Comments on: The value of Darren Ford http://baybridgebaseball.com/2011/05/the-value-of-darren-ford/ An A's-Giants blog Sat, 18 May 2013 11:46:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: slamdunk http://baybridgebaseball.com/2011/05/the-value-of-darren-ford/comment-page-1/#comment-4101 slamdunk Sun, 15 May 2011 05:52:34 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=2500#comment-4101 Ford is fun to watch on the basepaths, but I agree that his spot on the roster is being used for a specialist that the roster really cannot afford in the long run. Plus as a sixth outfielder, he will get few at bats since there isn't enough playing time for 5 outfielders right now. Burriss is more valuable mainly because there is no way DeRosa's wrist holds up all year, and Tejada is very painful to watch field any balls in the field, let alone at the plate. Ford is fun to watch on the basepaths, but I agree that his spot on the roster is being used for a specialist that the roster really cannot afford in the long run. Plus as a sixth outfielder, he will get few at bats since there isn’t enough playing time for 5 outfielders right now. Burriss is more valuable mainly because there is no way DeRosa’s wrist holds up all year, and Tejada is very painful to watch field any balls in the field, let alone at the plate.

]]> By: Jeff Fletcher http://baybridgebaseball.com/2011/05/the-value-of-darren-ford/comment-page-1/#comment-4099 Jeff Fletcher Thu, 12 May 2011 03:35:44 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=2500#comment-4099 Been debating this whole Ford issue with a few of my tweeps today. I even went so far as to argue that the Giants would actually be better off with Burriss. The question is not whether Ford is faster than Burriss. The question is <em>how much faster</em> he is, and how often that additional speed would make a difference in the outcome. (I've conceded that the Pittsburgh thing is one of those cases, but I also believe that's a one-shot deal.) Is that fraction of a second Ford gives you worth sacrificing what Burriss can give you? Burriss is a switch hitter who can back up at both middle infield spots. Ford, on the other hand, gives the Giants nothing they don't have elsewhere, besides that fraction of a second. I would also argue that Burriss, who is a little older and more seasoned than Ford, has less to gain at this point from everyday playing time at Triple-A. If Ford goes down and improves his hitting, defense or base-stealing ability, he might become a real weapon. All of that said, I'm willing to concede that this entire debate is really much ado about nothing. We're talking about the 25th man on the roster here, and neither of these guys would be here if Pablo Sandoval weren't hurt. We can argue till the cows come home, and it really won't make that much difference. Do the Giants need Ford or Burriss more? Ask me after the game. We're talking about razor-thin differences in total roster utility here. It does tell you how great baseball is, though. In what other sport would you even have a spirited debate about the last man on the roster? Been debating this whole Ford issue with a few of my tweeps today. I even went so far as to argue that the Giants would actually be better off with Burriss. The question is not whether Ford is faster than Burriss. The question is how much faster he is, and how often that additional speed would make a difference in the outcome. (I’ve conceded that the Pittsburgh thing is one of those cases, but I also believe that’s a one-shot deal.) Is that fraction of a second Ford gives you worth sacrificing what Burriss can give you? Burriss is a switch hitter who can back up at both middle infield spots. Ford, on the other hand, gives the Giants nothing they don’t have elsewhere, besides that fraction of a second. I would also argue that Burriss, who is a little older and more seasoned than Ford, has less to gain at this point from everyday playing time at Triple-A. If Ford goes down and improves his hitting, defense or base-stealing ability, he might become a real weapon.

All of that said, I’m willing to concede that this entire debate is really much ado about nothing. We’re talking about the 25th man on the roster here, and neither of these guys would be here if Pablo Sandoval weren’t hurt. We can argue till the cows come home, and it really won’t make that much difference. Do the Giants need Ford or Burriss more? Ask me after the game. We’re talking about razor-thin differences in total roster utility here.

It does tell you how great baseball is, though. In what other sport would you even have a spirited debate about the last man on the roster?

]]> By: Jeff fletcher http://baybridgebaseball.com/2011/05/the-value-of-darren-ford/comment-page-1/#comment-4097 Jeff fletcher Wed, 11 May 2011 19:26:19 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=2500#comment-4097 I don't think it'll be Ford. I don't know enough about Brown, but I believe if you are a first-round pick out of a major college program that you should tear up A ball. We'll be able to judge him better when he moves up to AA and AAA. I don’t think it’ll be Ford. I don’t know enough about Brown, but I believe if you are a first-round pick out of a major college program that you should tear up A ball. We’ll be able to judge him better when he moves up to AA and AAA.

]]> By: Maximillian bacon http://baybridgebaseball.com/2011/05/the-value-of-darren-ford/comment-page-1/#comment-4096 Maximillian bacon Wed, 11 May 2011 18:54:13 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=2500#comment-4096 Ford's sample size is not large enough to get a goog feel for his base-stealing game but I agree with you that he needs to be more versitile..and can I see a hit please, then steal a base? Question for you: will Ford or Gary Brown - who seems to be tearing up A-ball, be the Giants ceter fielder in the next few years? Thanks for all your work regarding the Giants! Ford’s sample size is not large enough to get a goog feel for his base-stealing game but I agree with you that he needs to be more versitile..and can I see a hit please, then steal a base? Question for you: will Ford or Gary Brown – who seems to be tearing up A-ball, be the Giants ceter fielder in the next few years? Thanks for all your work regarding the Giants!

]]> By: Sean http://baybridgebaseball.com/2011/05/the-value-of-darren-ford/comment-page-1/#comment-4095 Sean Wed, 11 May 2011 18:35:29 +0000 http://baybridgebaseball.com/?p=2500#comment-4095 I was thinking this exact same thing. He's probably the 3rd best CF on the team, so the "defensive purposes" argument doesn't really hold water either. He's pretty fun to watch, though I was thinking this exact same thing. He’s probably the 3rd best CF on the team, so the “defensive purposes” argument doesn’t really hold water either. He’s pretty fun to watch, though

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