How Low Can Scott Podsednik Go?
by Freneau on May 27, 2010 12:38 PM EDT
in Kansas City Royals News
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PrintScott Podsednik is hurting the Royals. Of course, Pods is one of the untouchables on the roster, and he's started 43 times. With the possible exceptions of Guillen and Betancourt, he's been the worst position player on the team for the last month. However, Pods got off to an insanely hot start, so his aggregate numbers still look halfway decent (if you're the type to go gaga for a typical Pods line, that is).
Here's what Podsednik has done in his last 32 games: .234/.281/.328.
That's right. .234/.281/.328. Should I post it again? .234/.281/.328. And that's with his annoying tendency to game his batting average by attempting bunts all the time. (Oh wait, you didn't hear that from me, I would never suggest a player would do that.) During this same span, his stolen base numbers, since I know someone will point to them, aren't great. He's stolen 7 bases and been caught 4 times, basically a wash in terms of value.
Look, dude's awesome start was tremendous, and all the numbers count. He helped the Royals win some games. And now, he's really really hurting them. Pods has hit in the leadoff or second spot all season, and since late April, the Royals have been sending a guy with a .281 OBP out there.
Scott Podsednik, another supposed solution that is really another problem.
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twss
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
she's rather attractive.
"Shot by my own men."
by StonewallPDS on May 27, 2010 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I should note
that I posted this having misread the title as “How Long…”
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
"How Low"
would seem to apply too.
"Shot by my own men."
by StonewallPDS on May 27, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the NSFW, guys
Scott Podsednik screws me again.
(I know, I know… TWSS)
Actually, no serious fallout… just a little embarrassment. I’ve got ultimate responsibility for my own web surfing.
I really wish I would have known my life as a fan would peak in October 1985. Savor the moment, kids.
by chiefstatnut on May 27, 2010 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Scott Podsednik update
He’s still dogshit. He almost deserves to be the Royals fourth OFer. But I’d probably rather have the fastest OFer in Omaha in that role.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 27, 2010 12:40 PM EDT reply actions
depends on when he gets hurt
followed by a day off, followed by three terrible starts, followed by a week off, followed by a DL stint, followed by him being back for two horrible weeks, followed by him being out for the season
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
At least we'd get to Gordon in a L/L platoon with Ankiel for two weeks
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Same Handed Platoons
Are so 2009.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 27, 2010 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm going to be stunned
when Gordon looks awful in the outfield and everyone freaks out
I’m sure Ryan will handle a misplay well on the air
Gordon Needs At
Least another 50 games in LF for Omaha to learn to track a fly ball without circumnavigating the earth and hit the cutoff man. It’s science. Meanwhile,
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG OPS E
21 77 20 29 4 1 6 18 53 20 20 2 1 .515 .688 .377 1.203 1
I think that probably projects OK an the next level.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
Kit Pellow
I heard way too much about him. I had a room mate that played with him during high school. My room mate thought he was going to be the next George Brett
- .-. ..- … – / – …. . / .—. .-. - .. . … …
by Jeff Zimmerman on May 27, 2010 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Dude Raked Like
Brett in Colorado (for 21 PA’s)
.444 .476 .889 1.365
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 27, 2010 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Pods brings out the best in me.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 27, 2010 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Your head
really can’t hurt that wall, but the wall can certainly hurt your head, so you may try stopping the banging to help the pain go away. Pods, Kendall, Guillen, and even Yuni are going to continue to get too many starts for a team that has no business playing those guys. You don’t necessarily have to drink the tasteless unsweetened Kool-Aid, but I have found that quiet resignation makes the exploits of Dayost a little lighter burden to bear. I now can actually experience something close to appreciation at the (rare) positive contributions made by these guys. When you just accept that the worst will occur more often than not, the better you feel when something good actually happens.
It's all ball bearings these days!
by CentralChamps20?? on May 27, 2010 1:18 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I didn't think Pods' numbers were going to be this bad
and I’m a cycnical SOB who tends to see the negatives
sometimes I think we could all benefit from just taking a summer off from the royals
How Low can Pods Go?
Is that a philosophical question, like how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
so do you expect an exponential decay type of curve
bottoming out at around .230?
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
If Scott Podsednik pops up in a forest with no one around....does it make an out?
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Yes, And It
Was probably a drag bunt.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 27, 2010 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Its situations like this...
that make me wish that we could cast negative All-Star votes (Anti-All-Stars?). But, that’s just my critical spirit talking.
Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau
by aHorseWithNoName on May 27, 2010 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
at least his agent sucks
Podsednik is making $50K more than Bloomquist this year, with a $2M option if he doesn’t get 525 PA this year.
considering that we gave Ankiel a mutual option of $6M.. Podsednik looks relatively modest
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo (follow me, because reloading my twitter page 40 times a day is kind of creepy)
Bloomquist is a better argument for Boras' genius
than anyone. Well, except maybe Rick Aniel being promised CF.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Which was even more amazing than when it happened to Rick Ankiel
typos make dumb jokes even awesome
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
podzednick is batting .265 in his last 13 games. he’s batting .293 for the year with an OBP of .349 according to Sports Illustrated.
Totally repeatable
I'm sure another one of those stretches is right around the corner.
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on May 27, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Leadoff hitters
Every “good baseball man” knows that leadoff hitters have to be 1) good base stealers and 2) fast. A good OBP is nice, but really is a tertiary concern at best. So Pods is doing his job by being fast. Ned Yost is a good baseball man, so he knows this.
The immoderate moderator
I could be wrong
But I believe I have read quotes from Yost that says he does value OBA at the top of the lineup.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Then I wonder how long he'll leave Pods in the leadoff spot
I know his overall OBP has been good this season, but there’s no reason to believe it will be good going forward. And as Will pointed out, it hasn’t been good for quite some time. And I never know quite what to make of a manager or GM talking about what they value. Maybe Yost means that he values OBP, but not as much as speed and base stealing. Certainly when Dayton Moore said he valued OBP, he didn’t really mean it. With both of them, their actions speak louder than their words.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 27, 2010 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Yost values OBA
But also probably falls into the trap of “hey, Scott posted a .379 OBA for me in 2003! He can do it again!”
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Hey - Pods keeps the game moving...
by getting back to the dugout quickly after his AB is over or after he’s caught trying to steal.
Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau
by aHorseWithNoName on May 27, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
SPEED
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Jeff Francoeur's season line is only marginally better than that 32 game stretch
.215/.278/.367
Francoeur for Greinke plz?
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 2:43 PM EDT reply actions
To elaborate
Francoeur has proven that a change of scenery is all he needs to go on a nice hot streak (evidenced by his “rebirth” with the Mets in half a season last year). He once again needs that change of scenery to fire himself up. He’s also a former Brave. Greinke also seems to need a change of scenery, he had that crappy start a few days ago. It’s a win-win.
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
That's not even funny as a joke
throw in Lil’ Sarge and we can talk.
Legacy!
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
@@@OF Problems Solved!@@@
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 27, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I can't wait for Beltran to be back
so they can send Angel Pagan to the bench
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Angel is a 4th outfielder
Frenchy is a starter. Non-negotiable.
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Frenchy complained about not starting last week in Atlanta
His parents were at the game and he wanted to play. Seriously, it’s like little league. The guy is getting paid $5 million, is hitting like Alex Cora and whines about not starting in his hometown. His parents decided not to provide orange slices to the team after the game.
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
There's a follow-up story there
Frenchy wanted Ecto Cooler juiceboxes to go along with the orange slices. His parents insisted that it was discontinued (which it is) and that all they could find was Shoutin’ Orange Tangergreen flavor juiceboxes. He pouted and pouted and now isn’t on speaking terms with his parents now.
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You get a Participant Ribbon for that post
Well done (but not any better than anyone else, lest we make other posters feel bad for not receiving such an award)
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Going on my shelf
Next to my Pinewood Derby trophy, 3rd place.
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Apparently this is how he acted in ATL, too
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
of the top of my head, teams (other than the Mets) for whom Angel Pagan could/should start somewhere in the OF
I’ll leave out the Royals, Astros, Pirates — there has to be some degree of difficulty
Just eh obvious
Brewers
As
Mariners
Giants
Reds
Marlins
Nationals
Blue Jays
Twins
White Sox
Surely they can see this? Or since Pagan is a switch-hitter, does Manual think he’s Ryan Church?
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Pagan made some high profile baserunning gaffes last year
Since then, any blog post or discussion on teevee about him is legally required to have at least one mention of his “poor baseball IQ” and how he isn’t smart enough to be a major league starter. Nevermind that, despite these gaffes, he was still an above average baserunner and they really don’t hurt his value that much. If/when Beltran returns this situation will be scrutinized.
by James Kannengieser on May 27, 2010 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
The more I look at his numbers
Pagan looks more like the younger David DeJesus (of course Pagan’s a switch-hitter). A little more power, a few less walks. No one major strength, but enough average and above-average skills that he’s an overall good player.
A 4 win season in the next season or two out of Pagan wouldn’t shock me, if they give him the playing time. Pretty sure he’s at least a 3 win player right now.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on May 27, 2010 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
You should add the Mets to that list
He’s much better than Francour
by GobbleforCyoung on May 27, 2010 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I can't get any madder about Pods than I already am about Ankiel,
and to top it off, I personally think Maier is a better OF than BOTH of those guys.
There, I said it. Mitch Maier is the 2nd best OF on this team. I’d be batting him near the top of the lineup (leadoff or 2nd) with Pods hitting 9th (and Ankiel riding the bench)
Can’t wait til Ankiel comes back to see them screw Mitch over. Yost is on record praising both Aviles and Maier, so maybe I am worried about nothing. Then again, Yost may (at least partly) a mere GMDM puppet.
"We're gonna win with pitching and defense" General Manager Dayton Moore, circa winter 2009
"Where did all these Indians come from?" General George Armstrong Custer, circa summer 1876
And
the one other guy who has been called out as in that mold that Yost loves? Pods, of course. Awesome. It it 2 steps forward and one back or the other way around. We’ll have to wait and see I guess.
Also, is it just me or does Pods not even seem that fast down the line? It seems to me like he should be making every one of his weak grounders close at first and more often than not he’s out by 2 steps. If he’s not busting it down the line to make the fielders rush their throws, he’s even less valuable (if that’s possible w/ that “power,” noodle arm, and plate discipline).
"Greinke and the Brain" (R) (C) TM
by SittinByTheFoulPole on May 27, 2010 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Scotty Pods at leadoff won't change if
we follow Ned Yost’s track record. So long as their 2 years together in Milwaukee are any indicator. out of 282 starts he batted Scotty leadoff 209 times, and he batted him second 64 times.
On a side not in you type Scotty Pods into Baseball-reference’s search it will bring you to his page.
What about "Podzilla"?
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on May 27, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Isn't That His
BR nickname?
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 27, 2010 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
On a somewhat related note
JoGui’s B-Ref page does not have a sponser…
With crappy overpaid vets of course!
by TheBravestWay To Block A Decent Prospect on May 28, 2010 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions
What a disgrace
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on May 29, 2010 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
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