John Lowe Inflicts His Ignorance on Unsuspecting Tigers Fans
1-liner, Baseball, Ignorance October 8th. 2009, 4:15pmDear John Lowe: RBI are a product of runners on base. The Tigers’ No. 3 and No.5 hitters (and Miguel Cabrera) had relatively low RBI totals because Curtis Granderson (.327 OBP) and Placido Polanco (.331 OBP) were never on base. “Ninth-inning closer,” as opposed to that squirrelly third-inning one, is not “the most important position on any team.” Six Tigers pitchers pitched more innings than Fernando Rodney, five of them were better. You covered a team with Todd “o-matic” Jones closing that went to the World Series. This is neither VORP nor mystical spreadsheet insanity. It is common sense. (Freep.com)
12 Responses to “John Lowe Inflicts His Ignorance on Unsuspecting Tigers Fans”
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October 8th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
VORP?!
MORE LIKE D-ORP! OR CHORT! TAKE THAT, LOSERS!!! GO BACK TO YOUR MOTHERS BASEMENT!!
/fjm
October 8th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Anyone here from/live in North Carolina?
October 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
This is true, very true. BUT… As a Tigers fan who watched TONS of games this year, I can tell you this team was not clutch with runners on base. That contributes a shit-ton to the lack of RBI. What you all saw in the play-in game was not an aberration. The Tigers were horrible with runners on base and RISP. Grandy and Polly’s OBP and BA were way down from their career numbers, but the lack of clutch hitting was also a major influence.
I’m not sure what you define as “better.” ERA? Yeah, probably. Rodney didn’t get the name “Heart Attack Rodney” from my dad for any reason. The guy’s numbers in non-save situations were terrible – like 6.XX ERA. In saves, he was less than 2.00.
But he blew one save, was 37 of 38. The only save he blew was in a game the Tigers won in the 10th. He gave up a leadoff triple to Asdrubal Cabrera in the top of the 9th in a one-run July game. Cabrera obviously scored.
I’m not sure what you’re getting at with Lowe’s argument for/against (?) Rodney. But he was the best option they had in the ninth. Lyon lost his shot at the closer duties in spring training and early seasson. Lyon was pretty money from June on, but worked great as the 8th inning man when Zumaya faltered and then went on IR.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Fixed.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Ryan Howard only had 11 more at bats with runners on base than Miguel Cabrera. Pujols had much less, but no one’s gonna say bad things about Pujols on the baseball field. Fielder had around the same amount, Teixiera a little bit more. Bay had much less at bats with runners on base.
Fuck that is an outdated argument.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
It took me .2 seconds to realize TBL didn’t write this
October 8th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
That long?
October 8th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
//Fixed
October 8th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Does not compute. I’m glad he thinks the most important position is a pitcher who contributes 70 innings a year though.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
According to Fangraphs, the Tigers were 9th in clutch rating this year.
If you go by FIP, Rodney was the 8th best reliever who pitched out of the Tigers pen this year. Which is pretty much how it should be. Not 8th best, but something liek 4th best.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Rodney is a FA. I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought him back, nor would I be surprised if they let him walk.
Brandon Lyon can do the job. Ryan Perry apparently is being groomed for the job, whatever that means. I’m not sure who the Tigers got in the minors who could compete for it.
October 8th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
You forgot the other part of the equation; someone has to hit them in.