Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Explaining Jeremy Lin's Early, Surprising Success

As A Saber Geek, Whose Jersey Would You Buy?

Because 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?

Comment 53 comments  |  1 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

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!

by dan 2.0 on May 29, 2009 7:10 AM EDT reply actions  

Mike Jacobs,

naturally.

Space.

It's a problem we face.

So we never go anywhere.

We just stay in one place.

by hazel on May 29, 2009 7:30 AM EDT reply actions  

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

by Dan Turkenkopf on May 29, 2009 7:35 AM EDT reply actions  

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

by vivaelpujols on Jun 1, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions  

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

by pizzacutter on May 29, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions  

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.

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where unabashed homerism is alive and well...

PLAYOFFS!!!!1

by eyebleaf on May 29, 2009 10:37 AM EDT reply actions  

Kevin Youkilis, of course

and then:
Jack Cust
Bert Blyleven
Tim Raines
Grady Sizemore and
Billy Beane

by chuckb on May 29, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions  

Randy Winn

duh

Randy Winn is going to catch that. And he'll do it real classy-like too.

by oldjacket on May 29, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions  

Scott Hatteberg

Otherwise, I’d just check the Three True Outcomes Leaderboard.

by Matthew Artus on May 29, 2009 1:33 PM EDT reply actions  

Mike Cameron.

If there was any justice in the world people would be talking about his HOF chances.

by Aaron Campeau on May 29, 2009 2:12 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by Matt Klaassen on May 29, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions  

Brad Hawpe

Because we all know fielding doesn’t matter

The artist formerly known as "mlbnotebook".
MLB Notebook.com
Inside the Majors

by Zach Sanders on May 29, 2009 5:57 PM EDT 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

by myersb68 on May 29, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions  

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.

by baetown415 on May 29, 2009 8:19 PM EDT reply actions  

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

by Sam Page on May 29, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions  

David DeJesus

super underrated

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 29, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Matt Stairs

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 29, 2009 11:28 PM EDT reply actions  

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

by JopeX37 on May 30, 2009 1:27 PM EDT reply actions  

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..."

by Blicks on May 30, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions  

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  

you made that?

St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008

by vivaelpujols on Jun 3, 2009 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions  

no....

I’m nowhere near that creative. The guy that did the fanpost made it (royhobbs).

by sddbaker on Jun 3, 2009 10:23 AM 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

by fanatico on Jun 4, 2009 9:22 AM EDT reply actions  

Maybe in the same category as Youkilis

But a vintage Billy Beane jersey (if they even make them)?

by sexbobomb on Jun 19, 2009 12:15 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

We use numbers and stuff.
Community Guidelines
Why be a member?

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Crystal_ball_small
Sparky vs Buck
Img_3830_small
BtBS Fantasy League
Small
Context Neutral Run and RBI projections
Small
Free Agent Compensation
Img_0001_small
Value of Various Plate Approaches
Strike_three2_small
Effect of Foul Area on Strikeouts: AL 1954-68: Erratum
Small
Baseball on a stick
Small
Player Evaluating Statistic
Baseball_small
Rays Outfield: Cheap but Extremely Productive
Small
A new xBABIP

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow us on Twitter!

SaberGraphics

MLB Daily Dish

Get the latest MLB Trade Rumors, Transactions, and News at MLB Daily Dish!


Managing Editor:

Jbopp-kc_small Justin Bopp

Columnists:

Adam_small adarowski

Dme_small Satchel Price

Closeup4_small J-Doug

Carlosicon_small Julian Levine

Billy_and_daddy_4th_of_july_small Bill Petti

Featuring:

Dayton_small Jeff Zimmerman

12475953_small Jacob Peterson

Picture-6_small Chris St. John

Btbpro_small Dave Gershman

229331_10150183361996591_674441590_6760167_6637860_n3_small Lewie Pollis

Img_3830_small David Fung