THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Replacement level players not in MLB, 2009

Erik gives us his list:

The qualifications are straightforward: the player must be at least 27, in AAA and must be one of the leagues top performers.

Some of these players may be current call-ups, which doesn’t disqualify them from the list, because let’s face it, it won’t be long before they’re on the next bus back to the minors.

Langerhans is on the list.  He’s 29, has about 1200 PA (two full seasons), his career wOBA is .314 (-7 per 150 G), and his UZR at a “neutral” position is +7 per 150 G.  That’s a league average performance.  MLB average.  It’s sad for him that he’s been given a short shrift for so long.

Willie Bloomquist, your typical white guy who scratches and claws his way into a lineup, is a barely above replacement level player, who has over 1600 PA in MLB, and has been around since 2002. 

The difference?  He throws with his right hand, which means he gets to play the infield.  Mom & Dad, whatever you do, make your son throw with his right hand (and bat with his left).  If he insists on throwing with his left hand, make sure he practices his hitting alot or works on his control as a pitcher. 

Life is tough for the Langerhans and Endy Chavez of the baseball world.  The worst possible combination would be a poor-hitting righthanded hitter (Langerhans and Chavez are LHH), who throws lefthanded.  His defense would have to be out of this world for him to survive in MLB.