Message #1476828

[tomterp]

Unfortunately, it doesn't in this situation imo

We'll have to disagree on that. I'm with Zuckerman on this one.

http://natsinsider.com/2014/09/18/if-healthy-zimmerman-should-be-in-postseason-lineup/

...Ryan Zimmerman is a better overall player than Asdrubal Cabrera.

This isn’t a knock on Cabrera, not at all. The 28-year-old infielder has been everything the Nationals could have asked for when they acquired him from the Indians on July 31. He’s a pro’s pro who gives you a quality at-bat, plays good defense and has blended into the clubhouse well.

But let’s not turn Cabrera into something he’s not. He’s hitting .229 in 40 games with the Nats, with a .315 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of 97 (which means he’s just slightly below average for his position). He’s been a -0.3 WAR player for the Nationals, according to Baseball-Reference’s formula.

Zimmerman, on the other hand, has hit .282 in 53 games this season, with a .345 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of 120 (nearly identical to his last three seasons). Baseball-Reference calculates his WAR as 0.6, even with his defensive struggles.

Zimmerman immediately makes the Nationals a better team when he plays. If he hits fifth, he allows Williams to bump Ian Desmond back down to the 7-spot and makes Wilson Ramos the best No. 8 hitter in baseball. ...etc