We all know that Joe Maddon loves to throw new players right into the fire, and this strategy seems to work out more often than not. Or does it? It's the goal of this Funpost to separate anecdote from data, and confirmation bias from reality. Do #NewGuys actually perform pretty well for the Rays? Or are we only remembering the Dan Johnson bomb?
First, a note on methodology. The numbers crunched below are intended to show the first game with significant game action of new acquisitions. It does not include players who make the club out of spring training, and it only includes a rookie's first in-season call up. (Note 1: As a result of the last point, you will not see guys like Elliot Johnson below, as he made the club out of spring training in '08, albeit on a short term basis as an injury fill-in. Such are the quirks.) (Note 2: Also, if a player entered his first game as a defensive replacement but did not bat, I used the numbers for his second game.) (Note 3: I included guys Hank Blalock because they met the spirit of the Joe Dillon All-Star definition, if not the letter.)
Without further adieu, I give you the Joe Dillon All-Stars:
season |
AB |
PA |
H |
R |
RBI |
HR |
K |
BB |
|
Rhymes |
2012 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Matsui |
2012 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
0 |
Conrad |
2012 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Sutton |
2012 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Roberts |
2012 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Thompson |
2012 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Allen |
2012 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Canzler |
2011 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Guyer |
2011 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Chirinos |
2011 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Lopez |
2011 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Blalock |
2010 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Hawpe |
2010 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
Jennings |
2010 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Richard |
2009 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Dillon |
2009 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Zaun |
2009 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Gross |
2008 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
F. Perez |
2008 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
D. Johnson |
2008 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
M. Hernandez |
2008 |
5 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Brignac |
2008 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Jaso |
2008 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Cannizaro |
2008 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Casanova |
2007 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Velandia |
2007 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Mohr |
2007 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Guzman |
2007 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Ruggiano |
2007 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
T. Perez |
2006 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Navarro |
2006 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
D. Young |
2006 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Riggans |
2006 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
K. Witt |
2006 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Zobrist |
2006 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
And now the composite #NewGuy
AB |
PA |
H |
R |
RBI |
2b |
3b |
HR |
K |
BB |
HBP |
SB |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
|
Overall |
85 |
98 |
21 |
16 |
14 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
27 |
10 |
3 |
2 |
.247 |
.347 |
.471 |
2006-2009 |
52 |
59 |
12 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
15 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
.231 |
.322 |
.385 |
2010-2012 |
33 |
39 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
12 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
.273 |
.385 |
.606 |
We can see that overall, the numbers are very solid. Though the 28% strikeout rate is a little high, an .818 OPS helps it go down a little smoother. And it has carried through under both hitting coaches. Even under Steve Henderson, #NewGuy posted a .707 OPS, not terrible when you consider the high percentage of replacement players, especially in the two Devil Ray years. But what really jumps out is the Derek Shelton years: an absurd .991 OPS for guys he hasn't even gotten a chance to work with yet! Clearly, this is the reason the RFO has kept this man around.
Of course, the real question is, how does this stack up against the Joe Dillon All-Stars of other teams. And to that, I say...That would be waaaaaay too much work.