As A Saber Geek, Whose Jersey Would You Buy?
by Sky Kalkman on May 29, 2009 6:00 AM EDT
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PrintBecause this isn't a team blog, we miss out on many of the team-specific discussions that go on at sites. Often, that's a good thing -- think Who's our clubhouse leader? or Who has more WINZ?!? -- but there are a few topics I wish popped up. One is which jersey I should buy. Or, more theoretically, which jersey lets people know that I'm a stathead?
As my buddy Frank would argue, you don't want to make it too obvious. For example, if you're a Yankee fan, buying the Derek Jeter jersey is a bit too mainstream (and makes it look like you just came from your Sweet Sixteen party.) Instead, you might opt for an up-and-comer like Brett Gardner or Austin Jackson, although that's high risk move. You might go with a Free-Erubiel-Durazo approach, like Nick Swisher before the Xavier Nady injury. Or you might go old school, like Clete Boyer, who was an awesome defender but never won a Gold Glove.
In saber-speak, the analogy is that going with a Mark Ellis or Kevin Youkilis jersey is a little too obvious. Here are some ideas I had, if the goal is to be a bit more subtle:
- Albert Pujols -- Nothing wrong with celebrating the fact that the best player in the game is underrated. This is like hiding in plain sight.
- Javier Vazquez -- This one's for people who like to get into arguments.
- Jeff Francoeur or Carlos Lee -- Two of the many options if you have money to spend on a joke.
- Adrian Gonzalez -- For you park effects fans.
- Antonio DeJesus -- Check out the walk rate, slugging percentage, and TotalZone numbers in AA.
- Russell Branyan -- Bonus points if you have the Cleveland version.
What other ideas can you come up with to subtly show off your saber-geekdom on a baseball jersey?
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Carlos Lee only makes sense if...
…you could get “6/$100m” as the number. Otherwise you’ll just blend in with the crowd. But speaking of Astros, I’d say a Houston Adam Everett jersey would probably be my pick.
I wonder how many people have done a Mario Mendoza jersey… seems too obvious yet still kind of funny.
Marlins Stadium: When It's Raining, The Roof Will Happen!
Mike Jacobs,
naturally.
Space.
It's a problem we face.
So we never go anywhere.
We just stay in one place.
Other obvious saber ones
Jack Cust
Adam Dunn
John Mabry, but only if you can get it as John F’n Mabry
Craig Biggio (old school Astros uni)
Tim Raines
Bert Blyleven
My top choices of current players if my wife actually let me get a baseball jersey (saber but also mainstream):
Chase Utley
Roy Halladay
Tim Lincecum
My top Yankee choices:
Bernie Williams
Wayne Tolleson
I have a Chad Bradford jersey somewhere in the back of my closet.
I bugged the Brewers store employees about Russell Branyan t-shirts until they finally caved and made some, so I have one of those. I plan on doing the same for Mark DiFelice.
by richardhkirkando on May 29, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions
the sad thing is...
he was actually a great sabermetric friendly player
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
Bill Pecota?
I actually saw a Bo Jackson 1989 Royals retro jersey for sale on line once and thought “I wonder if they could make one for Pecota (he was there at the same time) because that would be funny.”
Then I realized that while it would be funny to me, there are only about 10 people who would get the joke.
http://statspeak.net
Jack Hannahan
oh wait, he sucks and his glove doesn’t make up for it.
"If Bowden was a general contractor, he'd build houses with nine bedrooms, six garages, no bathrooms, and half a roof."
by DyeLongJustice on May 29, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions
ROY HALLADAY
He is not man, but machine.
Guys, I’m new to this blog, just want to say I’m glad I finally found it. Keep up the great work.
A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...
PLAYOFFS!!!!1
Thanks! And welcome.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
by Sky Kalkman on May 29, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Kevin Youkilis, of course
and then:
Jack Cust
Bert Blyleven
Tim Raines
Grady Sizemore and
Billy Beane
I was thinking of picking these up
by Jeff Zimmerman on May 29, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
need a throwback Expos one for Tango
and probably number “30,” too
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 29, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
43 career WAR
http://www.baseballprojection.com/war/c/camem001.htm
Hell of a center fielder.
Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.
Also, the only two years he's been below 3 WAR (since 2002)
were the year he was injured for over half the season and the only year he’s put up a strongly negative UZR. He’s only been under 4 WAR one other season in that span. His only year with a below average wOBA was his second full season, when his BABIP was about 60 points below career norms. He is underrated by damned near everyone.
by Aaron Campeau on May 29, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
ryan langerhans
does his minor league team have custom jerseys?
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Brad Hawpe
Because we all know fielding doesn’t matter
The artist formerly known as "mlbnotebook".
MLB Notebook.com
Inside the Majors
you'd have to make sure to put his 2008 UZR on the Jersey
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
by vivaelpujols on May 29, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
you'd have to use scientific notation
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
by vivaelpujols on May 30, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
he's awesome
Perhaps the “Brad Hawpe Memorial” would be a good name for this?
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 29, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
SABR faves
Bert Blyleven
Kevin Youkilis
Carlos Beltran
Franklin Gutierrez
Jayson Werth
Ben Zobrist
Marco Scutaro
Mark DeRosa
Frenchie
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.
My friend has Juan Pierre and Jeff Francoeur.
King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president
Mauer
because until he started hitting home runs this year I had to deal with other Twins fans whining about how a .320 hitting gold glove-caliber catcher with a rocket arm, eagle eye, and solid gap power was overrated.
Some others I hadn’t seen yet:
Jeremy Brown
Larry Walker
Edgar Gonzalez
Jim Rice
Mark Ellis!!!
Too bad he’s hurt now.
Umm… Carlos Gomez. His glove is sick.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
he also has a like .120 wOBA
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
by vivaelpujols on May 30, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions
true
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
by vivaelpujols on May 31, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Pat Burrell
Only guy I’ve ever seen who was booed for plate discipline.
by st pete (not tampa) on Jun 4, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions
anyone who "clogs up the bases"
or a pitcher with a low FIP yet who is underrated due to high BABIP, I suppose
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