Game Thread: 4/28 Madres @ Midgets

[SFGRTB]

Okay, I'll get pulled back in. In the last five years, Belt has been . . .
2012 - 11th in WAR (closer to 10th in WAR)
2013 - 9th in OPS, 7th in WAR (one point from 8th in OPS, closer to 8th in WAR)
2014 - not enough at-bats to qualify, but still ranked tied for 23rd in WAR
2015 - 8th in OPS, tied for 6th in WAR (equally distant to 7th and 9th)
2016 - 6th in OPS, 5th in WAR (closer to 5th in OPS, closer to 6th in WAR)
This is among all qualified MLB 1st basemen. Right now, he is 8th and 6th in OPS and WAR, respectively for 2017. He has moved his way from being a top 10 1st baseman to, arguably, a top 5.

Don't need to remind me.

 

[msgkings322]

Okay, I'll get pulled back in. In the last five years, Belt has been . . .
2012 - 11th in WAR (closer to 10th in WAR)
2013 - 9th in OPS, 7th in WAR (one point from 8th in OPS, closer to 8th in WAR)
2014 - not enough at-bats to qualify, but still ranked tied for 23rd in WAR
2015 - 8th in OPS, tied for 6th in WAR (equally distant to 7th and 9th)
2016 - 6th in OPS, 5th in WAR (closer to 5th in OPS, closer to 6th in WAR)
This is among all qualified MLB 1st basemen. Right now, he is 8th and 6th in OPS and WAR, respectively for 2017. He has moved his way from being a top 10 1st baseman to, arguably, a top 5.

Not to quibble, I'm pro-Belt, but only in 2016 does he even sniff top 5. He's not a kid anymore, he's a 6 thru 9 level guy and that's fine.

 

[LHG]

Don't need to remind me.

Wasn't trying. Only trying to help your argument.

 

[SFGRTB]

Wasn't trying. Only trying to help your argument.

I know

The Belt war is endless. Everywhere.

 

[LHG]

Not to quibble, I'm pro-Belt, but only in 2016 does he even sniff top 5. He's not a kid anymore, he's a 6 thru 9 level guy and that's fine.

That's why I said arguably. But consider the amount of 1st basemen that have consistently been above him (not counting 2014). For OPS and WAR, respectively:
OPS
Goldschmidt
Votto
Cabrera

WAR
Freeman
Goldschmidt
Cabrera

No one else has been ranked above him in either from 2012 to 2016 every year.

 

[LHG]

I know

The Belt war is endless. Everywhere.

Why we need to be careful of friendly fire.

 

[Mays-Fan]

Y'all are forgetting all those giraffe hats he sells. That should count for something.

 

[calsnowskier]

Y'all are forgetting all those giraffe hats he sells. That should count for something.

I THINK you said this in jest, but it is a legit point. For ownership, at least.

The problem with that point (from a fans perspective) is that financial tradeoff does not show up in the luxury tax calculation. So while Belt's (or Sandoval's) salary can be partially offset by their unique merchandise sales, his entire salary counts towards the tax and that will still restrict moneys that can be spent elsewhere.

Don't get me wrong, I am not calling this ownership cheap. They are consistently at the top of the salary list, and they have delivered the goods enough in my lifetime that if the Giants don't make to back to the World Series in my lifetime, I have nothing to complain about (3-2 in your lifetime is a very good showing). I have not been a fan of all their signings (Sammy, Span, to a MUCH lesser extent, Belt), but they are not afraid to drop a penny for something they need. And they are more willing to pay their own, and I much prefer that strategy than the strategy the A's employ.

 

[1phlapdown]

This kid looks completely legit....so glad we didn't trade him.

Will he be a team changer like a certain call up was in the spring of '10?

 

[1phlapdown]

Free Game Of The Day tomorrow, Sun, and 5may@ Cin

 

[Stokes1931]

Will he be a team changer like a certain call up was in the spring of '10?

I like what I see so far!