Nationals vs Mets, Game 2

[NatNasty]

Damn.  I'll admit it, I pulled a Carp in my den on that one.

[mitlen]

No. That would give him 15th highest WAR of all 69 players who have played the SS position this season, and 12th amongst all qualified (23)

12th against 23 "qualified" is a lot different than 15th overall.

[NatsAllThe Way]

So... Average?

Slightly above average.

[varoadking]

Rusty referred to Zim as a "carrier" of the team today.

Typhoid?  Smallpox?

[BrandonK]

Crowd went full Carpbomb. Carp surprisingly held himself together.

[Slateman]

So... Average?

Depends on how you calculate average

[varoadking]

Slightly above average.

But not good...

[mitlen]

Rusty referred to Zim as a "carrier" of the team today.

Typhoid?  Smallpox?

At first I thought he meant "aircraft" carrier as in what Al McGuire would call the big guys.

[Slateman]

12th against 23 "qualified" is a lot different than 15th overall.

And again, over half the team's in baseball cant find a shortstop better than Espinosa

[NatsAllThe Way]

But not good...

Correct.

[mitlen]

And again, over half the team's in baseball cant find a shortstop better than Espinosa

How does he rate among the top team SS?    Let's say division leading SS.

[BrandonK]

And again, over half the team's in baseball cant find a shortstop better than Espinosa

The Nats can and should.

[mitlen]

The Nats can and should.

The Nats already have one.   He's playin' CF.

[spidernat]

12th against 23 "qualified" is a lot different than 15th overall.

He's just proving that he's dishonest.

[RobDibblesGhost]

Good outing by Glover.

[BrandonK]

Rusty referred to Zim as a "carrier" of the team today.

Typhoid?  Smallpox?

Rusty also thinks Danny "ignites" the team.

[mitlen]

Koda's movin' along.   

[BrandonK]

The Nats already have one.   He's playin' CF.

Exactly.

[spidernat]

How does he rate among the top team SS?    Let's say division leading SS.

He's 8th in the NL, 16th in MLB, and many of the players behind him haven't played in nearly as many games. Slate is a clown.

[Slateman]

How does he rate among the top team SS?    Let's say division leading SS.

He's fifth. The best team in the AL has the "worst". One wild card team and two team's in the hunt have lower WAR SS.

And there is the minor point that the Royals won a WS with a 0.5 WAR shortstop

[BrandonK]

Alright, Koda's done his job. Get that mofo the !

[spidernat]

Rusty also thinks Danny "ignites" the team.

ignite as in what sizzlin threatened to do that one time?

[mitlen]

He's fifth. The best team in the AL has the "worst". One wild card team and two team's in the hunt have lower WAR SS.

Thanks  ... 

[RobDibblesGhost]

This is our chance before the back end of their bullpen comes in.

[nfotiu]

Something to be said about having an in house average starting SS for cheap who handles the 8 spot rather well (lots of RBI,HR,HBP,BB easy to bunt over, etc).  Put your money in getting good hitters in the corners (and 2b) who bat at more important spots in the order.

Short stops touch the ball an awful lot every game.   Not just fielding batted balls, but making quick decisions as the relay guy and turning DPs.   How many times has he thrown out a runner by a quarter of a step that someone else doesn't get?

Turner has better tools to be a CF.  He's hitting well in that position.   Nats brass doesn't project him as a SS, and I trust their judgement.

Also WAR accounts well for adjusting for defensive position.  But all those stats don't do a good job of valuing plus defense at a postion because defensive stats are generally fluff.