2012 Arizona Diamondbacks season thread - June edition

[82CardsGrad]

What a missed opportunity last night as the Dodgers lose their 5th in a row, while Miley pitches a gem!
CY is totally to blame... what the hell was he thinking? Did he really think he was being thrown at?? In THAT situation? With an 88 MPH change-up?? He then gets caught stealing by a mile! All his pathetic antics did was immediately fire up the Padres, who in the very next inning hung up 6 runs!
Oh - did I mention he's now down to a .275 average and has once again assumed his role as the pop-up king of the team!!!

On the brigther side, Goldy continues his hot hitting!

 

[thirty-two]

I love Parra's arm... my goodness.

 

[devilalum]

How soon is too soon to start exploring trades to dump salaries and pick up prospects?

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Yikes. Putz closes it out, but certainly doesn't look convincing doing it.

 

[AZ Native]

I'll take it.

 

[UncleChris]

Love Upton's two "pull ups" on fouls in right field last night, as well as his blazing 1-4 performance at the plate. His .249 average makes him worth every penny of his $6.95 million salary. Only Ryan Robert's is lower (of the starters).

 

[82CardsGrad]

I love Parra's arm... my goodness.

Unlike CY who, like Parra is really struggling at the plate... Gerardo has a cannon and adds great value when on the field. My 14 year old son has a stronger arm than CY however... uggghhhh.... I remain convinced we need to rid ourselves of his putridness...

 

[azsportsfan01]

Unlike CY who, like Parra is really struggling at the plate... Gerardo has a cannon and adds great value when on the field. My 14 year old son has a stronger arm than CY however... uggghhhh.... I remain convinced we need to rid ourselves of his putridness...

Apparently you neglect to see Parra's horrendous routes to the ball.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Apparently you neglect to see Parra's horrendous routes to the ball.

How many errors does he have this year?

 

[azsportsfan01]

How many errors does he have this year?

Errors don't matter. Better players usually make more errors because they can reach more balls. Parra consistently take poor routes to balls and that costs him. Think of it like Jim Edmonds. He made all those great catches because he put himself behind the 8 ball with a terrible route. On the other end of the spectrum was Steve Finley. He had some speed, but not great, but was such a great outfielder because he took the right angles every time and could get to more balls.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Errors don't matter. Better players usually make more errors because they can reach more balls. Parra consistently take poor routes to balls and that costs him. Think of it like Jim Edmonds. He made all those great catches because he put himself behind the 8 ball with a terrible route. On the other end of the spectrum was Steve Finley. He had some speed, but not great, but was such a great outfielder because he took the right angles every time and could get to more balls.

Yea... I'm sure all those who voted for Parra to receive a Gold Glove last season didn't have a clue what they were doing...
Parra is considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the game - period. Not sure where you're going with this, but, suffice to say, you couldn't be more off base.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Gold gloves are a joke. Derek Jeter has won 5 including one 2 years ago. He is close to the worst defensive shortstop in the game. The award is as much about hitting as it is fielding.

Parra is a good corner outfielder, where he doesn't have to cover that much ground. His arm brings his game up. But when he has to play center he is a below average fielder. He isn't fast enough to recover from poor routes.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Gold gloves are a joke. Derek Jeter has won 5 including one 2 years ago. He is close to the worst defensive shortstop in the game. The award is as much about hitting as it is fielding.

Parra is a good corner outfielder, where he doesn't have to cover that much ground. His arm brings his game up. But when he has to play center he is a below average fielder. He isn't fast enough to recover from poor routes.

Jeter is "close" to the worst defensive ss in the game?? Eeeeesh... Really can't continue this conversation...

Parra is a tremendous DEFENSIVE outfielder. He is not as solid in CF as Young, mainly because he has't played the position enough... If he played CF fulltime, I have no doubt he would be as solid, if not more so, than CY in center...

 

[azsportsfan01]

Well I would consider 24th to be one of the worst.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0&sort=23,d

In 2010 when he won the gold glove he was 16th.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...son1=2010&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0

Sinec 2000 he is the worst.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...son1=2000&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0

Derek Jeter is a poopy shortstop. He has absolutely no range. Ball that he had to make a jump throw for that are 'web gems' are routine plays for guys like Elvis Andrus and Brendan Ryan. You can't even argue he is even a good shortstop without it being laughable.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Well I would consider 24th to be one of the worst.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0&sort=23,d

In 2010 when he won the gold glove he was 16th.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...son1=2010&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0

Sinec 2000 he is the worst.
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...son1=2000&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0

Derek Jeter is a poopy shortstop. He has absolutely no range. Ball that he had to make a jump throw for that are 'web gems' are routine plays for guys like Elvis Andrus and Brendan Ryan. You can't even argue he is even a good shortstop without it being laughable.

Jeter was never considered one of the best defensive shortstops. However, he has never been considered a liability either...
And, since you're using fangraphs...punch in outfielders since 2010 and see where Parra sits... not exactly sure how that supports your position.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Meanwhile, the Dodgers lose again! Cahill pitched a gem today and Goldy, along with Parra and Miggy went deep!

With the Dodgers seriously struggling and in freefall at the moment, we can sure use a nice 7 out of 10... 10 out of 13 stretch!

 

[Lefty]

Meanwhile, the Dodgers lose again! Cahill pitched a gem today and Goldy, along with Parra and Miggy went deep!

With the Dodgers seriously struggling and in freefall at the moment, we can sure use a nice 7 out of 10... 10 out of 13 stretch!

Just win series.

 

[AZ Native]

Parra is one of those players where if you "punch in this", it does not apply. Just watch him play and use your natural instincts, you will see he is a stud in the OF.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Jeter was never considered one of the best defensive shortstops. However, he has never been considered a liability either...
And, since you're using fangraphs...punch in outfielders since 2010 and see where Parra sits... not exactly sure how that supports your position.

Since you seem to be missing my point I'll make one last stab at it. I have been talking about range. Parra doesn't have great range. He has an arm which helps improve his stock defensively. You don't need that much range in left since there is little ground to cover.

Example:

Removing small samples, here is Parra's range factors for left-
2009- 0.7 (577 innings)
2010- 8.7 (569.1 innings)
2011- 7.2 (1018 innings)

In center-
2009- -0.2 (328 innings)
2012- 2.4 (203 innings)

Chris Young has had some truly awful years out there but has since improved dramatically.
2007- -7.6 (1263 innings)
2008- 3.1 (1390 innings)
2009--3.5 (1020.1 innings)
2010- 5.6 (1350 innings)
2011- 14.5 (1373.1 innings)

As for Jeter, since 2000 of qualified short stops he has the lowest range, and it isn't close. He is at -84.9. 2nd closest is Yuniesky Bentacourt at -43.9.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0&sort=20,d

You can learn to get better reads on balls, and it seems like Parra is getting better, but you can't teach speed which will always limit the growth. Having a guy in center who can reach balls in the gap is huge. Since Young came to the bigs in 2007 there are only 3 centerfielders who have a range factor over 10. Young is one of them. Range, that is the truest test of defensive abilities. You can't make plays on balls you can't reach.

 

[BC867]

Parra is a good corner outfielder, where he doesn't have to cover that much ground. His arm brings his game up. But when he has to play center he is a below average fielder. He isn't fast enough to recover from poor routes.

So the one rap on Parra in CF is that he doesn't have the routes of Young.

Perhaps there should be a highway sign for CY saying, "CAUTION. WHEN YOU FEEL THE WARNING TRACK BENEATH YOUR FEET, THE WALL IS APPROACHING."

Young doesn't have the arm of Parra. Or apparently the common sense. They are both good base stealers.

And, since returning, Young is back to trying to pop every ball into the air. His accomplishment at the start of the season was short lived, as his stats sink lower and lower.

Long term, I'll take Parra, routes or not.

 

[azsportsfan01]

So the one rap on Parra in CF is that he doesn't have the routes of Young.

Perhaps there should be a highway sign for CY saying, "CAUTION. WHEN YOU FEEL THE WARNING TRACK BENEATH YOUR FEET, THE WALL IS APPROACHING."

Young doesn't have the arm of Parra. Or apparently the common sense. They are both good base stealers.

And, since returning, Young is back to trying to pop every ball into the air. His accomplishment at the start of the season was short lived, as his stats sink lower and lower.

Long term, I'll take Parra, routes or not.

Then you'll be seeing more doubles in the gaps. The ball that you like to bash Young for catching, would never have been caught by Parra. Being able to cover ground means less hits, which means less runs. A good arm won't be able to make up for all that.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Since you seem to be missing my point I'll make one last stab at it. I have been talking about range. Parra doesn't have great range. He has an arm which helps improve his stock defensively. You don't need that much range in left since there is little ground to cover.

Example:

Removing small samples, here is Parra's range factors for left-
2009- 0.7 (577 innings)
2010- 8.7 (569.1 innings)
2011- 7.2 (1018 innings)

In center-
2009- -0.2 (328 innings)
2012- 2.4 (203 innings)

Chris Young has had some truly awful years out there but has since improved dramatically.
2007- -7.6 (1263 innings)
2008- 3.1 (1390 innings)
2009--3.5 (1020.1 innings)
2010- 5.6 (1350 innings)
2011- 14.5 (1373.1 innings)

As for Jeter, since 2000 of qualified short stops he has the lowest range, and it isn't close. He is at -84.9. 2nd closest is Yuniesky Bentacourt at -43.9.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&players=0&sort=20,d

You can learn to get better reads on balls, and it seems like Parra is getting better, but you can't teach speed which will always limit the growth. Having a guy in center who can reach balls in the gap is huge. Since Young came to the bigs in 2007 there are only 3 centerfielders who have a range factor over 10. Young is one of them. Range, that is the truest test of defensive abilities. You can't make plays on balls you can't reach.

Look.... if Young were at minimum, say a .270 hitter with even a halfway decent OBP, I'd try harder to buy into your position. However, he's not... And combined with his pathetic excuse of an arm, I simply have zero use for the guy. None. I would take Parra over CY in centerfield hands down. And as I've said time and again, this team would be better off if they would once and for all cut ties with CY and move on...

 

[FArting]

3 game series vs Rockies at home

We need to distance ourselves away from Colorado so we can focus on catching San Francisco and LA.

 

[82CardsGrad]

3 game series vs Rockies at home

We need to distance ourselves away from Colorado so we can focus on catching San Francisco and LA.

The Rockies have putrid pitching... this is supposed to be the series where are offense finally pops! Upton? CY? Parra? Miggy? Roberts? Kubel? Time to rake fellas!!!
Goldy should continue his hot hitting as well!

 

[82CardsGrad]

Giants won again... they're on a roll. Hopefully Philly can step up and keep the foot on the throat of the Dodgers...