Just For Fun
Marcel Projections for 2009:
Raul Ibanez: .277/.342/.461, .344 wOBA, +6.2 Runs Above Average Hitter Per 600 PA
Ken Griffey Jr: .248/.336/.434, .334 wOBA, +1.1 Runs Above Average Hitter Per 600 PA
Russ Branyan: .234/.327/.465, .338 wOBA, +3.1 Runs Above Average Hitter Per 600 PA
Branyan is the best defensive player of the three in that he’s the only one who should ever be allowed to wear a glove at any position. Offensively, they’re all pretty similar, especially since Branyan doesn’t have the clout to try to fight a platoon. They’re all below average players, with the pretty common skillset of decent-but-not-great-hitter-with-minimal-defensive-value.
The Mariners just replaced Ibanez’s bat in the line-up, and duplicated whatever you thought they might get from Griffey (for better or worse), for $1.4 million.
This is what we’ve been screaming about for years. Undervalued talent is very easy to find if you know what you’re doing.
Dave, actually I am quite flattered with your in-depth response to my ranting. I agree with you on most points, especially defense, but offensively you really reinforced my point…you wrote:From 2006 to 2008, Ibanez ranks 36th in the majors in home runs and 48th in slugging percentage. Even if you just compare to outfielders, he ranks 14th and 23rd. Do you think home runs and slugging percentage are esoteric numbers.
In my mind, since there are 30 mlb teams and 90 starting outfielders that makes Raul the top offensive outfielder on more than half of the teams. Ranking 48th overall in slugging would place him as the 2nd or at worst 3rd best offensive player on every team. That is not below average, that makes him a top offensive player on nearly every team.
Your point about the money referred to players that the M’s have signed or wanted to…I referenced people who have worked and succeeded in the business and that does not include Bill Bavasi. Thanks for your comment and the great site.
Making him “the 2nd or at worst 3rd best offensive player on every team,” even if it were true (which it isn’t — that’s on an average team), when he’s also one of the least valuable players in the league with a glove on his hand, makes him a below-average player.