Harold Reynolds displays his genius

[Sixtofan]

Classic Reynolds. Players don't need to be told what to do, walks clutter the basepaths etc etc

http://haroldreynolds.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/06/enjoy_it_for_what_its_worth.html

[Ennder]

I still don't get why he seems to think walks aren't valuable or that they somehow get overrated by OPS. I think he just doesn't understand statistics. There is an argument to be made that statistics are situational but the logic he is using is just terrible.

[liveforoctober]

Joe Posnanski's review of this article is pretty funny...

 

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/06/19/bugging-harold-reynolds/

[Thurston Fluff]

I think some of what Reynolds was getting at is all OPS isn't created equal. I tend to agree players who are on bad offensive teams can elevate their OPS by taking a walk instead of trying to get a hit but hurt their team in the process. If the choice is to try and score a run by hitting for an extra base hit or wait for two more players on the team to get on base to score one you have to know what the chances of your teammate actually getting tow others on base are. For example if you are Prince and the usual choice is to take a walk and let Hall and Kendall drive you in or try to hit a homerun it might score more runs for the team if you just go ahead and swing.

That is not to say it isn't prudent to build a team with high OBP guys but if the particular player in a particular circumstance sacrifices a little OPS to score more runs than he would have otherwise scored it is better for the team. IF I am a GM and see a player whose OPS was lower than another players but see him attempting to carry a team I would rather have him on my team than someone who was more interested in his stats than the team's score.

[logan82]

If anything, walks are undervalued by OPS. They get half the value of a single in OPS.

[crewcrazy]

My favorite comment on the Posnanski review:

 

I have a 13 year old son, and I try to take some precautions about the things he can access on the Internet. There's just a lot out there that I'd prefer he not see at his age. Thankfully, most web browsers and search engines let you check history, they let you filter for content, and so on. It's a nice feature for a parent.

 

Sadly, no browser has yet figured out a way for me to filter out stupidity, so it's possible that my son will wander across Reynolds' post the next time he googles "OPS". And that's terrifying.

 

Hug your kids while you can folks.

 

It's stuff like this that makes me miss FJM.

[logan82]

I guess I don't understand what he is trying to say. Players are supposed to swing at bad pitches because walks are bad? I would think that if you don't get a good pitch to hit, you are better off taking a walk instead of a weak dribbler to the SS. Some players can expand the zone and drive bad hitters pitches. Braun comes to mind.

[davego]

Would this be an exapmle of "I have my opinion and no facts will change it?"

[dlk9s]

He went on this same rant about OPS on TV a couple nights ago. He was arguing that the Angels are awesome because they have "bat control and speed." Made the same points about Dunn and Giambi and clogging the bases. Al Leiter was literally biting his lip to keep himself from interrupting. He looked like he wanted to smash Reynolds' face into the desk. Leiter tried to get a few words in (most notably, "Does Chase Utley clog the base paths?"), but Reynolds kept talking over him. Leiter gave up eventually, looking like he just thought Reynolds was dumb.

[logan82]

I was happy to see OPS predominantly displayed when every batter came up during our ESPN game last week. Good to see mainstream baseball going a little out of the triple crown stats.

 

Al Leiter was literally biting his lip to keep himself from interrupting. He looked like he wanted to smash Reynolds' face into the desk. Leiter tried to get a few words in (most notably, "Does Chase Utley clog the base paths?"), but Reynolds kept talking over him. Leiter gave up eventually, looking like he just thought Reynolds was dumb.

 

Good to hear some announcers are at least open to new stats.

[endaround]

When Al Leiter was working the booth a few years back he said more interesting things during one game than Tim McCarver has ever said in front of a camera

[dlk9s]

I failed to mention that when Leiter asked Reynolds if Chase Utley clogged the bath paths, Reynolds responded with, "Does he have a high OPS?"

 

I'm glad you know about the stats that you hate, Mr. Reynolds.

[TooLiveBrew]

Leiter is a good announcer. Honestly the YES broadcasts are just second to none in every aspect aside from Michael Kay. Ken Singleton is another gem of an announcer (my favorite around the league). Fwiw the regular 'roster' for YES (not everyone works every game, sometimes 2 guys, usually Kay + 2): Kay, Leiter, Singleton, John Flaherty, Paul O'Neill, David Cone. Not one of the former players is a bad announcer imho.

 

As for Reynolds... crewcrazy said it best (#5)

[jwaltz]

I wish Leiter was working for a national network. He's a fantastic commentator and good baseball mind.

 

I read Reynolds' blog and it just doesn't make sense. He contradicts himself and says nonsensical things. If he was joking his blog entry would be funny but he's serious.

[JJHardy7]

I guess I can somewhat see what Reynolds is saying to a certain degree, but like others have mentioned he goes against what he's saying so it's hard to figure out what his point is. The only thing I think I know what Reynolds is saying is that good power hitters will work more than guys that have next to zero power. We've known that for some time though so I'm not sure what he's getting at.

 

I really liked Reynolds when he was at ESPN and was disappointed he was let go. I feel he's a good tv guy, but maybe not that good at 'breaking things down' on a blog.

[Ennder]

I tend to agree players who are on bad offensive teams can elevate their OPS by taking a walk instead of trying to get a hit but hurt their team in the process

 

A player who walked every time he came up to the plate would by far be the most valuable player in baseball no matter who else was on his team. You don't swing at pitchers pitches just to avoid taking a walk, that is why a guy like Pujols is so good, he doesn't chase at bad pitches just because he doesn't trust his teammates.

[Postseason2006]

Paul Molitor is living proof of why walks are overrated.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molitpa01.shtml?redir

 

The guy knew how to hit bad pitches and do things to get guys around.

[jjfanec]

Paul Molitor is living proof of why walks are overrated.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molitpa01.shtml?redir

 

The guy knew how to hit bad pitches and do things to get guys around.

How does Paul Molitor show walks are overrated? Though not a great walker he still had an OBP over 60 points higher than his batting average and during his prime years it was closer to 70 or 80 points higher. The guys still walked.

 

Knowing how to hit bad pitches is good when guarding the plate but guys like Alfonso Soriano who can hit bad pitches get in a trouble because just because they hit them does not mean good things happen when they do. Molitor was different because he did not strikeout much at all. But just because you can hit bad pitches does not mean you should. Ask Ryan Braun about that. He has laid off junk better this year than last and his numbers across the board are much better.

[trwi7]

Paul Molitor is living proof of why walks are overrated.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molitpa01.shtml?redir

 

The guy knew how to hit bad pitches and do things to get guys around.

He had a career BB% of 9.2%. I don't know the exact numbers, but my guess is that's at least major league average and more than likely above average.

[TooLiveBrew]

Paul Molitor is living proof of why walks are overrated.

 

A superfreak talent, good enough to make it into the HoF, is reason to dismiss simple logic? Walks are not overrated. They are walks. A batter reaches base safely. What am I missing here? Is Shaquille O'Neal's career proof that free throws are overrated?

[davego]

I like walks because they are not strikeouts or double plays.

[Patrick425]

How many professional ball games have Joe Posnanski or Paul White played?

 

I think I'll assume that Harold Reynolds and HOFer Joe Morgan have a little more insight about the game and what actually happens on the field than these guys do.

[Thurston Fluff]

A player who walked every time he came up to the plate would by far be the most valuable player in baseball no matter who else was on his team. You don't swing at pitchers pitches just to avoid taking a walk, that is why a guy like Pujols is so good, he doesn't chase at bad pitches just because he doesn't trust his teammates.

 

Taking a walk every at bat would have been good enough for fourth in OPS last season. I think Chipper Jones, Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez were more valuable last year than the player you described. Maybe that type of flawed thinking is partially what Reynolds was attempting to point out though his point is even less accurate. I think the point Reynolds was making is guys in certain situations are supposed to try to hit.

For instance If I had the current Pirates lineup with Vlad Guerrero in his prime and Halliday on the mound Vlad could score more runs swinging the bat, even on a ball 6" off the dirt, easier than the rest of the lineup could with Vlad on first 5 times in the game. If you have a hitter hwo is better at hitting good pitches than his teammates are at hitting bad ones then he will maximize his teams run prodcution by actaully attmepting to hit even if it means his actaul numbers suffer some in the process.

There are circumstances where hitters should hit. There are far more where they should take their walk. Reynolds might be more wrong than you are with your statement but yours has flaws as well. Walks are not always the best thing. Just most times.

Your example of Pujols is fine but I think it shows you are looking at how player's numbers would help a generic team produce not how a particular team can maximize it's run production. Every team is built differnetly and eahc player on that team has to do what is best for that particualr team to maximize run production.

[endaround]

How many professional ball games have Joe Posnanski or Paul White played?

 

I think I'll assume that Harold Reynolds and HOFer Joe Morgan have a little more insight about the game and what actually happens on the field than these guys do.

 

Me driving a car doesn't make me an automotive engineer

[And That]

Harold Reynolds once walked 81 times in a season. His self loathing must be through the roof.