FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Nickb23- It's a Girl! said 06/14, 05:03 PM
First let me say, you did a great job, only differences..

C- Geovanny Soto, ChC- Soto has more homers and RBI's but McCann has the victory in other categories. The thing is, they both have very, very similar numbers in the offensive and defensive categories. So I brought it to a third and important but rarely noticed factor for being a catcher. Their ability to catch the staff and the difference they make in this area. Soto has a catcher's ERA of 3.53 (down from the team average of 3.63) McCann has a 3.93 (up from the team average of 3.75) . The Cubbies have the best record in baseball and Soto has been a huge reason why.

LF- Ryan Braun, Mil- At the end of the day, you want one thing from your corner outfielder, bring home runs. The amount of at bats do not matter, it is plate appearances that does. They have only 11 of those seperating them. Who cares if your right fielder walks alot if he doesn't score extra to make up for it. In 2 less games Braun has scored 2 less runs but driven in 8 more than Burrell. Braun is doing exactly what a team asks its corner outfielder to do, which is bring home runs for his team. The walks don't matter much if you don't score from them.

Nickb23- It's a Girl! said 06/16, 12:01 AM
OK, so the best team in baseball does not have ONE player worthy of starting the All-Star game? NO.

Soto is proving to be a great addition to this Cubs team and he is helping them in every way possible. Great offense, great defense....and yes with the staff.

The coaches do not call the pitches, the catcher does. They study the film with the coaches but when the game comes, they call the game. They calm down the pitcher, they know hitters tendencies. Soto is proving to be one of the best in the league at every facet of being a catcher.

Soto has been the best catcher in the NL.

I did not say hit home runs, that is a highly overrated stat. I said drive home runs or drive in runs, is that better. Braun is better at that than Burrell

It is not at bats that matter but PA's. A walk is nice but the Phillies don't want him to walk when they have guys on and they need those guys to score.

I got an interesting stat.... Braun with runners in scoring position .333
3 HR's 36 RBI's Burrell .306 3 HR's 25 RBI's

Burrell has good numbers. Braun is down right clutch. Like I said these guys have 1 job, bring home runners. Braun is better at it.

Nickb23- It's a Girl! said 06/16, 06:40 PM
You confuse me, you said one cub should start but then don't have any Cubs starting.

I am telling you right know, coaches help or not, the catcher DOES make a difference. Have you ever heard a guy after a no-hitter. He will say the catcher called a great game. Well if the catcher didn't call the game, why didn't he give coaches the credit. The coaches are not relaying signals for pitches, they will give pitch-out calls, tell him to pitch around a guy or tell him to give a guy a free pass. They are giving the catcher a heads up on what the see.

Soto has been a huge key to the best team in baseball and should be the starter.

"bring home runs"

This is what I said. NOT hit home runs.

Look walks are great, but Pat Burrell has a guy who hits .266 with a pedestrian 21 RBI's hitting after him, the Phillies want him to bring home those runners. He isn't the leadoff hitter, he hits in the 5 hole. They want him to find a pitch and hit it.

Braun may strikeout more and he may get on less, because he is trying to do what the Brewers ask of him. DRIVE in runs, at the time we started he had 8 more than Burrell. Also .333 and 36 RBI's with runners in scoring postion is just money.