I remember the first time I saw Juan Pierre. He was on first base. I looked at the tube and said to myself, "Wow, that guy's gonna go!" He went. He was halfway to second base before the pitcher got into his windup.
"Who the hell is THAT guy?" If ever a leopard was granted a license to play baseball and run bases, this was the cat. He's a thief, and he doesn't care that you know it. He's the kind of player that tells the first baseman as he's taking his lead, "I'm goin.'"
- B/R Ticket Guide
That being said, I'm a Yankees fan and happened to turn on the Diamondbacks at Dodgers game last night. I entered the Twilight Zone. I saw a game of small ball like I'd never seen in years. It was unreal to see Joe Torre giving signals a mile a minute, bunt attempt after bunt attempt, and, yes, a PERFECTLY executed hit and run.
I remember this game now. This is like we played when we were kids.
I'm used to the exciting high drama of Yankee Stadium. Big bats, big swings, big money.
This was something different. I'll watch again tonight. Enter Manny. I won't call it the Manny era, because I don't believe it's all that.
I saw Torre calling Manny one of the best hitters in the game in a postgame interview. Forget that. My question to the Dodger faithful is this: ARE YOU GOING TO REMOVE JUAN PIERRE FROM THE LINEUP FOR THIS LAZY SON OF A GUN?
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3 months ago
Juan Pierre sucks. Just because he steals bases and bunts doesn't change that whatsoever.
from 3 months ago
Sorry to offend. That's what makes the world go round. Long live Ty Cobb.
from 3 months ago
What does Ty Cobb have to do with anything? O_o
from 3 months ago
Everything.
from 3 months ago
Are you trying to compare Juan Pierre and Ty Cobb? That doesn't make sense since Ty Cobb was good at hitting.
from 3 months ago
I'm saying you line up Juan, Ty and Manny. Guess who is last on the bases? Nothing personal. Juan is old school.
from 3 months ago
I guess that's just your preference then, but if I want to win I'm taking Manny's .381 wOBA over Pierre's .293 wOBA any day of the week..
from 3 months ago
Enjoy the game. I've enjoyed your thoughts.
3 months ago
I think the Dodgers need a very strong hitter. I don't think it's taking away from the team, this isn't an individual sports. Torre said he would go with the hot hand. Torre is a proven Manager. It's not about Manny or Juan, it all about the system.
3 months ago
I think the Dodgers need a very strong hitter. I don't think it's taking away from the team, this isn't an individual sports. Torre said he would go with the hot hand. Torre is a proven Manager. It's not about Manny or Juan, it all about the system.
3 months ago
If I'm Cashman, I want Juan.
3 months ago
Having Juan Pierre off the bench makes them that much more deadly. Imagine any close game in late innings and a runner gets on. PR Pierre and you are automatically in scoring position.
from 3 months ago
Good point. My thoughts are that Juan Pierre is not a "come of the bench" player. He's a leadoff hitter. He's a player. I hate to see "players" come off the bench. This is about to be the case.
3 months ago
They don't have to take him out of the lineup.. they can play him in front of Kemp or Ethier. Manny is a power hitter, they wouldn't trade for him and sit him on the bench. I would still want Pierre in the lineup so I would play him in center and rotate Kemp and Ethier
3 months ago
You'd rotate Ethier and Pierre. I don't think the Dodgers will. Juan should start. Good thought though. Go Torre!
3 months ago
Robert, I like Juan Pierre but it has nothing to do with small ball. Small ball decreases your chance of scoring a run in almost every single potential situation. The only time I would every bunt is with a pitcher up and the only time I would ever steal was with a guy on base that makes in like 85% of the time or more. Its just simple statistics and odds. It really does decrease the likelihood that you score a run.
That being said I like Pierre. He does get on base and he doesn't strikeout much. Perfect leadoff guy material. He steals bases at like a 90% rate or something making him a decent option to steal witch increases his value as a leadoff guy. But Manny Ramirez is Manny Ramirez. If you think Juan should be in the lineup then fine but its not gonna be for Manny. Im thinking more likely Andruw Jones would be benched, Kemp would move into center, and Pierre+Eithier would split time.
3 months ago
Nice hustle there by Manny in the top of the 5th. Pierre would not have let that ball roll to the wall. Runner would not be at third. Just "Manny being Manny".
3 months ago
Kyle, you are making a list, i will give you plain, simple, provable statistics.
With a runner on first and second and no outs you are expected to score 1.504. (on average through many major league seasons)
With a runner on second and third and one out you are expected to score 1.401 runs.
So if you bunt over the runners you ARE decreasing the expected runs scored by a tenth of a run.
Lets look at another situation.
With a runner on first, no outs, you are expected to score .877 runs.
With a runner on second, one out, you are expected to score .693 runs.
Again, by bunting the runner over, you decreased your expected runs scored by a fifth a run.
You can bring up conventional baseball knowledge, ill bring up what has ACTUALLY happened throughout mlb history. Proof.
Stealing bases is more controversial. If you look at the benefit of going from say second to third and you look at the punishment of getting thrown out you will find out what percentage of the time you would need to be successful for scoring a run to be profitable. The number is somewhere between 80 and 85%. Simple economics there.
3 months ago
sory "scoring a run" should be "attempting to steal a base"
3 months ago
How about that bunt just laid down Sunday? My O My!
3 months ago
Juan Pierre remains the man!
3 months ago
Pop fly Pierre is unjuanted in LA....
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