Reynolds wants another crack at 3B

[Bradysburns]

Erickson is a great example of why getting swings and misses is important. Look at the huge variability in performance, and identify the peripherals that seem to correlate:

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=137&position=P

Would you mind providing a little more guidance here? I'm seeing that his seasons with the highest K-rates don't necessarily correlate to low ERAs. For example, it looks like 1998 was his outlier year for strikeouts, at 6.66 (ooohhhh!) per nine innings - a career best by a good margin. Yet he had several seasons with much lower K-rates and lower ERAs. Erickson's power-sinker arsenal was designed to break bats - he pitched to contact on purpose, and he had an impressive career, IMO. Anyway... I'm interested to learn something from you here if I can. I'm not an expert on peripherals by any stretch.

I should add that I specifically remember Erickson saying, upon heading down to Cuba for that historic matchup: "Let's go down there and break some bats." He proceeded to do just that, as I recall.

[scOtt]

Dang right, we're spoiled - or perhaps we've just been trained to appreciate fine defense and what it does for the psychology of a team. I think that's really easy to underplay. When a young pitcher knows he's got a plus defender behind him - hopefully several - he pitches to contact a lot easier. And he's smart to do so. When there's even an ounce of doubt, that can eat away at a guy. At least that's what I imagine. If they put Reynolds back out at third, I just hope they have a quick hook if he picks up where he left off last season. I'm sure even Reynolds-at-thirders would understand that sentiment.

I'm not saying good D is not a HUGE plus. Just that it's a luxury. Of course it affects the pitcher... but then [jeremy] has to throw less inside fastballs to [big hairy rightie]. It's not all on the defense. The pitcher needs to have a plan of attack too.

This touches the area of chemistry. No team is perfect, not even on the Yankees budget. You need that mix of players on the ML squad. That fit together.

[Lucky Jim]

Would you mind providing a little more guidance here? I'm seeing that his seasons with the highest K-rates don't necessarily correlate to low ERAs. For example, it looks like 1998 was his outlier year for strikeouts, at 6.66 (ooohhhh!) per nine innings - a career best by a good margin. Yet he had several seasons with much lower K-rates and lower ERAs. Erickson's power-sinker arsenal was designed to break bats - he pitched to contact on purpose, and he had an impressive career, IMO. Anyway... I'm interested to learn something from you here if I can. I'm not an expert on peripherals by any stretch.

I should add that I specifically remember Erickson saying, upon heading down to Cuba for that historic matchup: "Let's go down there and break some bats." He proceeded to do just that, as I recall.

LOB%, BABIP, ERA. No one's saying you can't have a good year striking out few people, but his ERA fluctuated quite wildly, and it appears from his numbers that it was (at least in part) due to the fact that his results depended on factors beyond his control. That's all.

[byrdz]

Looks like he'll get his chance!

Despite 26 errors, Orioles infielder Mark Reynolds is going to get another shot at 3B, with Chris Davis penciled in at 1B heading into camp.

https://twitter.com/#!/Britt_Ghiroli/status/157575431116165120

[CA-ORIOLE]

Looks like he'll get his chance!

https://twitter.com/#!/Britt_Ghiroli/status/157575431116165120

Uggh ................

[BaltimoreTerp]

Sense reigns at third base in Baltimore.

[mikegallo]

This team will never win again....Now even Twitter dooms us.