Author Topic: Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread  (Read 32575 times)

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Offline hammondsnats

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #125: August 22, 2010, 02:12:10 AM »
He's just in the zone. 

I've said all year long he has the tools to bat 2nd and with some more polish I really think his all around game is going to be solid.  Next year he should take his game to the next level, but in the mean time I am enjoying watching him be one of MLBs hottest hitters the last month+.

Offline bglide

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #126: August 22, 2010, 02:25:53 AM »
Dessie is the man. 

Offline CALSGR8

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #127: August 22, 2010, 01:51:22 PM »
I've always liked the kid!

Offline sportsfan882

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #128: August 23, 2010, 07:58:34 AM »
:whip: He's an animal

Offline Evolution33

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #129: August 23, 2010, 10:33:51 AM »
Hope so.  I'm more skeptical about his offense than others.  I'm also less skeptical about his defense.  It's just when those offensive stats were quoted, I did not think that a .300 OBP was OK.  That has to come up.  IF it does not, I'm pleased our Plan B (Espinosa) looks good, too.  No hole in the most important IF position.

What is average OBP of SS in the majors. I know below .300 is bad for any position, but what should Desmond be trying to get to? I am with you on the defense thing. I would rather have errors, which are likely to come down with experience, than a SS that can't move or throw, but doesn't make errors. It will also be interesting to see what the advanced metrics say about Desi's defense. 

Offline blue911

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #130: August 23, 2010, 11:04:20 AM »
What is average OBP of SS in the majors. I know below .300 is bad for any position, but what should Desmond be trying to get to? I am with you on the defense thing. I would rather have errors, which are likely to come down with experience, than a SS that can't move or throw, but doesn't make errors. It will also be interesting to see what the advanced metrics say about Desi's defense. 

.323. I would imagine it is higher for the starters. As a side note, Desmond has a higher OPS than Derek ($23M) Jeter.

Offline Evolution33

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #131: August 23, 2010, 11:22:16 AM »
.323. I would imagine it is higher for the starters. As a side note, Desmond has a higher OPS than Derek ($23M) Jeter.

Derek Jeter is also in full decline. Reading some things from more stat oriented people I sometimes wonder why they think all starters in the majors need to be above average at everything. If Desmond can improve on the errors he will be a very good defensive short stop. He has good power for that position and if his improved batting in the 2 spot is real and not a SSS illusion then his OBP should come up. I don't think he will walk much anyway with Zimmerman behind him as I doubt many pitchers would rather face Zim with a man or extra man on than Desmond.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #132: August 23, 2010, 11:32:13 AM »
.323. I would imagine it is higher for the starters.
Of the 21 SSs that ESPN lists as having enough PAs to qualify for the batting title, the median OBP is Alexei Ramirez's .316.  This includes players who have played a lot at other positions, like Jhonny "Spell Check" Peralta.  Desmond is up to .315 after his hot stretch.

It surprised me to see that the NL average OBP for SS as SS (i.e., excluding guy time at other positions) is .328, if the ESPN sort is to be trusted.  This is higher than the AL's .315. I guess it is the Hanley / Tulo / Furcal / Castro effect.  Also, the AL can more easily carry a glove only SS like Cesar Izturis or the mix in Detroit because of the DH.

We have an interesting case at SS.  We may have two above average SS.  That has to have a lot of trade value when both have plenty of years of team control.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #133: August 23, 2010, 11:35:00 AM »
Jeter also has a .340 OBP (and no range).

Offline blue911

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #134: August 23, 2010, 12:02:36 PM »
Derek Jeter is also in full decline. Reading some things from more stat oriented people I sometimes wonder why they think all starters in the majors need to be above average at everything. If Desmond can improve on the errors he will be a very good defensive short stop. He has good power for that position and if his improved batting in the 2 spot is real and not a SSS illusion then his OBP should come up. I don't think he will walk much anyway with Zimmerman behind him as I doubt many pitchers would rather face Zim with a man or extra man on than Desmond.

That's because the Yankees won't sign him to a new contract  :whistle: :stir:



(The Yankees don't renew while a contract is in place) 

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #135: August 23, 2010, 12:13:33 PM »
:sarcasm: If we don't sign Dunn, we could always sign Jeter and move him to first.  His power would be like Nick's and his range is suitable for first. :/sarcasm:




Offline hammondsnats

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #136: August 26, 2010, 11:50:36 PM »
Bump.

The game is slowing down for him in all assets.  Offense.  Defense.  Base running.  Desicion making. 

Frank and jimbo could be right.  Looks a lot like jeter.

Offline TylerDC

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #137: August 26, 2010, 11:54:07 PM »
I'm starting to love this guy.

Offline hammondsnats

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #138: August 26, 2010, 11:58:44 PM »
I'm starting to love this guy.

As johnny drama says: "what's not to love"

Offline TylerDC

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #139: August 27, 2010, 02:57:47 AM »
As johnny drama says: "what's not to love"
All of his errors earlier in the season. :P

Offline Burgess

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #140: August 27, 2010, 03:05:34 AM »
I've said it numerous times, Ian Desmond is good but stop comparing him to Jeter. Jeter is a way better player then Desmond ever will be and even at his age, imagine when he was younger. Jeter's bat will bring him to the hall of fame.

Offline hammondsnats

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #141: August 31, 2010, 01:43:22 AM »
I've said it numerous times, Ian Desmond is good but stop comparing him to Jeter. Jeter is a way better player then Desmond ever will be and even at his age, imagine when he was younger. Jeter's bat will bring him to the hall of fame.

I have never said he is a hall of famer.

But part of being a fan/in the ga,e of baseball...you make comparisons.

If you were to ask me which player dessie models his game off of I would say jeter.  Obviously ID needs work: his glove (routine play), working count, etc...but I think next year he will be pretty damn good.  Its fun to see ID and bernie grow up before our eyes.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #142: August 31, 2010, 09:23:18 AM »
The right comp is Yuni Betancourt.  Compare Desmond's age 24 season to Betancourt's:

Desmond 6'2", 210 lbs - 449 PAs, .279 / .316 / .413, 9 HR, wOBA .319, 14 SBs (8 CS), BB% 4.7%, K% 19.9%, .324 BABIP, 52% GB, 17% LD, 31% FB, HR/FB 9%, UZR -7.2.

Betancourt 5'10", 195 lbs - 584 PAs, .289 / .310 / .403, 8 HR, wOBA .306, 11 SBs (8 CS), BB 2.9%, K 9.7%, .308 BABIP, 46% GB,  18% LD,  36% FB, HR/FB 4.4% UZR/150 -0.1

Desmond has a bit more pop but is more strikeout prone.  Betancourt's defense declined over time to be a negative.  Otherwise, they are very similar.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #143: October 03, 2010, 09:41:37 PM »
I took a look at Ian Desmond's month by month stats today.  A lot has been made of his second half stats.  It's been mentioned that, going into today, he had a .290 / .327 / .399 line after the ASG.  A closer look would show that what he really had was a great August due to an unusually high BABIP.  here are his monthly numbers:
               BA   OBP   SLG  BABIP
April     - .246  .307   .406   .302
May     - .272  .296   .402   .289
June    -  .222  .259  .309   .295
July     -  .274  .300  .452   .304
Aug     -  .347  .385  .465   .393
Sep/oct- .252  .304   .350  .313

Looking at his monthly FB / LD / GB rates, his GB/FB ratio spiked from around 1.5:1 in every other month to 2:1 in August.  OTOH, his LD rate dropped from 19 - 20 % in June and July to 12% in August and September. He also popped up more in August than July.  He was a bit less hackstastic the last two months, but not good (went from 5+:1 K/BB to 3:1).  In some ways, it looks like his July was a better hitting month in terms of quality of contact and power, but with bad luck, while he had better luck in August obscuring his worse contact mix.

Offline Sharp

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #144: October 03, 2010, 09:43:05 PM »
Yeah, I noticed that awhile back.  It is why I am somewhat skeptical about how good of a hitter Desmond really is.  IMO he is maybe a little above league average in terms of BA and absolutely atrocious in terms of OBP (he can't take a walk to save his life [hell, he couldn't even walk vs. Oliver Perez today] and he strikes out a ton).  And if Desmond's best comparable is Yuniesky Betancourt, that is NOT a good thing.  Betancourt is pretty terrible.

Offline Lintyfresh85

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #145: October 03, 2010, 09:46:17 PM »
Haven't you heard? Ian Desmond is the leader of the Nationals.

Quote
@Lintyfresh85 I'm forever sorry you are blind when it comes to ID. He is the leader of the #Nats. That's not me saying it. That's the team. Case closed. End of story.

Hope Lorb loses his job over the offseason.

Offline PANatsFan

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #146: October 03, 2010, 09:47:31 PM »
Haven't you heard? Ian Desmond is the leader of the Nationals.

Hope Lorb loses his job over the offseason.

Is that why he's called King? :roll: :hammer:

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #147: October 03, 2010, 09:54:20 PM »
Haven't you heard? Ian Desmond is the leader of the Nationals.
In fairness, Lorb is not the only beat writer to report that line.  If Ben is not completely focused on Liriano / Sabathia, I'd be curious about what he thinks we have in ID and what ID proved this year.

Offline Lintyfresh85

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #148: October 03, 2010, 09:57:27 PM »
Well, if the delivery of the message wasn't filled with dickheadness from Lorb, maybe I'd respect it more.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: King Ian Desmond Appreciation Thread
« Reply #149: October 03, 2010, 09:59:02 PM »
Did I ever mention to you that I once worked with a woman whose husband was Richard Head?