I think Jacobs is more valuable than Nunez. The question is, is he enough of an upgrade over Shealy/Kila/Butler to make this trade worthwhile? If he can get his OBA over .330, then yes, but I’m not very optimistic he can do that.

Of course they are all pretty much on the optimistic side of analysis goes, but in the off-season, why can’t Royals fans be optimistic?

There are obviously a lot more right-handed pitchers than lefties. We already have some really good hitters against lefties and struggled against righties. So this move seems like a damn good one in that aspect. Time will tell next season.

At the “Inside the Book” blog, I made an (slightly) shortened version of my now-familiar Jacobs rant and asked if I was being unfair.

MGL (creator of of UZR and Super Linear Weights who has consulted for the Cardinals, among others), responded that I was, in fact, being unfair and overreacting. He has Jacobs making a massive improvement next year, and Nunez being an eminently replaceable reliever (although, as I’ve said elsewhere, Nunez isn’t really the point).

I hope he’s right, of course. I’m still not sure I see it, but this isn’t Dick Kaegel talking to Jacobs about getting just 10 more hits to get his OBP up to .320 (hilarious on many levels). Of course, it doesn’t address the issues about Butler and Kila, either. But if MGL’s projection comes true, then DMGM just made a hell of a deal, although I’m sure I’m being pretty fair in saying it wasn’t for exactly MGL’s reasons for liking Jacobs’ offense next year.

Still seems like that’s a sabermetric voice in the wilderness, though. A bit further down, another user named Rally, who I think is Sean “CHONE” Smith, gives a projection of Jacobs similar to mine, although he does say he could be the “new Brad Fullmer.” (Yes! As long as that doesn’t mean he’s going to fall apart physically and be out of the league after the season.)

So, while I’m still pessimistic: HOPE!