Comments on: Anatomy of a losing streak http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/ Seattle Mariners blog and general baseball discussion Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:19:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Chris88 http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-233144 Chris88 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:31:42 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-233144 56 - In essence, the guys with Richie Sexson-power that were able to keep their power levels decent, or age less rapidly, were guys who made decent contact. The guys that were really all or nothing just fell apart as soon as they lost a little bat speed as they had nothing to fall back upon. 56 – In essence, the guys with Richie Sexson-power that were able to keep their power levels decent, or age less rapidly, were guys who made decent contact. The guys that were really all or nothing just fell apart as soon as they lost a little bat speed as they had nothing to fall back upon.

]]> By: Grizz http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-232197 Grizz Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:30:25 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-232197 For the players who remained good into their mid-30s (Tino, McGriff, Stargell, McGwire, and Hodges), they all either hit for a significant higher average than Sexson, walked significantly more than Sexson, and/or struck out significantly less than Sexson. For the players who remained good into their mid-30s (Tino, McGriff, Stargell, McGwire, and Hodges), they all either hit for a significant higher average than Sexson, walked significantly more than Sexson, and/or struck out significantly less than Sexson.

]]> By: zugzwang http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-231916 zugzwang Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:03:28 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231916 Grizz @52 -- Interesting post, worth looking at some more. BaseballReference.com has this list of comparables at this stage of Sexson's career: Mo Vaughn (abrupt decline in performance at 31) Tino Martinez (peaked from 27-30, but remained above average through 37) Fred McGriff (some big years at ages 35, 37, 38) Ryan Klesko (big drop at 31) Willie Stargell (aged nicely, with big years out to 39) Mark McGwire (after big peak, stayed above average through age 36) Lee May (marked decline after age 30) Danny Tartabull (crashed at age 31) Gil Hodges (good years at ages 33 and 35) Cecil Fielder (huge peak at 26, average from 30 to 33, declined badly after that) I'm not sure any of this proves one way or the other whether Richie is toast, but given the stage of the season we're at, I no longer support trotting him out there every day in the hopes of another late season surge. Straight platoon please, to be revisited if and only if he starts crushing lefties. Grizz @52 —

Interesting post, worth looking at some more. BaseballReference.com has this list of comparables at this stage of Sexson’s career:

Mo Vaughn (abrupt decline in performance at 31)
Tino Martinez (peaked from 27-30, but remained above average through 37)
Fred McGriff (some big years at ages 35, 37, 38)
Ryan Klesko (big drop at 31)
Willie Stargell (aged nicely, with big years out to 39)
Mark McGwire (after big peak, stayed above average through age 36)
Lee May (marked decline after age 30)
Danny Tartabull (crashed at age 31)
Gil Hodges (good years at ages 33 and 35)
Cecil Fielder (huge peak at 26, average from 30 to 33, declined badly after that)

I’m not sure any of this proves one way or the other whether Richie is toast, but given the stage of the season we’re at, I no longer support trotting him out there every day in the hopes of another late season surge. Straight platoon please, to be revisited if and only if he starts crushing lefties.

]]> By: Dan W http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-231903 Dan W Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:38:15 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231903 I think you have to have Vidro at 2b. Lopez has been a black hole offensively for months now. He's clearly better defensively but he's been given a free pass here for too long. Of course the Mariners should not give up on him. But for now, the Mariners cannot afford his bat in the lineup when Washburn or Weaver are pitching, at least. I think you have to have Vidro at 2b. Lopez has been a black hole offensively for months now. He’s clearly better defensively but he’s been given a free pass here for too long. Of course the Mariners should not give up on him. But for now, the Mariners cannot afford his bat in the lineup when Washburn or Weaver are pitching, at least.

]]> By: jlc http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-231902 jlc Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:36:33 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231902 49 - Thanks, Dave for the work. Interesting patterns. 49 – Thanks, Dave for the work. Interesting patterns.

]]> By: Grizz http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-231900 Grizz Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:33:09 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231900 <i>Richie’s only 32. Most power hitters thrive in their early thirties.</i> You might want to take another look at that. Sexson's list of comparables is an elephant graveyard of power hitters whose careers as effective everyday players abruptly ended in their early 30s: Jose Canseco Dale Murphy Cecil Fielder Frank Howard Jay Buhner Greg Luzinski Unlike Sexson, Frank Thomas and Jim Thome had hitting skills other than power that helped them age relatively well. Thomas has a career batting average of .303 and has walked more than he has struck out -- 17.1 BB%/16.9 K%. Thome is a career .281 hitter who has balanced his high K rate with a better BB rate than Thomas -- 17.6 BB%/29.9 K%. Sexson is a career .264 hitter with a 10.5 BB%/26.4 K%. For players with Sexson's skill set, a career ending at 33 is the norm, not the exception. Richie’s only 32. Most power hitters thrive in their early thirties.

You might want to take another look at that. Sexson’s list of comparables is an elephant graveyard of power hitters whose careers as effective everyday players abruptly ended in their early 30s:

Jose Canseco
Dale Murphy
Cecil Fielder
Frank Howard
Jay Buhner
Greg Luzinski

Unlike Sexson, Frank Thomas and Jim Thome had hitting skills other than power that helped them age relatively well. Thomas has a career batting average of .303 and has walked more than he has struck out — 17.1 BB%/16.9 K%. Thome is a career .281 hitter who has balanced his high K rate with a better BB rate than Thomas — 17.6 BB%/29.9 K%. Sexson is a career .264 hitter with a 10.5 BB%/26.4 K%.

For players with Sexson’s skill set, a career ending at 33 is the norm, not the exception.

]]> By: etowncoug http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-2/#comment-231898 etowncoug Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:32:11 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231898 McLaren wanted to give Ibanez a day off, so he decided to do it when 1) they were playing on turf and 2) when Washburn was pitching. Good job. Now it's up to the club to win today which gives McLaren some leverage to make some changes. McLaren wanted to give Ibanez a day off, so he decided to do it when 1) they were playing on turf and 2) when Washburn was pitching.

Good job. Now it’s up to the club to win today which gives McLaren some leverage to make some changes.

]]> By: Doc Baseball http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-1/#comment-231897 Doc Baseball Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:31:53 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231897 <i> This is the best if can give against a RHP not looking at fielding </i> Let's hope small sample size luck works in M's favor -- no grounders to second, and turbo rips some shots and stays awake on the bases.... This is the best if can give against a RHP not looking at fielding

Let’s hope small sample size luck works in M’s favor — no grounders to second, and turbo rips some shots and stays awake on the bases….

]]> By: davepaisley http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-1/#comment-231896 davepaisley Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:30:52 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231896 More players up - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drdjp/1289077528/" rel="nofollow">Sexson</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drdjp/1289077424/" rel="nofollow">Guillen</a>. It's odd how they all seem to have a roughly monthly pattern (avoids inserting obvious joke here). More players up – Sexson and Guillen.

It’s odd how they all seem to have a roughly monthly pattern (avoids inserting obvious joke here).

]]> By: HamNasty http://www.ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/comment-page-1/#comment-231895 HamNasty Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:28:44 +0000 http://ussmariner.com/2007/08/31/anatomy-of-a-losing-streak/#comment-231895 45- This is the best if can give against a RHP not looking at fielding. But the outfield is set up how it should for Washburn. McLaren might have started reading USSM and figured out half of the equation. So "good" job Mac! 45- This is the best if can give against a RHP not looking at fielding. But the outfield is set up how it should for Washburn. McLaren might have started reading USSM and figured out half of the equation. So “good” job Mac!

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