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Community Projection: Willie Ballgame

The tenth in a non-alphabetical and irregularly updated series of review pieces for each of the players we predicted last winter. (All entries are linked in the left-hand sidebar, below the Rotoworld stuff and the interviews.)

LL/USSM Community: 209 AB's, .243/.308/.297 (n=116)
Actual Line: .277/.321/.329

Closest Projection: Dave Cameron, .271/.319/.327

From last March:

In layman's terms, [Ballgame] said, he has cut down on his swing, which allows the velocity generated by the pitcher to provide the impetus for driving balls through holes in the infield and gaps in the outfield.

"Ironically, when I don't try to do as much, I actually do more," he said.
...
He likened his new hitting technique to playing pepper with the pitcher. The harder the pitcher throws, and the better contact he makes, the better chance he has of hitting the ball hard and getting a hit.
...
"It's nothing huge," [Ballgame] said. "I'm not going up there trying to drive the ball into the gaps as much. I'm trying to cut down my swing and stay within myself. In the past, when I tried to hit the ball harder, my swing got longer and I started popping the ball up to right field. It looked like I had zero power."

Result: a different path to the same pile of crap destination. By "cutting down his swing" and no longer trying to do too much, Willie actually made less contact than usual, and for good measure walked fewer times than he did in 2006. But he did manage to put the ball on the ground a staggering 61% of the time, which helped him avoid the dreaded pop-up to right field. Because whenever I used to think about Willie's problems at the plate, I always found myself cursing those pop-ups to right field.

Whatever. You know what? So many people have spent so many hours over so many years writing so many analyses of Willie, but at the end of the day, he's a utility player, and the organization knows it. So I'm going to take this opportunity to not be long-winded about the guy. He's a lousy hitter who can put the ball in play and run enough to go on the occasional little hot streak like the one he had in early June. Yeah, he's useful as an energetic jack-of-all-trades who can play a lot of positions and steal a base, but much like with Jamie Kennedy, the more featured his role, the lower the quality of the show.

At least the inside-the-parker totally rocked. I'll give Willie one thing - his homers aren't dull.

0 recs | Comment 32 comments

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I have to agree...
The pink text suits the post (I'm assuming everyone else sees it too).  Pink is perfect for bloody smurf light (bloody smurf being Eckstein).

by Gromky on Nov 18, 2007 11:31 PM PST   0 recs

Jeez Jeff
It took me twice as long to read that fine post

by I'm NOT Corco on Nov 18, 2007 11:32 PM PST   0 recs

Funny aside
Playing mlb07 the show...career mode, Im with Boston (its who paid me the most..what can I say).

I faced the Mariners and thought I'd check out their team (2011).  Starting rotation of Felix, Baek, Feierabend, Gabbard, and Jake Woods!

I laughed..then crossed my fingers it won't happen.

I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Nov 18, 2007 11:55 PM PST   0 recs

Dear...God!
That's a horrible, horrible rotation. I'll take last year's rotation over that given what Baek, Feier, and Woods would be making in 2011

by I'm NOT Corco on Nov 19, 2007 12:03 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

ow, my eyes.
reading that gave me a headache.
If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?

by Brick on Nov 19, 2007 12:02 AM PST   0 recs

You misspelled " "
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by Librocrat on Nov 19, 2007 1:29 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Damn you, Jeff
It took me 20-30 seconds to realize I wasn't going crazy when I saw this post after I woke up this morning.  Do you have no decency, sir?

by ningwers on Nov 19, 2007 10:04 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Willie is a metrosexual?
I thought he was just gay.

by Slica on Nov 19, 2007 11:20 AM PST   0 recs

I'm not sure he's either of those
he just isn't that good at baseball.
If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky?

by Brick on Nov 19, 2007 11:49 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

So Willie's contract is up in '08
it will be interesting to see if Boom-Boom stays with the M's or if he goes somewere else. Is there a team stupid enough to want Willie as an everyday player? I guess we will find out next off season.

by mark s on Nov 19, 2007 1:29 PM PST   0 recs

Yes there is
And they're called the Mariners.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by Librocrat on Nov 19, 2007 5:50 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

I doubt that
Even the Mariners aren't going to do that, and there have been tons of calls from fans and press to hand him as starting job over the years.  He can't hit at all, career high BA or not, and isn't considered a good defensive player.  He is a replacement level player.  That's his peak.  There's not a GM in the majors that doesn't (hopefully) realize that.  He's had his chances.  He's not a starter, and not a particularly great utility guy, although he can play a several positions OK, and can run.

by chrisisasavage on Nov 19, 2007 9:38 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Yes, I know that.
Who here thinks the Mariners know that.  Anyone? Show of hands?

There's a reason Jim Street thinks ballgame may challenge Lopez for the 2nd base job, and it's not just because Street makes poor decisions.

Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by Librocrat on Nov 20, 2007 12:20 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

The Mariners know it.
If they thought Willie was starter material, he would've started by now.

by Jeff on Nov 20, 2007 12:23 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Where?
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by Librocrat on Nov 20, 2007 12:24 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Anywhere.
3B after Cirillo left, for one. 2B after Lopez went in the toilet, for two.

The Mariners see Willie as a utility player. They think he's better than he really is, of course, but even they aren't dumb enough to want to see more of him.

by Jeff on Nov 20, 2007 12:26 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

I'd change "see" to "saw"
They worked really hard to get him starting time.  Though I'll just pray that you're right and drop it.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by Librocrat on Nov 20, 2007 12:33 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

He started a bunch when Beltre was hurt
but that's just because we didn't have another 3B. Still though, his 50 starts in 2007 tied 2003 for his fewest in a year since coming up.

by Jeff on Nov 20, 2007 12:46 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

50 starts?
/smacks forehead
"Goddamn Romans. Sure know how to make a ... drum room." --Matt Cameron

by JI on Nov 20, 2007 8:26 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Jeff is a girly man!
He loves pink text!
"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 19, 2007 8:13 PM PST   0 recs

Little coaching tip, Coach
Pssst!  Over here!  Just between you and me, kid.

(looks around, sees nobody, starts shpiel)

Look.  Here it is.  If you don't want to get your balls busted continuously 'round here, this is probably the kind of comment you'd best steer clear of making.

Not because it isn't true - I have no idea of the masculofeminine qualifications of Mr. Sullivan, nor do I want to find out what they are - but it's kind of a needless taunt that doesn't really make sense, in the context of the discussion.

Save the jabs for when they're dished out.  Join in, but don't start something you're not prepared to finish, and, as someone who's talked his fair share of crap in his life, I can say this:  You gotta do better than calling someone a girly man, anyway.  That's little league ball, and this is, well, it's at least short-season A ball, or something.

The point is, you gotta bring better stuff than that.

Here endeth the lecture.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Nov 19, 2007 9:12 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

Will just got Dr. Phil'ed!
I fucking hate you Mariners

by kentroyals5 on Nov 19, 2007 9:25 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

The only similarity
is that they're both not psychiatrists.
"Kruger! My son tells me, your company shtinks!"-Frank Costanza.

by Coach Owens on Nov 19, 2007 10:19 PM PST to parent up   0 recs

That's actually a really clever joke
But you should probably still listen to pdb.
Jose Vidro (DH - Ms) was arrested today in an Idaho Bathroom for having a wide stance and sucking.

by Librocrat on Nov 20, 2007 12:22 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

THAT'S IT!!!!!!
More of that, less girly-man, and you'll be fine.
Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Nov 20, 2007 8:43 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

Bloomquist is
fine in a utility role. I've never really understood why so much energy is spent trying to prove the many reasons why he's stinking up the joint. Like Jeff said, he's just a utility player. But I would go so far as to say he's doing his job.
Plenty of people complained that he go too many at-bats in '06. This past year he got fewer at bats and generally did better with them. So what's the problem? And if Yung Chi Chen pushes for the 2nd base spot sometime in the not too distance future and Lopez is dealt it might be nice to have a guy who can predictably, albeit not awesomely, fill in at 2nd.

by theclaw on Nov 19, 2007 11:08 PM PST   0 recs

Don't you listen to Chuckie???
I mean, heck, if the M's President says he's the greatest utility player in the game, it's got to be true, right??? Right??? RIGHT!!!?

//I got no problem w/Willie as a utility guy.  None whatsoever...

"I restore a sense of childlike wonder to people's lives; you give them Zunes and Vista." -- Fake Steve Jobs to Borg employees

by PositivePaul on Nov 20, 2007 9:02 AM PST to parent up   0 recs

hit chart
Kind of funny that the MLB hit chart shows Willie's homer as if it went over the left field fence. That hit was also one of the very few balls he hit to the left side of the outfield.

by theclaw on Nov 19, 2007 11:34 PM PST   0 recs

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