SB Nation User Blog: Tim Dierkes

Catcher Valuation

Tim Dierkes — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:31:29 -0000

The Pierzynski discussion got me curious about catcher valuation. I looked at the 12 free agent catchers who had 100+ PAs in 2008 and signed free agent deals (included Olivo because he chose not to void his option). Here's the list:

Jason Varitek

Miguel Olivo

Dave Ross

Gregg Zaun

Brad Ausmus

Jason LaRue

Henry Blanco

Paul Bako

Jamie Burke

Kevin Cash

Chad Moeller

Javier Valentin

Aside from Ausmus, all of them signed for less than the 2008 dollar value per FanGraphs. As a whole this group signed for 47% of their 2008 dollar value, and the trend figures to continue with Ivan Rodriguez and the other remaining guys (signed for $15.175 mil, worth $32.4 mil).

What is the explanation for this? Teams value wins at 47% of what they did in 2008? Teams are projecting huge downturns for these guys?

I don't have the stat chops to make a convincing enough case. But it just feels wrong that catchers are spotted so much value just for taking the field (positional + replacement makes up most of these guys' value). My completely anecdotal opinion is that FanGraphs significantly overvalues catchers for some reason. I figured this would be a good community to tell me why I'm wrong!

MLBTR Did Nothing Wrong

Tim Dierkes — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:34:53 -0000

I guess I can see why Jay is upset that speculation about the Indians and Garrett Atkins was misconstrued by some people. However, he is off base in suggesting that Buster Olney or MLB Trade Rumors (my site) did anything wrong, stupid, or mindless. Jay's post was extremely frustrating for me, because it implies that MLBTR was misleading about whether this was pure speculation or actual inside information. Jay's attempted calling out of MLBTR and Olney was just as sloppy as the radio host twisting things around.

Starting with Olney's blog post, he writes, "to be clear, this is pure speculation." There's no problem with anything Olney wrote, and the notion that the Indians may be interested in an available third baseman is perfectly reasonable.

The statement that no scrap is too slight to bear repeating on MLBTR is incorrect. I filter out tons of rumors daily, and if I link to someone's speculation I make it perfectly clear and only do so if I find the speculation reasonable.

Anyway, let's take a look at my post, which you oddly failed to link to:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/05/olney-speculati.html

It's actually kind of funny that you didn't link to my post, since you are complaining that WE are irresponsible yet we always provide links to source material. It's almost as if you didn't want Let's Go Tribe readers to see what I wrote.

Let's see here. The word "speculation" appears in my headline. Then the first sentence is about how Olney made a point about speculating. Then I directly quoted Olney's speculation. ONLY A COMPLETE IDIOT thinks this is inside info and not speculation. That's not my fault, and it's not Olney's fault. If a radio station read that post and twisted it around, that's on them. Your claim that there is nothing to distinguish speculation from inside info is ABSURD. Both Olney and I BLATANTLY distinguished between the two.

I asked my readers (especially Indians fans) what a reasonable package for Atkins would be. Believe it or not, fans of baseball enjoy debating things like this. My questions were clearly just questions for the commenters. I didn't say I heard something or that Olney heard something. It's not irresponsible to start a discussion about trade scenarios. It doesn't make the world dumber. Lighten up.

Sidenote: Jay is pretty quick to dismiss the idea that Laffey could be traded. Nick Cafardo wrote on March 16th that the Cardinals, Phillies, and Astros were eyeing Laffey and Cliff Lee.

Anyway, explain to me Jay: what did MLBTR or Olney write that was careless? Quote to me what we wrote that was careless.

UPDATE: Jay here. I have let Tim's post stand un-edited, even though parts of it are untrue or at least misleading. My official response is within the comments below. [Jay]

Did the Sox sign Lieber?

Tim Dierkes — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:57:17 -0000

UPDATE: Still have not heard anything on this, starting to think it is false. Sorry...

Hi everyone,

I got an unconfirmed email that WSCR is reporting that the Sox signed Lieber to a one-year deal. Did anyone hear this report in person? My gut says it's legit but I'm not sure yet. I am listening to the station currently but getting nothing.

Would be a decent signing, in my opinion. Thoughts/confirmation?