Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!


As a White Sox fan, I should be happy to see that Cubs’ president Theo Epstein talking techno-gibber.  But as a baseball fan, I suspect just about everyone is doing it.

Epstein told the Sun-Times the other day he wants outfielder Jason Heyward—still due $147.4 million on his albatross of a contract—to put up better WAR (win-above-replacement) numbers.  “That’s what we want to get him back to, being a six-win [yes, above-replacement] player.”  What this means in English is that Heyward’s 6.5 WAR for the Cardinals in 2015 consisted of a .290 batting average, 13 homeruns, 60 RBIs and 79 runs scored to go with a Gold Glove in right field.  Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought the more detail the better in measuring performance.

If this keeps up, Epstein will at some point announce a trade of a 5.2 WAR player for a 3 and a 3.5.  Heaven help us when that day comes.      

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