Take Zito out of the rotation

"Ron Johnson" <johnson RemoveThis @ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca> wrote in message
news:8aa50466-6b4b-483a-a2fe-
>
> http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=944&position=P

I find the stuff on the homepage even more interesting:

Without checking, can you name the top five players with the highest OPS
totals from the beginning of last season until right now, with at least 100
games played? On second thought, this won't work as well as I had planned,
since there is no way for me to know who you named. In that case, I'll just
list them:

Chipper Jones, 1.058
Alex Rodriguez, 1.056
Barry Bonds, 1.045
Albert Pujols, 1.028
Milton Bradley, 1.015

Yes, Milton Bradley ranks fifth behind these four surefire (in my book, at
least) Hall of Fame players with regards to offensive production via OPS.
Bradley and his 2.16 WPA currently ranks third in the AL behind only Manny
Ramirez and teammate Josh Hamilton. Additionally, he has a 2.81 WPA/LI that
leads the league and an equal 2.81 REW that ranks second behind Hamilton's
2.83.

In 64 games this season he has a .332/.452/.627 slash line---good for an OPS
of 1.079---as well as a .295 ISO and .384 BABIP. Astonishingly, each
component of that slash line ranks atop the American League leaderboard. His
..332 BA is tied with Alex Rodriguez, and his OBP/SLG come in ahead of
everyone else in his league.

When the Padres acquired him last season Bradley provided a spark and energy
that came close to propelling the team into the playoffs. If not for a freak
injury suffered at the hands of his manager, they might have played into
October. Here are Bradley's 2008 numbers stacked up next to his 2007 numbers
with the Padres:

2007 w/SDP: 42 GP, 45-144, 11 HR, 30 RBI, 23 BB, 27 K, .313/.414/.590
2008 w/Tex: 64 GP, 73-220, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 47 BB, 54 K, .332/.452/.627

All told, since July 8th, 2007, Bradley has a .324/.439/.613 line in 106
games, complete with 26 HR, 78 RBI, and a 1.052 OPS. The guy may have some
personality issues and he may have struggled to find a "home" throughout his
career thus far, but this guy can flat out rake.

In article <6cbooaF3g2u6eU1.RemoveThis@mid.individual.net>,
"Awesome Lincecum" <Lincecum.RemoveThis@sf.giants> wrote:

> "Ron Johnson" <johnson.RemoveThis@ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca> wrote in message
> news:8aa50466-6b4b-483a-a2fe-
> >
> > http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=944&position=P
>
> I find the stuff on the homepage even more interesting:
>
> Without checking, can you name the top five players with the highest OPS
> totals from the beginning of last season until right now, with at least 100
> games played? On second thought, this won't work as well as I had planned,
> since there is no way for me to know who you named. In that case, I'll just
> list them:
>
> Chipper Jones, 1.058
> Alex Rodriguez, 1.056
> Barry Bonds, 1.045
> Albert Pujols, 1.028
> Milton Bradley, 1.015
>
> Yes, Milton Bradley ranks fifth behind these four surefire (in my book, at
> least) Hall of Fame players with regards to offensive production via OPS.
> Bradley and his 2.16 WPA currently ranks third in the AL behind only Manny
> Ramirez and teammate Josh Hamilton. Additionally, he has a 2.81 WPA/LI that
> leads the league and an equal 2.81 REW that ranks second behind Hamilton's
> 2.83.
>
> In 64 games this season he has a .332/.452/.627 slash line---good for an OPS
> of 1.079---as well as a .295 ISO and .384 BABIP. Astonishingly, each
> component of that slash line ranks atop the American League leaderboard. His
> .332 BA is tied with Alex Rodriguez, and his OBP/SLG come in ahead of
> everyone else in his league.
>
> When the Padres acquired him last season Bradley provided a spark and energy
> that came close to propelling the team into the playoffs. If not for a freak
> injury suffered at the hands of his manager, they might have played into
> October. Here are Bradley's 2008 numbers stacked up next to his 2007 numbers
> with the Padres:
>
> 2007 w/SDP: 42 GP, 45-144, 11 HR, 30 RBI, 23 BB, 27 K, .313/.414/.590
> 2008 w/Tex: 64 GP, 73-220, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 47 BB, 54 K, .332/.452/.627
>
> All told, since July 8th, 2007, Bradley has a .324/.439/.613 line in 106
> games, complete with 26 HR, 78 RBI, and a 1.052 OPS. The guy may have some
> personality issues and he may have struggled to find a "home" throughout his
> career thus far, but this guy can flat out rake.

Bradley's always been a huge talent. He only has 2 little problems: 1.
he can't stay healthy (and, yes, a lot of his problems are freak
accidents); he's kind of the Rich Harden of position players, and 2. he
has a serious anger management problem.

--
JD

"...if you think the 'Star Wars' prequels are a disease, then
'Serenity' is the cure."