Grading "The Team"

[77smbg9177]

so i got really really really bored and decided to take time and do this thread...
Starting Rotation...Overall Grade=B

Zito...Grade=B+....Strengths: A phenomenal Curveball, Changeup, Durability, and Knowledge of the game...Weaknesses: His fastball is very hittable if it isn't located well
Cain...Grade=A-....Strenghts: 97+mph fastball, developing changeup, mentally tuff...Weaknesses:He is still very young and still has a lot to learn
Lowry...Grade=B-....Strenghts: Fantastic Changeup with a good curve....Weaknesses: We really don't know which Noah will show up this year. It could be the pitcher we saw in the second half of the 2005 season or it could be the pitcher who was very incosistent last year..However if he is healthy he can be the best pitcher on the staff...Also very hittable if he doesn't mix his pitches well
Morris:C....Strenghts: A Very good Curveball with great knowledge of the game...Weaknesses: Morris isn't a power pitcher so he has to locate well. As we saw last year he was very very hittable throughout the season. Part of the reason was due to injuries but if he doesn't perform well this year there is a chance he won't be with the team next year.
Sanchez:B-...Strenghts: Sneaky fastball, good changeup, deceptive delivery towards the plate (hides the ball well)...Weaknesses: Much like Matt Cain, Johnathan is still very young and has a lot to learn...He also may need to develop a couple more plus pitches to become an elite pitcher in this league



Offense: Grade: C+
Dave Roberts...Grade:B+...Strenghts: Very fast, great base stealer and uses the whole field...Weaknesses: Lacks power but as far as a leadoff hitter he is one of the best
Omar Vizquel...Grade:B+....Strenghts: Clutch, Good speed, like Roberts uses the whole field and he always seems to find a way to get on base...He'll also get his share of SB's this year...Weaknesses: lacks power and will chase bad balls on a rare occasion
Rich Aurillia....Grade: C+....Strenghts: Good power, good obp and can also play third and shortstop....Weakness: He is aging and lacks speed
Barry Bonds....Grade: B-....Strenghts: Still has really good power, a fantastic OBP and Slugging%, and good run producer...Weaknesses: Age, health and speed
Ray Durham...Grade: B...Strenghts: Strong bat/good power to all fields with plus speed....Weaknesses: Injury prone dispite taking no trips to the DL last year and also has a tendency to chase bad pitches
Pedro Feliz....Grade: C...Strenghts: Good fastball hitter with very good power...Weaknesses: Terrible patience at the plate, chases pitches 10 feet out of the strike zone and also doesn't have very good speed
Randy Winn....Grade:B...Strenghts: Good speed, good pop for a little man and uses the whole field...Weaknesses: Chases bad pitches at times and is a below average base runner..Caught stealing 8 out 18 attempts last year
Bengie Molina...Grade:C+....Strenghts: Good power for a catcher..good obp
Weaknesses: Let's just say i could run faster then Bengie...yes extremely slow

"Off the bench": Overall Grade: B

Klesko...Grade:B
Sweeney...Grade:B+
Fransden..Grade:B
Linden...Grade:B+
Lewis...Grade:B-
Ellison...Grade:C-
Niekro...Grade:C+
Alfonzo...Grade:B

Bullpen...Overall Grade: B-

Vinnie Chulk...Grade:B....Strenghts: Good fastball, sweeping curveball and good durablility...Weaknesses: Walks a lot of hitters, not a good K/BB ratio and has a tendency to work himself into jams
Kevin Correia...Grade:B+...Strenghts: 94mph fastball, very good K/BB ratio, good whip, good curveball, has the potential to be a 5th starter but if not he could be the best reliever in the pen this year
Brian Wilson...Grade:B+....Strenghts: 97mph fastball and has closing potential.....Strenghts: Injuries hampered his season last year along with some inconsistency and a tendency to put a lot of runners on base...still young
Brad Hennessey...Grade:B...Strenghts: Extremely Durable, rubber arm, good curveball along with above average command of the strikezone...Weaknesses: Lacks the power fastball and can get shaky at times
Fatmando Blownitez i mean Armando Benitez...Grade:C-?...Strenghts: Hard fastball with good changeup....Weaknesses: A headcase along with blowing a ton saves is not a recipe for success...He doesn't take good care of his body but when healthy he is OK
Steve Kline...Grade:C+.....Strenghts: Sneaky fastball, average curveball, good changeup....Weaknesses: Gives up a lot hits and walks along with a low strikeout total

Other Potential relievers:
Lincecum, Sadler, Taschner, Acosta, Valdez, Ortiz, Munter, Misch, Moss

Defense...Overall Grade: B
Roberts...Grade: B
Vizquel...Grade: A-
Aurilia....Grade: B
Bonds....Grade: C-
Durham...Grade: C
Feliz...Grade: B+
Winn...Grade: B
Molina...Grade: B

The giants were second in the National League in fielding % as a team for the first 4 months of last year....they got younger so you would guess they would be better on "D" this year...

However all this depends on the health and durablity of this aging team....If most or every one of these aspects falls into place they're a very dangerous team

[MuffinMcFluffin]

I know that I'm very biased, but it's interesting that you give Bonds a C-. He led the league in OBP again this year, regardless of his batting average. He is also very much a threat at the plate toward managers... therefore, his presence in the lineup in fact makes everybody else better. The main reason is because the pitcher's focus on that guy's name that's in the #3/#4 spot. I guarantee you that when most pitchers hear that they're starting against San Francisco that Bengie Molina is not the first name that pops into their head.

[/end rant]

[77smbg9177]

the main reason Bonds got a C- is because its not just about OBP and Hrs its about everything Speed, deffense, Offense not just one thing thats why Bonds got a C- he probaly could of been a C or a B- but in my own opion he is not because of his Deffense and his bad knees and lack of speed

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Originally Posted by 77smbg9177

the main reason Bonds got a C- is because its not just about OBP and Hrs its about everything Speed, deffense, Offense not just one thing thats why Bonds got a C- he probaly could of been a C or a B- but in my own opion he is not because of his Deffense and his bad knees and lack of speed

He was the National League MVP in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. His defense wasn't much more superior then, nor was he much quicker. Yes, he could decelerate a hell of a lot faster, but my main point is... he still has a good glove (didn't say range, I said glove) and arm accuracy, and he actually has a great first-to-home time if he tries for it. Furthermore, just like I said before... him being in the lineup is almost always a big offensive boost for everybody else already, even if he doesn't do well.

[bedir than average]

I understand that on the scouting scale their are five items, but to think that the two most important skills Scoring Runs (Slugging) and Preventing Outs (On-base) are equal to Speed or Defense is really diminishing the advantages that players like Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and other sluggers have displayed over the past couple of decades.

Probably why I changed stat categories for my fantasy league. Power first, onbase skills second and speed least for offense.