Chances Albert Re-Signs in St. Louis

[200tang]

nah guys, it's more of a 'half dollar'.

[dickay]

about 90% IMO

[DarthJaker]

100 %

[tdk1984]

I think that since the Cards re-signed Holliday, it made getting Pujols to resign as close to a done deal as it's going to get, as he again has great protection in the lineup.

BTW, he's my favorite player, so I guess that makes the Cards as close to being a favorite team as I have at the moment.

[etothep]

I think that since the Cards re-signed Holliday, it made getting Pujols to resign as close to a done deal as it's going to get, as he again has great protection in the lineup.

Oh no, the dreaded 'P' word

[200tang]

lol - protection.

I wonder what Santa is gonna get me this year.

[nwuhockey]

50/50 shot

[Jeffy25]

lol - protection.

I wonder what Santa is gonna get me this year.

People love to argue about protection.

I am indifferent.

I think there is a level of existence, but I can easily see why people dismiss the notion...I see both sides.

[HoustonGM]

All "protection" is is that if you have a better hitter behind you, you'll walk less. There's no measurable impact on the actual offensive performance besides the impact on walks.

[Jeffy25]

don't think you will get a better pitch to hit? Don't think that it sits in a pitcher's mind that the hitter after this guy can hit or not?

I believe there is some level of more grooved balls, or rather more hittable pitches.

[HoustonGM]

don't think you will get a better pitch to hit? Don't think that it sits in a pitcher's mind that the hitter after this guy can hit or not?

I believe there is some level of more grooved balls, or rather more hittable pitches.

I don't know, maybe, but it doesn't show up in the data. As I said, no measurable impact.

[Jeffy25]

I don't know, maybe, but it doesn't show up in the data. As I said, no measurable impact.

of course, you can't possibly measure it.

I don't think you can whaff at it completely and say that there is no way it exists in some ways.

But I also think too many fans believe in it waaaaaaaay too much.

[HoustonGM]

of course, you can't possibly measure it.

I don't think you can whaff at it completely and say that there is no way it exists in some ways.

But I also think too many fans believe in it waaaaaaaay too much.

If the effect is so small that it can't be measured, is it worth taking into account when evaluating a player? (Note: This has nothing to do with "intangibles", which, yes, are worth taking into account when evaluating a player. This is something tangible that, if it exists, is so small that it can't be measured.)

[HoustonGM]

And, besides, this is Albert Pujols we're talking about. He's the best hitter in the game. I don't think Matt Holliday hitting behind him really matters much. Whether it's Matt Holliday or Yuniesky Betancourt behind him, Pujols is still going to be the best hitter in the game.

[200tang]

And, besides, this is Albert Pujols we're talking about. He's the best hitter in the game. I don't think Matt Holliday hitting behind him really matters much. Whether it's Matt Holliday or Yuniesky Betancourt behind him, Pujols is still going to be the best hitter in the game.

A good hitter is a good hitter regardless. Albert Pujols had 20 IBB in high leverage last year. Adrian Gonzalez had eight. Both put up better numbers in high leverage.

If there's any effect by protection, it's not even worth bringing up. Not to mention that IBBing a player is generally not the correct thing to do...