Whoa! Didn't get much sleep last night. Still in shock and processing the results of the election. Fortunately, there is still baseball to enjoy thinking and writing about.
JJ Schwarz is an offensive minded college catcher from Florida with big time power potential. He's 6'1", 205 lbs. B-R, T-R. He burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2015 with a line of .332/.398/.629 with 18 HR's. He also had a solid 28 BB's against 46 K's in 256 AB. His slash line took a hit in 2016 with a .292/.404/.451, 6 HR, but he improved his BB's and K's with 44 and 49 respectively in 233 AB's. Most observers believe the bat will rebound strongly in 2017. If it does, he could easily move up the boards and become the #1 overall pick.
The rap is on D where his body does not project particularly well and his throwing arm is suspect. Scouts think that with a lot of work he can become a passable MLB catcher, but more likely he ends up at 1B or DH like a Mike Napoli.
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Speaking of 1st basemen,is BB9 really NOT among the top 3 in the NL? It's a good trio but watching Belt everyday is wonderful. Is there a stat for saving errors by other infielders? A meaningful fraction of the throws he handles are on the bounce or at the end of a long extended arm while maintaining a lengthy stretch.
ReplyDeleteAnd speaking of "Stretch" wouldn't that be a great nickname if it weren't already attached to a legend!
If you are referring to the Fantasy Focus list for First Basemen, you have to remember that most fantasy baseball formats do not credit defense at all.
DeleteI meant the NL Golden Glove
DeleteAh! Well, by Fangraphs defensive metrics, Belt was the 3'rd best defensive 1B in the NL behind Wil Myers and the winner, Anthony Rizzo. I am pretty sure a lot of voters still draw heavily on subjective impression and reputation rather than strictly by defensive metrics.
DeleteI your case, your "eye test" agrees with the metrics and Belt probably should have been a finalist.
I wanted Myers, but Rizzo was fine. And I think Belt is worthy, too. They all had very good defensive years.
DeleteOff topic, but does anyone know of any good baseball books? Just finished " The Glory of Their Times" by Lawrence S. Ritter again( One of the best baseball books I have ever read.), and want to read another good one.
ReplyDeleteI started the arm (which I appear to be exclusively reading while flying to baseball stadiums). It's very good so far.
DeleteThanks. Will check it out.
DeleteI would recommend "A Scout's Report" by George Genovese. Unfortunately the cover has the author wearing LA apparel, he actually spent the majority of his baseball career as a Giants scout bringing in several well known players on the 60's, 70's and 80's teams for the Giants organization. It's a good read.
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