Offensive winning percentages, Major League first basemen, 2004-05 (min. 500 PA)
OWP OWP
1 Albert Pujols .769
2 Todd Helton .736
3 Derrek Lee .697
4 Lance Berkman .690
5 Carlos Delgado .676
6 Mark Teixeira .667
7 Jason Giambi .666
8 Richie Sexson .652
9 Brad Wilkerson .640
10 Chad Tracy .639
11 Jim Thome .630
12 Paul Konerko .622
13 J.T. Snow .620
14 Nick Johnson .611
15 Sean Casey .604
16 Tony Clark .602
17 Lyle Overbay .588
18 Phil Nevin .582
19 Ben Broussard .581
20 Jeff Bagwell .571
21 Hee Seop Choi .557
22 Shawn Green .548
23 Carlos Pena .546
24 Kevin Millar .546
25 Scott Hatteberg .544
26 Tino Martinez .544
27 Rafael Palmeiro .532
28 Mike Piazza .529
29 Julio Franco .527
30 Shea Hillenbrand .519
31 John Olerud .508
32 Eric Hinske .505
33 Justin Morneau .500
34 Darin Erstad .486
35 Adam LaRoche .470
36 Pedro Feliz .430
37 Daryle Ward .417
38 Doug Mientkiewicz .371
Reitsma agreed to a one-year deal and avioded abritration; Perez and Jordan got minor league deals with an invitation to Spring Training.
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060106&content_id=1292240&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
I guess that should read “minor league deals with invitations to Spring Training.”
And I really can spell “avoid” 🙂
Wow, I dont even know exactly what that stat is but just looking at that list you can learn alot about LaRoche.
Stll got Robert Fick beaten.
This is off-topic, but I am trying to download the Microsoft patch to fix the infamous Windows security hole and the stupid update website won’t let me view the page if I’m not using Internet Explorer. That is patently ridiculous. I thought there was a monopoly suit over this? Let’s punish Firefox users because their browser is superior!
And I too don’t quite get that list but it’s obvious that LaRoche, according to it, sucks.
offensive winning percentage (n)
a measure of a player’s value based on the number of runs a team would score if all batters on the team had the same number of ‘runs created’ as that player.
Jenny…
I think we should just be thankful that Microsoft put it out this week instead of next, or after that. Microsoft could care less about people that use their products…which is why everyone should rebell and use Firefox, the best browser around! Just my two cents worth. I despise Microsoft and would like to do without it..
Cold hard facts. We could sure use an upgrade at first. I thought our weakness there made us especially vulnerable in the playoffs.
That’s old news. Here’s a better thought for a winter’s evening: What if Marcus Giles became the next Paul Molitor?
I know, I know–Home run hitters make the money. But ask him if he’s like to play 20 years like Paul. It could be done with his enthusiam for the game.
At the rate Marcus is going, I seriously doubt he will live 20 more years 😉
why offer perez and jordan anything? are they that high thought of that we just cant let them go.
future prediction for AJC Headlines of 2032: “New Roles for Atlanta’s Favorite Senior Citizens” After almost 30 years in the Atlanta’s farm system, Perez and Jordan land beer vending jobs for Braves. In response to the signing Jordan said, “Well, i feel that i have a little left in the tank, and i am glad i can still contribute in my own way. i can sell the hell out of some beer. Also, i can still perform my team role (cheerleader) from the aisles of turner field!”
http://www.fantasybaseballcafe.com/2005/tips_first_basemen.php Jamey has LaRoche as a breakout player citing his .347 average over the last 26 games.
But he says the “breakout” should be on the order of .280/20/65. From a 26-year old full-time first baseman, that’s not just inadequate, it’s pathetic.
I can only guess that the Perez and Jordan signings are gestures of appreciation to the club; instead of telling them to “Get the hell out”. I can see Perez retiring before the season but Jordan probably would want to see some playing time.
LaRoche had 78 RBI’s last year and everybody was disappointed. 65 RBI’s would not be a “breakout” year.
Vulnerable in the playoffs? Atlanta didn’t lose to Houston because of Adam LaRoche. It lost because it got 2 lousy starts & one blown save, the likes of which we rarely see beyond Cubland.
We can do better at first, but LaRoche played well in the ’04 & ’05 NLDS. Let’s not go crazy over a stat like that.
The Mets have Carlos Delgado at first base. They’re deploying an Uzi and we’re countering with a BB gun. The playoffs are not a sure thing. The thing is that we don’t need to stick with a BB gun; a Saturday Night Special would help, and would be pretty cheap.
Those LaRoche “breakout” predictions were made before last season, and he pretty much met them (fell short in BA; exceeded in RBI). Also keep in mind that it was from a fantasy perspective.
Let’s just hope that he does decent enough until Salty is ready to switch positions and take over. Although decent enough might not be enough…
Wasn’t LaRoche the rally killer in the second half? Seems he always hit into a double play right before Francoeur had a chance to do something.
65 RBIs would be pretty low for .280 and 20 HRs on this team. If (big if) he hits 280/20 hell get at least 75-85 RBIs.
Also, if LaRoche could hit 280/20 in full time play (read: against LHP and RHP) with healthy 2bs # ill be thrilled.
Reitsma is getting $2.75M, that’s quite reasonable under today’s market (especially when Kolb can get $2M from the Brewers)…
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AsFSIrx_Yjpr4QbdLxyXnXMR0bYF?slug=ap-braves-reitsma&prov=ap&type=lgns
Hey Mac, watch the use of the P-word. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves–the Super Bowl ain’t even started yet.
If a BB gun hits big homers in the playoffs, I’ll take the BB gun.
BTW, that Uzi at first for the Mets has never played a post-season game in his life.
I don’t mind using Adam LaRoche as an ace-in-the-hole pinch hitter. If he happens to succeed in October, that’s great–we can play him then. But I hate to see him out there April through September.
If a BB gun hits big homers in the playoffs, I’ll take the BB gun.
BTW, that Uzi at first for the Mets has never played a post-season game in his life
Look, I know that LaRoche is the starter, and no amount of teeth gnashing will change that, but this is just unreal. LaRoche has two postseason HR’s. Bully for him. Delgado never played in the postseason, so we can’t be sure how he’ll do. Riiiight.
If Delgado played in the post-season, he might do well and he might not–but that’s not the point I’m making. LaRoche has played well in the very biggest situations he’s been presented. Despite his inefficiencies, he’s succeeded.
Look at it this way: The Braves have finished in first place both seasons that Adam LaRoche was a starter. So Adam LaRoche hasn’t prevented the Braves from any kind of April-through-September success beyond perhaps a post-season seeding. We bitch, but he ain’t killed us, really.
In his limited post-season plate appearances, his numbers are dramatically better than his regular season numbers. And when he hit those 2 bully-for-him HRs, how high did you jump out of your seat?
I’m not saying that LaRoche is unreplaceable and I’m not saying that we can’t do better, but you wanna explain to me how in the past 2 years that Adam LaRoche has kept the Braves from advancing any further than they have? Wanna explain how his shortcomings prevented Chris Reitsma, Kyle Farnesworth, Tim Hudson, or Jorge Sosa from getting big outs? That’s been the poison pill, folks, not Adam LaRoche.
This level of LaRoche-hate has transcended the rational, I’m afraid.
I agree with you 100% ububba. Great points.
the new album from The Strokes is pretty solid – listening right now.
Uh, i have nothing else to add 🙂
Kyle, have your religious/shortstop preferences changed? Or have you just gone back to a shorter name?
LaRoche’s propensity for rally killing double plays soured me on him. But, I admit I wanted to see Francoeur hit and didn’t like LaRoche batting 5th.
UBubba’s statement is exactly why winning teams fail. They decide that the bad players don’t need to be replaced because they did okay with them before, so why not try again, rather than trying to improve the easy parts. It’s a lot easier to find a good first baseman than a good pitcher.
I agree Mac.
Peace in the Middle East, for example, may not ever happen. But just because it may not ever happen, should we not give it our best try anyway?
why offer perez and jordan anything? are they that high thought of that we just cant let them go.
Because treating players with respect is much of the reason so many players want to play in the Braves organization. That kind of reputation is hard to quantify, but can have tangible results in new player signings and contracts.
Peace in the Middle East, for example, may not ever happen. But just because it may not ever happen, should we not give it our best try anyway?
Depends on what “your best” is. A lot of people who think they are doing right actually just make thigns worse. *cough*Chamberlain*cough*.
yes, i understand keeping peace and doing the right thing. i was the one fighting for jordan and perez last year (what a huge mistake that turned out to be), but i could also see jordan having a decent spring and being invited to join the team once again. that would burn a lot of people up on this blog and should. the right thing doesnt mean sacrificing money to people who just cant cut it anymore. do you want to see jordan on the field again in october? i know my answer.
Why winning teams fail? Interesting notion. I thought winning teams succeeded.
Do you mean, why winning teams fail to win the World Series?
Or do you mean why winning teams can continue to win with players who are much less than perfect?
If a deal involving Adam LaRoche came around that makes sense and makes the Braves better, I’d be the last guy to raise hell about it. As I said before, I’m not in love with Adam LaRoche, but he ain’t the reason they lost the last 2 years.
Look, the Chicago White Sox just won the World Series with a 5th hitter (Aaron Rowand) whose ’05 numbers were similar to LaRoche’s.
AR: 270/329/407
AL: 259/320/455
Then, guess what? They traded him. You don’t have to love the guy, but it can be done.
Don’t practice renteria is on the work computer – you can tell from where I’m posting by that 🙂
There’s a bit of a difference between a good center fielder who hits like that and a mediocre first baseman who does. There are probably only about ten people who can outhit Rowand and play a good center. There might be a hundred who can outhit LaRoche and play a decent first base.
do you want to see jordan on the field again in october? i know my answer.
That’s not what we are talking about, we’re talking about a minor league invite. Too many around here like to assume that, given a choice in the future, the organization will always make the bad one. Say Jordan has a decent, but not real good spring. If they decide to invite him on the club then THAT is the wrong decision, not the one to give him a minor league contract.