Quote: Animalman said: Yes, I suppose I am a "big fan of the stat line"(the object of baseball is to score runs and win games, which are, well, stats)
players can be significantly better or worse than their slugging percentage dictates, for any number of reasons. as can teams. many of the past few ring wearers were the "little stat" guy.
hell, there are whole franchises out there (courtesy of billie beane -- very interesting books, that guy) who think all the worshipped stats are garbage.
Quote: Animalman said: Matsui and Sheffield, "two All-Star veterans with major playoff experience and clubhouse clout". Some mighty fine intangibles there, which Cabrera lacks in both cases.
dunno whats covered out there, but on not-rare-enough occasion, sheffield has been anonymously "critiqued" by yankee players, as not exactly being the most team-minded person. at best. and matsui ...knows a dozen or so words of english.
amazingly great players, both. but i can't exactly support the claim that they are clubhouse champions or cubscout den mothers.
cabrera, on the other hand, is a rookie upstart that has proven himself over the course of an incredibly tough spot and tough year. instant respect. and bernie is an unspoken captain.
again, i'll be the first to tell ya, at years start, i like the sound of "matsui and sheffield" in my lineup much more than what we had. and i'm not even saying i'd rather have the two "big guns" sit out now. certainly, just their mere presence in a lineup is tremendously more intimidating to an opposing pitcher. its a boon.
i just feel you're all-too quickly overlooking the benefit bernie and melky provided, and could provide, to the team.
they are the "hot hand." the date you came with or the horse you rode in on. ...or even the date you rode in on. they're a force partially responsible for getting the team to where it is today.
and, frankly, i can't accept a point of view that feels their removal isn't disruptive -- even if, in the end, sheff and matsui prove the better pair.
Quote: Cabrera and Bernie will still be a part of the team, and will still get at bats.
actually, what i'm hearing now is that cabrerra will be the starting outfielder, indefinitely -- torre not wanting to risk injuring matsui's hand in the outfield.
