In the past Chicago teams were too loyal to their veterans past their prime.
With John Danks release, it shows that the mission is simple: win every game.
And the White Sox and Cubs have been doing it like Industrial Revolution Machines.
The pitching staffs have not allowed losing streaks:
Arrieta: 6-0, 0.84 ERA, 0.744 WHIP, 2.1 WAR
Lester: 2-1, 1.83 ERA, 0.932 WHIP, 1.0 WAR
Hammel:4-0, 1.24 ERA, 1.069 WHIP, 1.2 WAR
Sale: 6-0, 1.66 ERA, 0.808 WHIP, 1.7 WAR
Quintana: 4-1, 1.40 ERA, 0.983 WHIP, 1.6 WAR
Latos: 4-0, 1.84 ERA, 1.091 WHIP, 1.1 WAR
That is incredible starting pitching. Sale and Quintana are the best 1-2 combo in major league baseball.
But that is not all. Two under the radar changes have improved the clubs defense.
The White Sox signed Austin Jackson to play CF because Adam Eaton was a horrible fielder. But by Eaton to RF, it has improved the White Sox defense dramatically. Eaton
was a negative CF but now he has a plus 75 defense runs saved/year
ratio. His dWAR has gone from -1.1 in 2015 to 1.4 WAR in 2016.
The Cubs made a small adjustment on positioning their center fielder. By moving
Dexer Fowler deeper in the outfield, it has made a clear improvement in his
defense, too. He now has a 0.2 dWAR compared to a negative 1.0 WAR from
2015. He has gone from a -10 to a +12 in defense runs saved/year.
The little adjustments are paying huge dividends.
The White Sox are 19-8, 4 games ahead of the Tigers.
The Cubs are 19-6, 5 games ahead of the Pirates and 7 games ahead of the Cardinals.
The Cubs also have a crazy run differential of +89, more than double the next highest team.
Baseball is going to be fun this summer in Chicago.
Showing posts with label Eaton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eaton. Show all posts
May 4, 2016
March 7, 2016
AUSTIN CITY LIMITS
The White Sox signed Austin Jackson to a one year, $5 million contract. GM Rich Hahn stated that Jackson will be the new Sox starting center fielder.
Jackson, 29, has not been a full time starter in several seasons. Last year he hit .267, 9 HR, 48 RBI with a 1.6 WAR. His defensive WAR was 0.1. His R/fielding was +1, slightly above average.
Adam Eaton, 27, hit .87, 14 HR, 56 RBI with a 3.9 WAR. But his defensive WAR was negative 1.1. His R/fielding was a dreadful -14. Stats guys continually say that Eaton was the worst defensively center fielder in the majors. Part of the problem is Eaton's lack of arm strength, range and bad instincts in getting jumps on balls. Some speculate that Eaton will move to a corner OF spot, but those positions need a better arm. At best, he may platoon with Avi Garcia in RF if Garcia cannot turn around his offense.
For the White Sox, it was a cheap acquisition to shore up a defensive liability. It gives manager Robin Ventura more flexibility in creating lefty-righty line up cards.
Jackson, 29, has not been a full time starter in several seasons. Last year he hit .267, 9 HR, 48 RBI with a 1.6 WAR. His defensive WAR was 0.1. His R/fielding was +1, slightly above average.
Adam Eaton, 27, hit .87, 14 HR, 56 RBI with a 3.9 WAR. But his defensive WAR was negative 1.1. His R/fielding was a dreadful -14. Stats guys continually say that Eaton was the worst defensively center fielder in the majors. Part of the problem is Eaton's lack of arm strength, range and bad instincts in getting jumps on balls. Some speculate that Eaton will move to a corner OF spot, but those positions need a better arm. At best, he may platoon with Avi Garcia in RF if Garcia cannot turn around his offense.
For the White Sox, it was a cheap acquisition to shore up a defensive liability. It gives manager Robin Ventura more flexibility in creating lefty-righty line up cards.
February 6, 2016
THE PROBLEM
Adam Eaton was the White Sox starting center fielder. For most White Sox fans, Eaton has been a terrible liability since the Sox acquired him from Arizona.
He is a Jekyll and Hyde player. His stats look good on the surface, but fans of daily games saw Eaton running into outs, playing bad defense, missing cut-offs and showing a low situational baseball IQ.
Eaton hit .287, 14 HR, 56 RBI with a 3.9 WAR. That looks pretty good for a lead off hitter.
But that WAR includes a negative 1.1 dWAR.
Clearly, the White Sox are looking to upgrade their outfield and defense talent.
That is why Dexter Fowler has been mentioned as a possible free agent signing.
But Fowler poses two problems. One, it takes Eaton, 27, to the bench. He won't be happy about that.
Two, Fowler signing would cost the White Sox the No. 28 pick in the June draft. The Sox No. 10 pick is protected so this is the Samardzija compensation selection.
The White Sox have enough young pitching in the pipeline to really go after the two best available college hitters in the draft and push them along to the majors like the Cubs did with Bryant and Schwarber. The No. 28 pick may have more value than Fowler's asking price for a long term deal.
He is a Jekyll and Hyde player. His stats look good on the surface, but fans of daily games saw Eaton running into outs, playing bad defense, missing cut-offs and showing a low situational baseball IQ.
Eaton hit .287, 14 HR, 56 RBI with a 3.9 WAR. That looks pretty good for a lead off hitter.
But that WAR includes a negative 1.1 dWAR.
Clearly, the White Sox are looking to upgrade their outfield and defense talent.
That is why Dexter Fowler has been mentioned as a possible free agent signing.
But Fowler poses two problems. One, it takes Eaton, 27, to the bench. He won't be happy about that.
Two, Fowler signing would cost the White Sox the No. 28 pick in the June draft. The Sox No. 10 pick is protected so this is the Samardzija compensation selection.
The White Sox have enough young pitching in the pipeline to really go after the two best available college hitters in the draft and push them along to the majors like the Cubs did with Bryant and Schwarber. The No. 28 pick may have more value than Fowler's asking price for a long term deal.
February 6, 2014
HITTERS OR PITCHERS?
There has been a long old-school discussion about what is a better acquisition target: a pitcher or a hitter.
On one side, the reasoning is that a hitter plays in more games per season than a starter with 30-34 starts. The starting position player is more valuable because he plays more games in the field and at the plate.
On the other side, the reasoning is that quality starting pitchers are harder to find than an outfielder. Pitching wins championships in some GM's books. Quality pitching can shut down even good batters, who fail at the plate almost 70 percent of the time.
From a roster building exercise, which is more valuable to a team that needs a change from a bad season?
Off hand, the consensus was that the White Sox did well by trading Hector Santiago and trading for Adam Eaton. Eaton is projected to be the team's starting centerfielder and lead off man. Santiago was the team's 4th starter.
Santiago, 26, had a good 2013 season. He had a 2.8 WAR. In his 3 major league seasons, he has compiled a career 4.6 WAR and a record of 8-10, 3.41 ERA and 1.358 WHIP in 78 games played.
Eaton, 25, has two years of major league service. He has played in 88 games, compiling a career 0.8 WAR, .254 BA, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 7 SB and .706 OBP.
If one looks to the primary objective of a pitcher and fielder, a pitcher's job is to get outs and the fielder to get hits (mostly). Eaton has gotten 85 hits in his 380 ABs. Santiago, in his 224.2 innings pitched, he has gotten 367 outs. That is a .545 "out" rate. It would seem that based on the objective stats, Santiago is the more valuable player than Eaton, even though Santiago plays in less games per season.
But the White Sox traded Santiago to obtain Eaton's "intangibles" to help spark the team. His high OBP from the lead off spot, and his all-out hustle in the field to be an example to the other young players on the squad.
When it comes down to this comparison, Santiago was the better player in the trade mix. But the White Sox, who had a very bad season, had to shake things up so I can see why GM Rick Hahn made the move to trade a young pitcher for a young outfielder.
On one side, the reasoning is that a hitter plays in more games per season than a starter with 30-34 starts. The starting position player is more valuable because he plays more games in the field and at the plate.
On the other side, the reasoning is that quality starting pitchers are harder to find than an outfielder. Pitching wins championships in some GM's books. Quality pitching can shut down even good batters, who fail at the plate almost 70 percent of the time.
From a roster building exercise, which is more valuable to a team that needs a change from a bad season?
Off hand, the consensus was that the White Sox did well by trading Hector Santiago and trading for Adam Eaton. Eaton is projected to be the team's starting centerfielder and lead off man. Santiago was the team's 4th starter.
Santiago, 26, had a good 2013 season. He had a 2.8 WAR. In his 3 major league seasons, he has compiled a career 4.6 WAR and a record of 8-10, 3.41 ERA and 1.358 WHIP in 78 games played.
Eaton, 25, has two years of major league service. He has played in 88 games, compiling a career 0.8 WAR, .254 BA, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 7 SB and .706 OBP.
If one looks to the primary objective of a pitcher and fielder, a pitcher's job is to get outs and the fielder to get hits (mostly). Eaton has gotten 85 hits in his 380 ABs. Santiago, in his 224.2 innings pitched, he has gotten 367 outs. That is a .545 "out" rate. It would seem that based on the objective stats, Santiago is the more valuable player than Eaton, even though Santiago plays in less games per season.
But the White Sox traded Santiago to obtain Eaton's "intangibles" to help spark the team. His high OBP from the lead off spot, and his all-out hustle in the field to be an example to the other young players on the squad.
When it comes down to this comparison, Santiago was the better player in the trade mix. But the White Sox, who had a very bad season, had to shake things up so I can see why GM Rick Hahn made the move to trade a young pitcher for a young outfielder.
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