Believe it or not - Cubs midseason position player MVP

I was pretty surprised to see this. He's having a nice season, but still - goes to show how much the offense has underperformed this year

over 2 years ago berselius 35 comments 1 recs |

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It was exactly who I thought it would be

and I think so far this season I would have to agree the only other person that is deserving is DLee

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jul 24, 2009 12:37 AM CDT reply actions

Not.

Inept baserunning and giving up 2 hits every series because you’re a pie thrower should disqualify you as an MVP candidate.

Lilly, Lee and Wells are the MVPs of this team in the first half….in that order.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 24, 2009 2:33 AM CDT reply actions

1. He said position players

B. Are you going to show your work like he did, or just blah blah blah.

"Who's Bob Brenly? The guy that used to be the manager for Arizona?" ~ Alfonso Guilleard Soriano

by JohnM on Jul 24, 2009 4:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Exactly position players

I don’t think anybody would argue that our pitching is the only thing that has kept us alive

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jul 24, 2009 4:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Didn't you get the memo? Stats only count when they prove your point

SWL never misses a good opportunity to bash one of the few bright spots on this team.

Life is parallel to hell but I must maintain

by dr stabbingworth on Jul 24, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions

it could be worse, SWL

we could have lugo

wells4roty

by jesus christos on Jul 24, 2009 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Not a surprise

He’s been most consistent all season on the team. Good for Theriot! If he can continue what he’s been doing and everyone else can pay to their level then we’re going to be in good shape.

by ak123 on Jul 24, 2009 8:05 AM CDT reply actions

Reprinted from July 15

Theriot is described as

the most consistant offensive player we have.

Here are Theriot’s monthly splits:
April .317/.374/.378
May .273/.339/.525
June .265/.315/.343
July (first half) .396/.431/.458

So, Theriot started the season just like he spent most of ’08, then became a pre-09-Soriano clone in May, then became worthless in June, and is now riding a wave of singles in July. This is hardly consistent.

I’d also note that Theriot’s best numbers come down in the order this year. When hitting leadoff, he’s been bad, and hitting second, he’s been fair, at .290/.348/.429. In the ideal Cubs lineup, Ryan Theriot is a nice surprise at the bottom of the order. He’s stretched when put in an important position in the offensive attack.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 24, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree with Theriot

He’s been a rare bright spot. But it speaks volumes that a limited skill over-achiever type is team MVP on a team with a $136 million payroll. Hence why this team is destined for a 3rd or 4th place finish and 79 to 83 wins in 2009.

Cubs will win 79 to 83 games. Season has been over for weeks. St. Louis will eventually run away with this division. And you can print it. BLou (7/21/09)

by BLou on Jul 24, 2009 8:15 AM CDT reply actions

you

want to bet on that?

by CalCalender on Jul 24, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Of course he won't

He doesn’t stand behind any of the things he says.

by Wreckard on Jul 24, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Rare bright spot?

Are you crazy? This team has had its problems, but for the love of god rare bright spot? Comments like that and the one in your signature prove nothing more then your lack of baseball knowledge.

by Galvan316 on Jul 24, 2009 8:23 AM CDT reply actions

Besides Theriot, Lee, and maybe Dome....

what other bright spots are there that could be in consideration for offensive MVP of the first half?

Not understanding your outrage here.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Jul 24, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I'll give theriot credit for becoming a more capable hitter this year

and he has improved his defense. He still ranks as the most inept baserunner on the team, and seems to have about one game a week where his defense goes to the zoo.

I’d take Derrek Lee as positon player MVP.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Jul 24, 2009 9:09 AM CDT reply actions

He improved base running

I might be wrong but I thought I saw him steal 3 bases Wednesday?

I could be totally off, but I think he’s a second half runner if it’s possible to even have that sort of stat?

I remember last year he got caught stealing bases a lot early too but then picked up the pace July/August/September.

by ak123 on Jul 24, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions

It isn't just about base stealing

Its about base running. Knowing when to go first to third, not getting picked off by a catcher. Baseball.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Jul 24, 2009 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Why "believe it or not"?

Seems like a no brainer to me.

Is it because he’s short? Because he’s scrappy? I don’t see how anyone can be surprised. It’s a pet peeve of mine when people only give him more credit now because he’s hit a couple home runs. I really don’t get the Theriot hate here.

"Fasten your seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Jul 24, 2009 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

Theriot....

has always been a “love or hate” player on BCB. This season has been mild compared to last year’s debates on his “worth”.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Jul 24, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

It's true.

I’ve had quite a journey with Theriot myself – from loving him when he first came up at the end of ‘06 to disliking him when I started catching on to the importance of OPS and making assumptions about his defense to, well, accepting him (for lack of a better term). He’s overachieved at the shortstop position defensively and still brings more to the table offensively than a pure glove man such as Andres Blanco. I do, however, agree with DGU that he’s ideally slotted into the bottom of the lineup.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 24, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions

pretty much this.

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 24, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

I've turned it around on Theriot this year

He’s been a real useful player this year. I wasn’t such a fan in previous years because he WAS pretty overrated. He’s really improved both his approach at the plate and his defense, and is a good, useful player and would be a borderline all-star if it weren’t for the glut of good SS in the NL

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett

by berselius on Jul 24, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

He's a useful player who has improved himself.

He’s also been wildly overrated and worked very hard with the media to get that overrating.

One of the things to point out is that while Riot has an average bat, SS is a place where replacement level players are so bad, that his WAR gets a boost for just that reason.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 24, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

And the Cubs' LVP of the first half?

That would be the guy with the lowest WAR on that list. It’s nice when statistics and observation match up perfectly.

by Jody Jody Davis on Jul 24, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

lol

"Fasten your seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Jul 24, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

not the riot....

with 11 errors imo.wow it would be hard to pick an mvp on this team wouldn’t it!lol i think the starting pitching collectively gets the nod.Z could easily have 11 wins right now with any run support.on the offensive side i guess i would go with D.Lee.

by goatstew on Jul 24, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions

11 errors is pretty ugly...

…but errors really aren’t a good way to judge a defender. Remember, he can make errors only on balls he gets to. So a jump in errors may mean he’s actually improved his range. (Uh, then again, I’m not sure how many of those are throwing errors.)

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Jul 24, 2009 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Shortstops are also going to get more errors

It’s a very tough position to play. It’s one reason why fielding percentage can be a bit misleading because it’s not position specific.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Jul 24, 2009 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Fielding percentage is a useless stat

You need to find a way to account for the balls that a player SHOULD have gotten to, not just the ones that he tried to field

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett

by berselius on Jul 24, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

He's really stepped up his defense this year

He still dives over balls and shows lots of needless hustle on plays that a plus defensive SS would make, from time to time, but he’s made a lot of plays this year that he hasn’t been making in the past two years

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett

by berselius on Jul 24, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

It IS a no brainer

He’s been the MVP for the first by a wide margin among position players. And by being so, that also isn’t a statement that he’s perfect. Far from it. But overall, he’s it. It’s quite a comment on the team’s first half, but Lee’s late first half charge is even more illustrative of the team’s lack of consistency.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Jul 24, 2009 11:40 AM CDT reply actions

One comment I should make

Theriot does get the benefit of a positional adjustment. A .334 wOBA out of a SS is very nice

People should remember that while they have the right to their opinion, they are not entitled to be taken seriously. -- Bruce Bartlett

by berselius on Jul 24, 2009 12:01 PM CDT reply actions

+1

That’s the point of WAR. It’s harder to find a good-hitting SS than a good-hitting 1B or OF.

by Jody Jody Davis on Jul 24, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Rephrase

It’s harder to find an average hitting SS than a good-hitting 1B. Ryan Theriot’s OPS+ is 102. He’s an average hitter.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 24, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

I certainly didn’t mean to imply that the Cubs have a Hanley Ramirez-type hitter at SS.

by Jody Jody Davis on Jul 24, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

the riot

i would rather have theriot up in a bases load situation than soriano. that says a lot. this kid is a good solid player. our best ss in a few years. i knew lou would give this guy a chance. his kind of player.

by NOMAR on Jul 25, 2009 6:33 AM CDT reply actions