The big criticism of Vlad Guerrero was his second half in 2010. (Unless you’re an Orioles blogger and then you seem to find a way to complain about everything Vlad related…I’ll never figure that out.) As I mentioned in an article detailing the Orioles player’s excitement about adding Vlad Guerrero, Mike Ferrin of MLBNetwork Radio pointed out in a tweet that Vlad’s second half may not have been as bad as people thought.
Between July 1st and July 24th, Guerrero really struggled at the plate, hitting .197, with a .274 OBP and just two homers and eight RBI. Vlad got a few hits in the end up July, where he went on a seven game hit streak into August, but he only hit .250 during that stretch. So yes, July was bad.
August was a little better. In 27 games Guerrero hit .269, with four homer runs and 15 RBI. But in September he returned to form. Guerrero played 27 games and hit .311, with seven doubles, four homer runs and 16 RBI with a .351 OBP and .491 slugging percentage. The most important part of those stats is that Guerrero did all of it without the help of the injured Josh Hamilton, who played just two games in September.
Just like the Orioles, Vlad Guerrero finished 2010 strong. His second half numbers were hindered by a disappointing July and a slow August. However, he still finished the season above .300 for the 14th time in his career.
I'll take the larger sample sizes, thanks. Like the second half of 2010, the entire 2010 and the last three seasons. You're cherry-pickin'…
You've gotta cherry pick to make arguments for keeping Reimold in the line up. Isn't that why the fans that are concerned about Vlad are concerned?
Reimold is a guy who was as good as gone a few months ago. Only at the pleading of Brady Anderson is the guy still on the roster. Now we're worried about taking at bats away from him!?!
Vlad offers protection in the the lineup, a guy that could either help this team win more games or become the most valuable trade bait that the Orioles have had in years. If they keep him and they win, it will only help entice free agents (I know what Mark will say here, but that's cool).
We already know what Reimold, Scott and Pie provide. They tried to move Reimold this offseason already.
At least my cherroies are waaaaay bigger. SO they mean more. But you already know that…
But I don't have to cherry pick for anything about Reimold. Over 6 minor league seasons, he OPSed .874, .858 during his AAA career. He has shown he can handle big league pitching. Last season, he was not healthy. I called it before the season and nothing I saw from him will convince me otherwise. My case for Reimold (or the general philosophy behind it) relies very little on stats. He's younger, has a better chance to develop and it's in the team's best interest to see what he can do. Sorry, not giving up on a guy with that kind of patience and pop.
Keep projecting from a month's worth of stats. See how that works out! Those 14 great season? Those are in the past. We are not even assured of what he did last season, which were offensive levels far less that when he was a great player.
When do we focus on winning and stop thinking about "next season"? Anytime, ANYTIME, you can improve your major league team you should do it. When does "next year" ever come, otherwise? If Reimold deserves to be on the major league club, he'll either earn that opportunity in spring training or he'll force the issue from Norfolk. Trust me, Buck will find at bats for guys who are going to help this team win.
Although you make a good argument about Reimold having more long-term benefit than vlad, youre contradicting your argument. You DO have to cherry pick for Reimold, by discounting his entire 2010 season. Granted he was injured and had other issues to deal with, but he stunk. Vlad's offense may be declining, but his year last year, which was not an aberration by any means, would have lead our team in RBIs, BA, HRs and probably a couple other stats. Not too shabby
Not at all. Not ignoring Reimold's 2010. But I have to put it in context. I'm not banging on Vlad's 2009 either even if it supports my argument. Why? He was hurt. Tough to knock a guy, Vlad or Reimold during a year when they weren't healthy.
I'm making my assessment on Reimold based on his entire career, majors and minors. Same with Vlad. I'm not even predicting that Vlad will suck, just that he's not the best move for this team at this time.
Could be that Vlad got a bit worn down by the July and August heat in Texas, or maybe he just had a slump or two in those months. Either way, I thihk it would make sense for Buck to give Vlad some nights off to keep him fresh. Having Scott and Pie is also reason enough to rest Vlad against some of the tougher righties the O's will face.
That's a great point. Lots of depth to keep him rested.
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Yes, he did alright but his numbers dipped a lot without Josh Hamilton. There is no Josh Hamilton on this roster either…
Actually his numbers without Josh Hamilton were the best. September Josh played two games, that's when Vlad hit .311.
If Guerrero was such a great player that changes a whole lineup, why was he still available on February 4th? No one else wanted this guy. That seems to indicate that we shouldnt get too excited.
Let me get this straight.
You're complaining about this signing yet last year when Tejada and Atkins were signed all I heard was optimism from you and others around here.
I don't get it.
Neither do I. We're all worried that 27 year old Nolan Reimold might not getting playing time. His three months of great baseball don't out weigh 14 great years. I'm sorry.
Nolan Reimold = Drungo Hazewood.
For you young guys, look it up.
Another overhyped Orioles prospect.
Did you say prospect? I don't believe Reimold was ever a prospect.
Reimold was a 3 star guy.
Except…
Drungo never hit int he upper minors or the majors like Reimold already has. Poor comp.
If Reimold is a bona fide major leaguer, he'll get a chance to prove it. He's got spring training and if he does not make the club, he can light it up in Norfolk and force the team's hand.
This isn't the Harbaugh, it's Showalter. He wont harbor a grude a put a guy in the doghouse. If Reimold can help the team, he'll get his ABs.
Well, the Orioles have finally done it. After 13 years of subliminal messages and some even more overt messages, they have managed to convince a significant portion of their fan base that spending the owner's money is bad. Amazing.
Can you imagine if this was Washington. Fans are complaining about $8 MIL for an 8 time Silver Slugger, what did Jayson Werth get?
Wow…. All these great Oriole pickups!!! Kevin Gregg, Derrick Lee, Justin Duchscherer, Vlad Guerreo. Just too bad this wasn't 8 years ago! Average age for these 4 is 35….. Add Hardy (30) and Reynolds (28) as purchased via trades and you have 1 guy who is below 30….
I know, you all are saying Hardy is only 30… Don't get me wrong, I like having Hardy and Reynolds because they have 5 – 7 years of decent balI left… so it gets me to my next point… Hardy (Starting SS), Lee (Starting 1st), Vlad (Starting DH), Duchscherer (Rotation)
Are all signed for one year… This time next year you will be looking at the O's AGAIN looking for a STARTING SS, 1ST, DH and Pitcher while going the old, cheap route again and signing… Jim Thome (DH) 41 years old, Russell Branyan (1st) 37 years old, Omar Vizquel (SS) 43 years old, Jamie Moyer (Rotation) 46 years old
I like the O's fans who are loving these signings and will be making excuses again for the O's. But its the same old, same old… Signing old, cheap or injured players, its just that the names change every year…
BTW – "The Regret" is aka "Ravens2488"
FYI, average age of Gregg, Lee, Duch, and Vlad is 34, not 35. Hardy is 28, NOT 30. Reynolds is 27, NOT 28. I stopped reading after that because if you are too lazy to actually look up facts and instead rely on made-up information your opinions are of no worth to anyone. Thanks for playing.
Knowledgeable…The Regret hates it when you say:
Game Over
Or
Case Closed
Knowledgeable, you also have to understand that "the Forget" realizes he is much more entertaining when he let's us watch him hang himself with his own rope, than he is when he is factual or correct. If you read his stuff often enough you will catch on to that.
Understood, thanks……..in that case Regret, comment on!!!
Keith Law pointed this out, and it really contributes a lot.
"Beware September stats. Not only is it a very small sample, but a lot of those ABs come against callups and scrubs."
The last part is what gets me.
BUT. I love the signing. Whoever says that Vlad is not a good addition to ANY lineup… tisk tisk.
Knowledgeable (Jackass) – Thats it? I know exactly who you are… Your the loser who got straight A's since the third grade but who still can't get a woman so you hang out at the "Skank-O-Rama" dropping "Benjamins" in hopes of getting "lucky" with one of the toothless hotties. Its always great when losers like you have nothing to say so you comment on someone's spelling or some eror in their comments…
Go back to your "Pokemon Card Tournament" with your "buds" loser… That's why there are the "greats" like me and then "You Losers" who nobody really cares about… Me? I got it all… Getting drunk all the time, fantastic parties, motorcycles and women… Basically, all the shit that you fantasize about…
Now go away and stop humiliating yourself in trying to keep up with what I write…
Pilson – You know I never "jacked" you about anything you wrote or your articles but I've noticed that when some idiot gets "SwampAss" of the mouth about me then you jump on the wagon. Never have I seen you "initiate" anything about what I write. Interesting…
Well, I only give so many chances when it comes to "jacking" me so enjoy my future comments… In the meantime, you can get "JackAss" to check my spelling and numbers while you enjoy your "Bootleg Ukranian Porn"…
"Brother"
Erudite as always 2488. Just when I thought it might be time to have some fun with you and your new self glossed nickname, you remind me why it is best to move on to what someone else has to say.
JP, it's Saturday. Can you please refrain from using words like "erudite" which force me to use my old Webster's Dictionary?
I thought it was an element on the Periodic Table.
I was going to use knowledgeable, but since we have someone commenting under that name I thought it best not to confuse anyone.
Pilson – Busting on the name is all good, in fact it was a good one you brought up… Plus its even better when YOU "jack" me up… I enjoy it better when someone gives it back… But….. I just thought it was interesting that you piggyback on me when someone else starts firing… Its all for fun but I want to see the "Original Pilson" "jacking" me… Not the "Pilson" who piggybacks on comments made by some clown whose buddies probably nicknamed him "Money" because he makes alot of it as some "Cross-dressing Circus Freak" turning tricks at the truck stop on "95"…
I know there's some original stuff you can "jack" so show it…. "The Forget" was good… But I think "The Regret" is better… And by the way, how does that poster size picture of me you got from next to my name on here look over your fireplace?
2488, I will look for chances to "jack" you more often. Feel free to do the same.
And my intention of piggy backing, was not only to bust on you, but to also let Knowledgeable know that you are one of us and that your O's smack is funny, yet sometimes short on facts.
Pilson – I LOVE YOU MAN….