Dunn vs Howard

[Jeffy25]

I have never really understood why Howard is given so much more love over Adam Dunn.They seem to be similiar types of ball players, power left handers who strike out and hit the ball....hard! Granted, Howard has better hitters around him....but that is what I see as the essential difference. Dunn is 5 for 5 on 40 homer seasons in the last five seasons....I just want to know why in fantasy drafts etc Ryan Howard is a top ten pick, and Dunn is around a top 100.

We can breakdown things like defense, etc...but I overall see them as the same type of player.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dunnad01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/howarry01.shtml

I just want someone to make it very clear why Howard is so much more loved then Adam Dunn.

[200tang]

Well for fantasy purposes alone Howard would be the better choice because of his teammates like you said. Howard should have more RBI's, Runs and HR's than Dunn.

[HoustonGM]

Ryan Howard had a season that Dunn can't come close to (2006). That's part of the reason. Another reason is that Howard is more friendly to the media and is more charismatic. Another is because Howard racks up HR and RBI, which Dunn doesn't do, and yes, that's a function of his team for RBI, but the mainstream media doesn't care to make that distinction.

Going forward, I think Howard and Dunn will produce very similar numbers. In 2008, they did. Dunn was better....yet Howard placed 2nd in the MVP race. Prior to 2008, Howard has been better. Plus, he's had a higher batting average, while Dunn's been consistently low there.

It's all a matter of the ancient analysis that the mainstream media is still stuck in. Also, for fantasy, Howard IS the more valuable player, because he does rack up those HR and RBI. Fantasy is very "distant" from real baseball player evaluation.

[etothep]

If you mean solely fantasy-wise, it's b/c you'll get about 15-25 more runs, 35-40 more rbis, 5 or so more HRs, not to mention that his move from cincy to washington will only hurt his value & there is usually an abundance of OFs available (including a few good waiver pickups each year in the OF), hence why I rarely go with an OF in the first or second round

[Jeffy25]

It's all a matter of the ancient analysis that the mainstream media is still stuck in. Also, for fantasy, Howard IS the more valuable player, because he does rack up those HR and RBI. Fantasy is very "distant" from real baseball player evaluation.

I agree, in fact, I tried a fantasy thing once and it totally turned me off and I haven't done it since. That said, I would almost rather have Dunn over Howard, especially because that opens first base up for someone else. But having Dunn's .250 average is never fun, and Howard is a career hitter better, but I see them as very similar.

[HoustonGM]

Howard and Dunn actually score a similar amount of runs. Howard's been 104-94-105. Prior to last year when he scored just 79, Dunn was a consistent 100 run man - 105-107-99-101. It's really ALL in the 5-10 extra home runs and 35-40 RBI.

[Jeffy25]

well i think 15-25 homers is an exageration. Hell in the last two seasons, Howard has only hit 7 and 8 more in each season. I just think Dunn doesn't get enough love, I do love Howard personally though. In fact one of my best buddies played high school baseball with him, same team. Says Howard is the exact same size and could hit a ball just as hard then as now. He is from stl, which you gotta give him love for that too he and Yogi both.

[200tang]

But having Dunn's .250 average is never fun, and Howard is a career hitter better, but I see them as very similar.

Howard probably won't hit much above .260 ever again with the now famous shift teams use.

[etothep]

well i think 15-25 homers is an exageration.

runs =/= home runs

[Wassit3]

well i think 15-25 homers is an exageration. Hell in the last two seasons, Howard has only hit 7 and 8 more in each season. I just think Dunn doesn't get enough love, I do love Howard personally though. In fact one of my best buddies played high school baseball with him, same team. Says Howard is the exact same size and could hit a ball just as hard then as now. He is from stl, which you gotta give him love for that too he and Yogi both.

who said 15-25 more homers???

[Jeffy25]

Howard and Dunn actually score a similar amount of runs. Howard's been 104-94-105. Prior to last year when he scored just 79, Dunn was a consistent 100 run man - 105-107-99-101. It's really ALL in the 5-10 extra home runs and 35-40 RBI.

And Howard is getting better pitchers to hit, with guys like Rollins, Utley around him, how could he not? Dunn has never really had much protection, other then a hurt Griffey. and he won't get much more in Washington. I think Dunn could put up similiar numbers if traded for Howard and placed in the Phi lineup.

[etothep]

And Howard is getting better pitchers to hit, with guys like Rollins, Utley around him, how could he not? Dunn has never really had much protection, other then a hurt Griffey. and he won't get much more in Washington. I think Dunn could put up similiar numbers if traded for Howard and placed in the Phi lineup.

paging pavelb

[Jeffy25]

who said 15-25 more homers???

ethotep

[Wassit3]

And Howard is getting better pitchers to hit, with guys like Rollins, Utley around him, how could he not? Dunn has never really had much protection, other then a hurt Griffey. and he won't get much more in Washington. I think Dunn could put up similiar numbers if traded for Howard and placed in the Phi lineup.

protection

[etothep]

ethotep

see:

runs =/= home runs