of  *general managers, listed in reverse chronological order:

Dan Duquette, Baltimore Orioles

Amherst College, 1980

Played baseball as a catcher at Amherst College. Started his career with the Brewers as a scouting assistant. Served as General Manager of the Montreal Expos (1991-1994) and Boston Red Sox (1994-2002). Named General Manager of the Orioles in November 2011.