The Cleveland Sporty Page

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

And I know what his numbers were Cannon, and I wish he were doing those numbers this year. He's not. I mean I could go back and list Hank Aaron's stats in his prime but he ain't gonna hit like that today...he's closing in on 80. Grady's hitting .234 with a .301 OBP, that's flat bad no matter how you slice it. clyde was never a big fan, but I just want the 2004-2008 Grady you listed, he ain't here. His OBP is below the famous Kearns we make fun of and Jack Hannahan who is a tremendous defensive third baseman who eventually got benched for his poor offense. He's got only 17 walks in 231 at bats, that is the big problem, he's swinging at everything and trying to pull everything. He was a 100 walk guy, what's that 17 gonna multiply into?? not nothing close to 100. He has struck out 75 times in those 231 at bats. That would be on pace to way more than the 150 he used to pile up in full seasons, he's way above even his previous high pace.

I liked him a lot, but no matter if you like him or not, he's not the .270 AVG, .370 OBP, 30 HR, 35 SB, 100 walk, 150 K Grady nor anything even close to it this year. You listing his old stats simply pretty much proves our point is all it is doing. If he's not running at will, stealing bases, diving all over the outfield to make up for his poor routes and baby girl throwing arm, what good is he?? He's Ron Kittle this year.

I think you missed the point.
He is obviously not the same player and maybe he never will be. But the idea that he was morphing into a different type of player was not backed up by stats. The idea of Clydes that this was some leadoff, slap hitter who became enamored with HR's isn't backed up by facts. As the evidence shows he struck out less the year he hit more HR's. As you know as players get deeper into their 20's they generally hit for more power naturally. Clyde has a mentally deficient bias against anyone with any real talent because as a hard core Clevelander he desires losing.