Barajas road stats 2004 - 2006 (not bad!)

TrueBlueJay · 11-25-2006, 12:47 PM

Before I checked I assumed his power numbers would have taken a big hit outside of Texas, but nope:

Last 3 years on the road:

542 AB, .247/.298/.446, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 97 K's, 33 BB, .744 OPS.

So if he could continue that career trend, and if he gets 450-500 AB for us, we could expect a .250 avg, with 20 HR and 70 RBI. Not bad at all.

The consensus is that he is a below average hitter as a catcher, but I think this proves otherwise. He's at least adequate.

His average is below average, but his power is above average, and his OPS (.744) seems decent for a catcher, probably about average for a starting catcher.

So looks like we're getting a catcher with average hitting and average defense. Not bad for the price we're paying.

Oh, and his numbers at Rogers centre? Very small sample size, but he is a .267 hitter with a .600 SLG and .916 OPS in 16 at bats.

Ultimate · 11-25-2006, 01:04 PM

Thats good to see. It seems that the reason for his improvement was due to increased playing time more so than the home ballpark.

TrueBlueJay · 11-25-2006, 02:07 PM

Yup. He struggled early in his career when he was a backup but his .744 road OPS as a starter gives me hope. Even if he doesnt get better, but continues to hit at that road pace next year over a full season, I'd be ecstatic.

MapleLeafBlueJayBoy · 11-25-2006, 02:14 PM

Those are some good stats, thanks for the posting them. I still stand by my earlier statement that Barajas is going to do very well at the dome.

We are going to miss Zaun's leadership and OBP precentage for sure, however, to run around saying that Barajas is a black hole in the lineup and an automatic out is crazy. His OPS is decent for a catcher, he has good pop and good defensive abilities. Yes his OBP is very low but we have a very good lineup in Johnson, Rios, Wells, Thomas, Glaus, Overbay, Hill that will all post OBP's over 350. Our lineup can handle Barajas.

TrueBlueJay · 11-25-2006, 02:25 PM

Yep, agree with everything you just said.

fmradioguy · 11-25-2006, 03:22 PM

He won't get 500 ab's because he'd have to face a lot of lefties to get there and he's even worse against lefties. You can't add up 3 years of ab's against select pitching and pretend that its a normal season.

Plus a .298 obp is still a .298 obp. The Jays don't need more sluggers. They need people to get on base to be driven in by those sluggers. Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of solo shots.

Since we're looking at select stats, how about this one for the last 3 years...

83 ab's, 6hr, .205 avg, .239 obp, .697 ops

Those are his numbers in domes.

TrueBlueJay · 11-25-2006, 03:47 PM

Talk about a downer post!

I'll take a 548 at bat sample size over your 83 ab sample size anyday.

And whats this "3 years of at bats against select pitching"?

That makes no sense. I went to his ESPN player page, viewed the splits from 2004-2006, and those are his road splits over that period. Hardly "select pitching."

And sure the .298 ops isnt pretty, but his .446 slg is pretty nice.

And you act as if the difference between a .298 ops and a .350 ops is a huge deal but in reality its just an extra time on base every TWENTY at bats, and if he's the only low OBP guy in the lineup, we can deal with it. If he plays better defense than Zaun, and hits 20 hr for us, then I'm fine with it.

And as for the rest of our lineup, we have plenty of guys with good OBP. Reed, Overbay, Hill, Glaus, Wells, Rios, Thomas all get on base at a rate of about .350 or better.

Ultimate · 11-25-2006, 04:30 PM

Yes I agree Trueblue, FM Radio guy can you please explain the "select pitching" comment.

His road stats are a good indicator as it takes the effect of his home ballpark out of the equation. You could even argue that he should do better than his road stats at the Dome, but I won't argue that.

His OBP aint pretty, but his SLG makes up for it and at the bottom of the order I'd take a high SLG than a high OBP because you could have a guy who gets on base but never gets driven in by the guys around him. Sometimes a solo shot from the bottom of the order is just what you need since the top of the order will be getting on base a lot.

fmradioguy · 11-25-2006, 10:54 PM

All I meant was that as a non-regular, he started or pinched hit largely based on the pitcher match-up. To accumulate 500 ab's in 1 full season, he would have to face many more unfavourable matchups.

Ultimate · 11-25-2006, 11:17 PM

The last 3 years which is what this sample is from he was a regular.

NObody is saying he will get 500 AB's in a season, but he should get 400-450 and post numbers similar to his road numbers.

Killtacular · 11-26-2006, 03:39 AM

A .298 OBP is 'not bad'?

Wow wa wee wa.

fmradioguy · 11-26-2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultimate

The last 3 years which is what this sample is from he was a regular.

2005 was the only year he exceeded 358 AB, 389 plate appearances or played in more than 108 games. That indicates a platoon player. Perhaps the main catcher, but a platoon catcher nonetheless. Last year he played in 97, compared to 78 for Laird. Like most catchers (guys like Ivan Rodriguez or Joe Mauer aside), he's a platooner and therefore his accumulative stats over the last three years would be slanted towards favourable pitching match ups. At the very least, you're better off averaging his actual production over the last 3 years and assume he'd be platooning.

Quote:

Nobody is saying he will get 500 AB's in a season,

It was this statement I was addressing...

Quote:

So if he could continue that career trend, and if he gets 450-500 AB for us, we could expect a .250 avg, with 20 HR and 70 RBI.

TrueBlueJay · 11-26-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killtacular

A .298 OBP is 'not bad'?

Wow wa wee wa.

who said its not bad? Its not good, but pretty much everyone else on the team should have OBA of nearly .350 or over so we can offset that. Besides, his power numbers make up for it.

fmradioguy · 11-26-2006, 10:33 AM

Its worth pointing out was well, his 2005 season dramatically increased his 3 yr road numbers.

In 2004, his numbers on the road were: .221avg.262obp.401slg.663ops
While in 2005, his numbers on the road were:
.250avg,.318obp,.520slg,.838ops

Ultimate · 11-26-2006, 11:17 AM

he's a platooner and therefore his accumulative stats over the last three years would be slanted towards favourable pitching back ups.

What exactly is a pitching back up????

THe last 3 years he has been the primary catcher yes he has split some time, perhaps platoooned but thats to be expected from a catcher. HE is most likely to be in the same situation here in TOronto, so with his road stats being decent as the primary catcher, there is no reason to expect anything dramatically less.

You are right however that its noteable to point out that his road stats were skewed in 2005. A little surprised you chose 2004 to argue your point though, wouldn't 2006 have been more appropriate? or did those numbers not have the same effect?

11-25-2006, 12:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
TrueBlueJay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 174	Barajas road stats 2004 - 2006 (not bad!) Before I checked I assumed his power numbers would have taken a big hit outside of Texas, but nope: Last 3 years on the road: 542 AB, .247/.298/.446, 26 HR, 86 RBI, 97 K's, 33 BB, .744 OPS. So if he could continue that career trend, and if he gets 450-500 AB for us, we could expect a .250 avg, with 20 HR and 70 RBI. Not bad at all. The consensus is that he is a below average hitter as a catcher, but I think this proves otherwise. He's at least adequate. His average is below average, but his power is above average, and his OPS (.744) seems decent for a catcher, probably about average for a starting catcher. So looks like we're getting a catcher with average hitting and average defense. Not bad for the price we're paying. Oh, and his numbers at Rogers centre? Very small sample size, but he is a .267 hitter with a .600 SLG and .916 OPS in 16 at bats.

11-25-2006, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ultimate Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 116	Thats good to see. It seems that the reason for his improvement was due to increased playing time more so than the home ballpark.

11-25-2006, 02:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
TrueBlueJay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 174	Yup. He struggled early in his career when he was a backup but his .744 road OPS as a starter gives me hope. Even if he doesnt get better, but continues to hit at that road pace next year over a full season, I'd be ecstatic.

11-25-2006, 02:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
MapleLeafBlueJayBoy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 26	Those are some good stats, thanks for the posting them. I still stand by my earlier statement that Barajas is going to do very well at the dome. We are going to miss Zaun's leadership and OBP precentage for sure, however, to run around saying that Barajas is a black hole in the lineup and an automatic out is crazy. His OPS is decent for a catcher, he has good pop and good defensive abilities. Yes his OBP is very low but we have a very good lineup in Johnson, Rios, Wells, Thomas, Glaus, Overbay, Hill that will all post OBP's over 350. Our lineup can handle Barajas.

11-25-2006, 02:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
TrueBlueJay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 174	Yep, agree with everything you just said.

11-25-2006, 03:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
fmradioguy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18	He won't get 500 ab's because he'd have to face a lot of lefties to get there and he's even worse against lefties. You can't add up 3 years of ab's against select pitching and pretend that its a normal season. Plus a .298 obp is still a .298 obp. The Jays don't need more sluggers. They need people to get on base to be driven in by those sluggers. Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of solo shots. Since we're looking at select stats, how about this one for the last 3 years... 83 ab's, 6hr, .205 avg, .239 obp, .697 ops Those are his numbers in domes.

11-25-2006, 03:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
TrueBlueJay Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 174	Talk about a downer post! I'll take a 548 at bat sample size over your 83 ab sample size anyday. And whats this "3 years of at bats against select pitching"? That makes no sense. I went to his ESPN player page, viewed the splits from 2004-2006, and those are his road splits over that period. Hardly "select pitching." And sure the .298 ops isnt pretty, but his .446 slg is pretty nice. And you act as if the difference between a .298 ops and a .350 ops is a huge deal but in reality its just an extra time on base every TWENTY at bats, and if he's the only low OBP guy in the lineup, we can deal with it. If he plays better defense than Zaun, and hits 20 hr for us, then I'm fine with it. And as for the rest of our lineup, we have plenty of guys with good OBP. Reed, Overbay, Hill, Glaus, Wells, Rios, Thomas all get on base at a rate of about .350 or better.

11-25-2006, 04:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ultimate Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 116	Yes I agree Trueblue, FM Radio guy can you please explain the "select pitching" comment. His road stats are a good indicator as it takes the effect of his home ballpark out of the equation. You could even argue that he should do better than his road stats at the Dome, but I won't argue that. His OBP aint pretty, but his SLG makes up for it and at the bottom of the order I'd take a high SLG than a high OBP because you could have a guy who gets on base but never gets driven in by the guys around him. Sometimes a solo shot from the bottom of the order is just what you need since the top of the order will be getting on base a lot.

11-25-2006, 10:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
fmradioguy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18	All I meant was that as a non-regular, he started or pinched hit largely based on the pitcher match-up. To accumulate 500 ab's in 1 full season, he would have to face many more unfavourable matchups.

11-25-2006, 11:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ultimate Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 116	The last 3 years which is what this sample is from he was a regular. NObody is saying he will get 500 AB's in a season, but he should get 400-450 and post numbers similar to his road numbers.

11-26-2006, 03:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
Killtacular New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5	A .298 OBP is 'not bad'? Wow wa wee wa.

11-26-2006, 10:33 AM	#14 (permalink)
fmradioguy Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18	Its worth pointing out was well, his 2005 season dramatically increased his 3 yr road numbers. In 2004, his numbers on the road were: .221avg.262obp.401slg.663ops While in 2005, his numbers on the road were: .250avg,.318obp,.520slg,.838ops

11-26-2006, 11:17 AM	#15 (permalink)
Ultimate Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 116	he's a platooner and therefore his accumulative stats over the last three years would be slanted towards favourable pitching back ups. What exactly is a pitching back up???? THe last 3 years he has been the primary catcher yes he has split some time, perhaps platoooned but thats to be expected from a catcher. HE is most likely to be in the same situation here in TOronto, so with his road stats being decent as the primary catcher, there is no reason to expect anything dramatically less. You are right however that its noteable to point out that his road stats were skewed in 2005. A little surprised you chose 2004 to argue your point though, wouldn't 2006 have been more appropriate? or did those numbers not have the same effect?