The Other Fifteen

Eighty-five percent of the f---in' world is working. The other fifteen come out here.

Brother, can you paradigm?

4 Comments Published by Colin Wyers on Monday, February 11, 2008 at 10:50 AM.

So, Gordon Wittenmeyer writes his season preview of five players who could have an impact. The fun thing about assignments like this is that you really can't get it wrong; Wittenemeyer chose Fukudome, Soriano, Marmol, Dempster, and Pie; he could've written the exact same piece about Lee, Ramirez, Theriot, Marquis and Gallagher. There's always questions heading into the season; that's why they, y'know, play games to resolve them. So I refuse to get too wrapped around the axel about this sort of piece.

But... but I just have to comment on this:

Alfonso Soriano, LF
Does he have true leadership skills, as in the kind of ability to lead off for a legitimate pennant contender? That's doubtful, even with 100 percent health in his speedy legs.

Um. Last year as a leadoff hitter he and Curtis Granderson were virtually indistinguishable. Nobody sits there talking about how the Tigers aren't a legitimate playoff contender because Granderson doesn't steal enough bases.

UPDATE: Here's another fun one, from the Northern Indiana Post-Tribune, entitled "Table-setter Theriot has speed Cubs need." The lead paragraph is jut too awesome: "Baseball is a contact sport with shortstop Ryan Theriot. " I have no idea what that even means. Who did he "contact" last season? The writer does acknowlege that there's a chance "Ron Cedeno," who is apparently an "infield predator," beats him out for the starter's job in spring training.

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4 Responses to “Brother, can you paradigm?”

  1. # Blogger Unknown February 11, 2008 at 12:04 PM

    Seriously, though... Soriano as a five-hitter because of his power is an argument worth having on face-value. However, that he's not good enough to be a leadoff hitter for a playoff team? Um... Yankees much?  

  2. # Anonymous Anonymous February 11, 2008 at 12:58 PM

    Seriously Colin, you need to send that to the firejoemorgan guys. They'd rip it.  

  3. # Anonymous Anonymous February 12, 2008 at 10:48 AM

    May I ask a dumb question?

    What exactly do Sori's "leadership skills" (or lack thereof) have to do with his ability as a leadoff hitter?  

  4. # Blogger Colin Wyers February 12, 2008 at 11:42 AM

    I'm going to presume that it was a play on words "lead" off and LEADership.  

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