Yardbarker: JJ Hardy

The Coming Avalanche of Non-Tenders?

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:00:08 -0500

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP Browse more photos » A team with a player in his "arbitration years" has essentially three options. First, it can go through the arbitration process (using what is known as "Final Offer Arbitration"). Second, it can reach a contract to avoid arbitration, whether it is a long term deal or merely a one-year deal that splits the difference between the amount the play...

Ken Griffey Jr, version 2009

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:56:00 -0500

Photo Source: Seattle Times

This post is about one thing, and one thing only: how Ken Griffey Jr. will perform on the field for the Mariners next year. If you want to talk about all your cheery memories or any other non-baseball stuff, this isn't the post to comment on. Let me warn to those who are not well versed in sabermetrics that there will be numbers in this post, and I will not stop to explain them. Every stat I will use was talked about here, and can easily be found and defined elsewhere on the web. With that out of the way, lets get down to business.
My views on Griffey have been well-documented, but this might not be a bad signing as long as Griffey is used correctly. Before I explain what that entails, let me say what type of player Giffey is now. A lot of people have the image of the MVP Griffey of the nineties, the one who crossed home plate to win against the Yankees. Many people don't realize this important fact: that Ken Griffey Jr. has been gone for a long, long time. In fact, almost as soon as signing his long contract with the Reds, Junior went on a decline phase that is really nothing less then astonishing. Ken Griffey's Wins Above Replacement since 2002 is 4.9. To put that in perspective, JJ Hardy of the Milwaukee Brewers had a WAR of 4.9 in 2008 alone. Since 2002, Ken Griffey Jr. has been worth approximately 15.6 million dollars to the Reds and White Sox. He was paid 73.3 million, making his contract among the very worst of all time. Griffey has not only not been good, he has been genuinely bad.
However, there are a few reasons that this signing might not be such a bad thing. Griffey will almost certainly DH for the Mariners. If he does, we take away the worst part of his game: defense. Griffey's reputation was as such back in the day that his struggles have been ignored. However, Griffey has been the worst defensive player in baseball for quite some time. How bad is he? Since 2002, Griffey has been about 50 runs (or five wins) worse in the field than the poster boy for bad defense, Manny Ramirez. Getting Griffey away from the glove at all costs will mean big things for his value on the field.
This doesn't mean that Griffey should play 162 games at DH. While Griffey himself has tried to contest this point for years, He is really bad against lefties.He has a large platoon split and he will hurt the team if he hits against lefties. If the Mariners can find him a good platoon partner (guys who don't field and only hit lefties are very, very easy to find), Griffey can be an even greater value to this team. Ken Griffey can be a productive player for the Mariners next year, but only if the Mariners use him correctly. Griffey must never come into contact with a glove and should be benched against righties, but also one more thing: Griffey must be prepared and ready to take a reduced role or be released entirely if he doesn't play well. Griffey is not going to be the Mariners' best player next year. He won't be in the top 10, maybe not in the top 20. If Griffey doesn't realize that, then this is a bad signing. If Jeff Clement gets hurt again and can't catch, Griffey must be willing to give up his role. If Branyan gets hurt, Griffey should be willing to accept a spot start at first base or something like that. Griffey can't act like he's the big shot anymore, and fans shouldn't treat him that way.
Now, if the Mariners make Griffey do all these things, and I expect them to, Griffey will help. Griffey was a slightly above average hitter last year. accounting for the fact that he would face fewer lefties, and also for the DH positional adjustment, and Griffey can certainly be a 1 WAR player for the Mariners next year, better than what we would have without him. Griffey isn't a superstar, but he could be a good role player for a surprising team next year.

Prince Fielder to be Traded?

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:14:02 -0500

It wouldn't be worth reporting this rumor if it wasn't coming from such a reputable source, but ESPN's Peter Gammons is reporting that the Brewers are interested in trading Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy and another player for the Giants' 23-year old, starting pitcher Matt Cain. This report has been mentioned before, but Gammons brought it up again during a recent broadcast.

Salomon Torres & The Milwaukee Brewers

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:45:11 -0500

Roll out the barrel. We'll have a barrel of fun. Roll out the barrel. We've got the blues on the run. The Beermakers. The Brew Crew. Harvey's Wallbangers. EX-Milwaukee Brewer Manager Dave Bristol once said: "There'll be two buses leaving the hotel for the park tomorrow. The two o'clock bus will be for those of you who need a little extra work. The empty bus will leave at five o'clock." These days, that five o'clock bus should have a few more passengers. A...

Sheets completes gem against Pirates

Wed, 21 May 2008 22:30:06 -0500

Ben Sheets came into his start Wednesday night against the Pirates looking to rebound from his horrible outing against the Dodgers last week. Not only did Sheets rebound, he pitched his second complete game of the season. Sheets struck out six and only a Xavier Nady home run in the fourth inning stopped Sheets from recording his second shutout of the season.

LACK OF HR TOTALS IN THE BREWERS LINEUP

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:35:16 -0500

Last year, - Corey Hart hit a home run every 24th plate appearance - JJ Hardy hit a home run every 25th plate appearance - Prince Fielder hit a home run every 14th plate appearance Combined, the 3 of them have ZERO home runs in a total of 169 plate appearances between them......

SOME PRAISE FOR NED YOST

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:20:08 -0500

Brewers manager Ned Yost has made some poor and good decisions this year at the helm of his first-place N.L. central team. In this post to my blog I offer some praise for recent moves he has made.

2007 All-GNUru Team (Offense)

Thu, 31 May 2007 16:12:47 -0500

With the 2007 fantasy season just about 1/3 of the way complete, we can begin to identify those players who have disappointed and those that have exceed expectations. Those that have exceed expectations have been honored by being named to the distinguished All-GNUru Fantasy Team. The following list of players are not necessarily the best at their position but they are considered value picks as their production has vastly exceed their preseason expectations. Congrats to the 2007 Offensive All-GNUru Team.

Lineup Literacy: Week 8

Sun, 20 May 2007 21:41:45 -0500

The GNUru yet again provides fantasy baseball lineup advice to those in weekly leagues. Included are the GNUru's hot hitters and pitchers, in addition to those pitcher schedule to make 2 starts.

Lineup Literacy: Week 6

Sun, 06 May 2007 19:40:32 -0500

The GNUru is once again here to help you with your weekly fantasy baseball lineup decisions. The GNUru takes a look at both pitchers and hitters who are hot, as well as, those pitchers slated to make 2 starts in fantasy baseball week 6.

Sleeper Sluggers?

Thu, 03 May 2007 01:00:33 -0500

While it's still too early to read to much into the early season stats, many unheralded players are off to impressive starts. If you drafted, picked up, or traded for some of the following players, your fantasy team is likely off to an equally impressive start. Although it would be foolish to count on this kind of production to continue for some of these players, stranger things have been known to happen.

2007 Fantasy SS Rankings & Projections (22-19)

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:22:54 -0500

This edition of the rankings includes projections and writeups on Bobby Crosby, Yuneisky Betancourt, JJ Hardy and Troy Tulowitzki, but in what order?