2009 STRATOMATIC DEFENSIVE RATINGS ARE HERE...

[visick]

Yet Jimmy Edmonds was, for the most part, a 1 in Strat's eyes?

[keyzick]

First, Cameron was brought in to play left, not center.

Ellsbury's arm is fair to average, I'd definitely agree. But range is an area I still think is a visual judgment, and too much weight is put on UZR/150 and other range metrics.

Being a die-hard Sox fan (and trying to be objective here in my analysis), I'd have to disagree with the blog Wilby linked to. That guy indicated Ellsbury got bad jumps, hesitated, etc., while Drew made catches look easy because he always played the ball perfectly. After watching probably 99% of their games, both live and on TV, I couldn't disagree more. Bay and Drew could both be counted on to let up on easy bloopers, or take a rounded route that resulted in hits for the other team. Ellsbury was almost always on his horse at the crack of the bat. If I were to rate the Bosox outfielders range, I'd give Bay a 4, Drew a 3, and Ellsbury a 1.

Don't get me wrong, I love statistics as we all do (in fact, it was my majors), but I think this is one area where statisticians try to put a nice neat formula on something that is too subjective for measurement.

[drew6013]

The Mariners put a lot of weight into UZR this last year and it worked out pretty well for them. Despite scoring 31 fewer runs in 09 as compared to 08, the M's improved their record by 24 games. A big reason behind this was jumping from 20th (in 08) to 1st (09) in UZR. The Rays and Rangers have had similar success in recent years with comparable methods. Research shows the fielding metrics have a pretty strong correlation with run prevention.

[jmlopp]

IF THE PLAYERS ARE ON THIS CHART THEN THEY ARE IN THE COMPUTER GAME, RIGHT? IF NOT, PLEASE ELABORATE.


MIKE LOPP

[Ninersphan]

[quote:d267a6c2ae="Mike Lopp"]IF THE PLAYERS ARE ON THIS CHART THEN THEY ARE IN THE COMPUTER GAME, RIGHT? IF NOT, PLEASE ELABORATE.


MIKE LOPP[/quote:d267a6c2ae]

Well, if by "computer game" you mean Strat-O-Matic's computerized version of their board game available from them via CD-ROM, then yes all players on these ratings are included.

However, if by "computer game" you mean the version played here on TSN (The Sporting News for the acronym impaired), then the answer is no, not by a long shot.

First [b:d267a6c2ae]any player with the designation "COMP" under the use column WILL NOT[/b:d267a6c2ae] be included in the TSN game. Those players only appear in the above mentioned CD-rom game.

Second, [b:d267a6c2ae]players that have "ADD" under the use column may or may not be included at the discretion of TSN.[/b:d267a6c2ae] Generally speaking if a player had more than 20 IP as a pitcher and more than 125 plate appearences as a batter then they usually get a card in the TSN game. However, if the card is seen as "to good" there is a very good chance that TSN will exclude it from the set, ala Nelson Cruz from this past season.

Third, [b:d267a6c2ae]players with REG under the use column should all be included,[/b:d267a6c2ae] however, the same conditions apply as listed for the ADD players above. I've seen cards with over 200 plate appearences be excluded by TSN even though the player was included in the regular card set by Strat for the board game.

Guys I'm nervous about not being included this year include:

Neftali Feliz (ADD)
Mike Adams (ADD)
Alcides Escobar (REG)
Randy Ruiz (ADD)

Hope this answers the question

[schnoogens]

Well stated, Niners. I'd also like to add that every team must have at least 2 catchers on their roster, so oftentimes it's easier to identify catchers that will be included in the online SOM game that may be designated as "ADD". If there's only one catcher in the REG section, you can guarantee that another will be added from the ADD section.

[buckshamrock]

I think Ellsbury should be a 1.

[enwll34]

I think Asdrubal Cabrera should be a 1 @ short

[jmlopp]

Thanks Bill and Guys:

I really appreciate it.

Mike

[BeltranFebles]

I wouldn't be so quick to assume that Cameron was brought in to play LF. Tito has said that they will look at things and talk to both players about where they will play. My educated guess is that Cameron ends up in CF the majority of the time because he is a superior CF to Ellsbury. Ellsbury will play CF when Cameron sits and Hermida will go into LF.

Another advantage of Ellsbury in LF is that he should become more of a factor on the basepaths.

Just my two cents.
TVF