Justin Ruggiano

by Ajp9009 on Jun 18, 2008 3:01 AM EDT

Ok so maybe it's becuase i live in NC and work for the Durham Bulls but has anyone else noticed that justin ruggiano seems to always hit a wall. I mean it's great he makes the play and he's priving how bad he wants to play but at what point to you as a coach warn him about that. I mean the walls aren't always padded such as the walls in durham, Fenway, parts of Phily, ect.

Just wondering

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Comments

That has to be just a coincidence

He can only go where the ball takes him

by matthan on Jun 18, 2008 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

Kid makes a hell of a play

and you want to criticize, If he wants to play like Aaron Rowand, let him… not a bad role model to have…

by Hazleton Jason on Jun 18, 2008 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

Agree to disagree

I’d cry if I had a son, and he wanted to be Rowand. He may be my least favorite player in all of baseball. It would be the Ecks-man, but he’s a Gator.

by rglass44 on Jun 18, 2008 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

it

by RaysTheRoof on Jun 18, 2008 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

it is unamerican to hate aaron rowand

seriously. Why would you hate Aaron Rowand. You are taking this sabrmetrics stuff a little too far buddy.

by RaysTheRoof on Jun 18, 2008 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

cause he's a douche

and he is overrated because of one stupid play where he broke his nose. throw in the fact that he’s another phillies “working-class hero.”

by rglass44 on Jun 18, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd agree he's overrated.

But he’s still an above average player. Overpaid? Absolutely.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 18, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed he is overpaid

by RaysTheRoof on Jun 18, 2008 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Rowand/Ruggs

was statistically very good last season, but I am sure that ballpark helped him out some…
All I was saying is, Ruggiano is a guy trying to make an impression, and to see him running his nuts off and crashing into walls to save doubles is exactly what I want from the dude I want in RF in ‘09 in a semi-perminent basis-

by Hazleton Jason on Jun 18, 2008 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Who mention sabermetrics?

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 18, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Because

His criticism mentioned two players, Eckstein and Rowand, both who are commonly thought of as stars by casual baseball fans, and baseball writers who should know better.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jun 18, 2008 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly

by RaysTheRoof on Jun 18, 2008 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you jumped the gun assuming it was dealing with stats.

Being annoying because you suck and are overhyped (Juan Pierre) and being annoying because you’re overhyped (Rowand) are two very different things.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 18, 2008 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly

by rglass44 on Jun 18, 2008 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't really think

Its fair to harbor ill feelings towards a player for either. Players who have reps that exceed their numbers typically have them because they work hard and are nice to the people around them.

It’s no more fair to dislike Rowand because he’s overhyped by the media, than to dislike Bonds because the media told you to do so.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jun 18, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't say I disliked either.

The only player I actually dislike is Coco Crisp.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 18, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

dont forget about elijah dukes and papelpom-pom

by RaysOfHope on Jun 18, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Elijah Dukes isn't the same as those trash players.

One has a serious problem and is struggling to redeem himself. The other two are just douche bags.

I guess we’ll have to wait until Dukes overtly finds christ for it to be worth it to root for his recovery and stability.

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Jun 20, 2008 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

To be serious. I’m glad Dukes is not here anymore, given the distraction the team was rid of when he was traded, but it’s obvious that him and Milton Bradley are in a different class. They are both struggling with seriously tortured pasts, and I think that Bradley is well on his way to being on the right track. Hopefully Dukes will have as much success.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 20, 2008 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 20, 2008 1:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Rowand

It isn’t just the media. I have friends that are obnoxious Phils fans and have been to Rays games in Philly. All think Rowand is the man when he is merely an above average player. Also, for some reason his “act” annoys me. I tend to dislike “gritty” athletes in all sports because I love talent more than effort. Guys that don’t seem that good apart from their effort make me feel inferior because they did it despite the seeming lack of God’s touch. Hence, why I like Jackson more than Sonny, and I’ll always be a sucker for guys like Guzman.

BTW, the media tells you to hate Bonds, not like him. I used to hate Bonds. Now I don’t have any personal feelings for or against him.

by rglass44 on Jun 18, 2008 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

So what you are saying is

That you dislike Rowand because he is subjectively valued higher than he would be if fans valued his contributions objectively. Implicit in your argument that Rowand is overrated is the idea that if people looked at the stats and not Sportscenter, he would not be so well liked. To me, that sounds like taking sabermetrics too far.

I won’t argue that Rowand is not overrated. I fully agree that he is. But there is a difference between using stats to identify over/under rated players, and the follow-up step that you appear to take (disliking him personally because of it).

And I said the media dislikes Bonds.

by GomesSweetGomes on Jun 18, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Misread the Bonds comment

Re: My dislike of Rowand personally. I don’t know him, and therefore I can’t make a judgment oh him as a person. However, I can make a judgment on the perception of him perpetrated through the media and fans of the game. As such, it is fully within my right to that characterization as harshly as I deem. I don’t like the idea of Rowand. Is that better? I find it easier to discuss semantic issues such as this in the easiest ways possible. Therefore, “I hate Aaron Rowand” is what I say, when what I really mean is “I hate the way Rowand is portrayed by the media and Phillies fans, and I disagree with their valuation of his talent.” Better?

by rglass44 on Jun 18, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Rowand, Griffey, Erstad

There is a reason not to like how Rowand plays and that’s injury risk. If I am an owner I don’t want my valuable asset playing recklessly. Erstad and Griffey are examples. Great plays are one thing, but not many plays are worth 4-6 weeks on the DL.

I know that’s against the grain, and against everything kids have ever been taught. At a certain point someone needs to realize the possible result of that type of play and it usually isn’t a good thing.

by tallyray on Jun 18, 2008 7:26 PM EDT reply actions

A liittle off topic

but I am starting to like Rggiano more and more. I think he has some potential. I think I was wrong about my initial impression of him. Maybe I should’ve gave him more time

by blazinrayz on Jun 19, 2008 3:11 AM EDT reply actions