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Tuesday, October 11, 2005 |
Erstad For Galactic Emperor
Via BTF, Fire Joe Morgan deconstructs Jim Rome's Erstad mancrush:
And there is no single guy who epitomizes the toughness of the Angels more than first baseman Darin Erstad.
Here we go.
He's not the best player.
You're right. He's not the best player. He hit seven home runs all year. Seven. 609 AB. Seven home runs. From first base.
He's not even the most valuable player on that team.
Good. Vlad Guerrero is. Darin Erstad OBPed .325 and slugged .371. All year.
But no one means more to the Angels than Erstad.
You are an unprecedented moron. Actually, I take that back. Many, many people have said this about Darin Erstad. What is it about this guy that makes sports media figures absolutely adore him? Is it his football background? He was a punter. He looks very rugged, I'll give you that.
Comments:
I like Erstad (and his dreaded intangibles), but now that Jim Rome thinks Erstad is God's gift to baseball (nope...just North Dakota's), I am less inclined to favor Ersty.
Yeah, ridiculing Jim Rome for his "analysis" is kinda pointless. Even Rome fans know that. In a way, Rome anticipated blog culture, by indulging your inner asshole and creating a bunch of yes-assholes who want to posture and ridicule just like him, and haters who waste their time analyzing his content-free show. Isn't that what being a sports fan is really about? ;)
My only real beef with Erstad is that the Angels vastly overpaid for him after his one great season. Nobody really wants the guy, so the Angels make him their mascot. Most Dodgers fans (and Dodger fans who started paying attention to the Angels) find this appalling, and well they should. But Erstad, I guess, represents the small-market "we play with a lot of heart" image the Angels still like to sell themselves.
That being said, I really like the guy. I just wish the Angels had kept Jim Edmonds in center field and maybe made Erstad into a backup defensive guy. Erstad could be made into a 300-ish hitter if they didn't force that "swing at first pitch" thinking on him. It's ruined his plate discipline, which actually used to be good.
I'm glad Depo didn't bite for Beltre in similar fashion, who I thought would flame out after his own one great season.
My only real beef with Erstad is that the Angels vastly overpaid for him after his one great season. Nobody really wants the guy, so the Angels make him their mascot. Most Dodgers fans (and Dodger fans who started paying attention to the Angels) find this appalling, and well they should. But Erstad, I guess, represents the small-market "we play with a lot of heart" image the Angels still like to sell themselves.
That being said, I really like the guy. I just wish the Angels had kept Jim Edmonds in center field and maybe made Erstad into a backup defensive guy. Erstad could be made into a 300-ish hitter if they didn't force that "swing at first pitch" thinking on him. It's ruined his plate discipline, which actually used to be good.
I'm glad Depo didn't bite for Beltre in similar fashion, who I thought would flame out after his own one great season.
# posted by 
: 10/11/2005 11:48:00 PM
: 10/11/2005 11:48:00 PM
Erstad is the opposite of the Gloryhooging Pig Edmonds - and therein lies all of his appeal.
# posted by : 10/12/2005 12:21:00 AM
: 10/12/2005 12:21:00 AM
I'll preface this with the fact that I don't like Rome.
But if Erstad's not playing first base for us, we lose Game 1 of the ALDS, and the ninth inning of Game 5 gets a lot more interesting.
The guy plays hard, every day and that means something. You can't boil baseball just down to numbers. Attitutdes matter. Ask Mike.
But if Erstad's not playing first base for us, we lose Game 1 of the ALDS, and the ninth inning of Game 5 gets a lot more interesting.
The guy plays hard, every day and that means something. You can't boil baseball just down to numbers. Attitutdes matter. Ask Mike.
# posted by : 10/12/2005 10:57:00 AM
: 10/12/2005 10:57:00 AM
Uhm CORRECTION.
I meant game 2 in the above post, instead of game 1.
I'm well aware that we did, in fact, lose game 1.
I meant game 2 in the above post, instead of game 1.
I'm well aware that we did, in fact, lose game 1.
# posted by : 10/12/2005 10:59:00 AM
: 10/12/2005 10:59:00 AM
Believe me -- it makes me feel really good to have Erstad shore up first base. Defensively, he's overqualified for the position, but it also means that the Angels are really well suited for a "smartball"-ish team like the Sox.
It just makes me feel really bad to see Erstad whiff at pitches he should know better than swinging at. He could do so much better if he looked to draw walks rather than do something with his bat.
It just makes me feel really bad to see Erstad whiff at pitches he should know better than swinging at. He could do so much better if he looked to draw walks rather than do something with his bat.
# posted by : 10/12/2005 11:03:00 AM
: 10/12/2005 11:03:00 AM
Here is a picture of two guys on the Yankees that do not want to win.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2395/555/1600/sheffhug21.jpg
How can Yankees fan make comments about defense not mattering after the Yankees kicked around the ball in the ALDS like they were Beckam?
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2395/555/1600/sheffhug21.jpg
How can Yankees fan make comments about defense not mattering after the Yankees kicked around the ball in the ALDS like they were Beckam?
I love sabermetrics, really I do. I've learned so much from you guys. But, man, when you guys get a mad on about a player deemed overrated, it's funny as hell. Half the reason I like the Angels so much is their defiance of all this helpful advice.
I'm sure, one of these years, the Halos will have a terrible season, and all the saber-deficient players like Erstad and Cabrera will be swept aside by the Kendricks and Kotchmans, and that'll be great.
But til then, I hope to enjoy watching Darin Erstad, stickin' it to the man.
I'm sure, one of these years, the Halos will have a terrible season, and all the saber-deficient players like Erstad and Cabrera will be swept aside by the Kendricks and Kotchmans, and that'll be great.
But til then, I hope to enjoy watching Darin Erstad, stickin' it to the man.
# posted by : 10/12/2005 03:48:00 PM
: 10/12/2005 03:48:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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