Let's get this party started!

Baez' OBP of .329 is a full 10 points above league average.

Quite a conundrum for educated idiots like Dan Bernstein. A bad sabre guy who leads the league in RBI and obviously has value outside of just numbers... and is a Cub.

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Perversely, that Baez leads the league in RBI further supports sabermetrics types argument that Baez isn't actually that good of a hitter; at least I think that's what they were saying in the first chapter of 'Baseball by the Numbers'.

He is pretty fucking good

Baez is tied for 4th in the NL in terms of fWAR
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx? ... =&players=

Not surprisingly, MLB.com has Arenado, Cain and Freeman as the favorites for the MVP. Baez isn't even mentioned. Cain is having a really good year, but he's not a league MVP candidate.

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still working that "cubs don't get enough love from the media" angle Hoffy?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

After a monster weekend, Baez is now 3rd in the NL in terms of fWAR, tied with Freeman, behind Arenado. I don't think Carpenter will win it since the Cardinals suck and he plays pourus defense at a non-premium position.

It's Baez vs Arenado right now, IMO.

Baez should be the front runner for MVP right now but he has no chance at winning the thing because the nerds have brain washed the masses into believing OBP is the most important stat.

Also, I disagree with Hoffy about Cain. I've watched my fair share of Brewers this year and he is definitley the heart and soul of that team and deserves to be in the discussion.

League MVP's don't get caught stealing at 3rd to make the final out of an inning in a two run game.

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Stop poaching thoughts from TheKapMan

Good ol' spin doctor Len!

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Kaplan vs Kasper... heating up!

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"This is Chicago, my friend. Anything can happen."

Baez is the probably the best baserunner in baseball. One anecdotal event doesn't change that. If you think otherwise, you are ignorant to the game of baseball.

Cmon. Be a fan but tap the brakes.

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Elections have consequences.

Fangraphs has a base running metric and he weighs in at number 8 in MLB. I'm guessing these metrics also penelize him when he gets "picked off" and just advances to the next base.

A week ago, he forced an error on an infield dribbler to the second baseman. Once on Second he broke for third as the defense was in the shift. He assumed he could beat the third baseman to the bag. Bad throw by the pitcher and he scores on the error. His box score read 0-1, CS, R.

Gimme your top 5 baserunners, mike

I don't watch enough teams for five but there are players like Davis, Hamilton and Trout.

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Elections have consequences.

Rajai Davis?

Yeah he is getting up there and not regular but is a good runner.

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Elections have consequences.

Bryant is a better baserunner. He isn't as quick or flashy, but he is likely the team's best baserunner.

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Um, Rajai Davis wouldn't even be a top 30 baserunner in the game if he qualified
https://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?p ... 08&positio

He's also been caught stealing 5 times, so has Baez but Baez has stolen 19 bases to his 16, so if you are going to call someone out as a ridiculous homer, at least have your facts straight. You even admit you don't watch baseball outside the Sox.

I do watch besides the Sox just not much and I do see the Pirates quite a bit. At any rate suggesting you tap the brakes on best in the league is not exactly an insult. Frank is right that many thing Bryant is even better on his own team.

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Elections have consequences.

He's good. Baez is good, Russell is good. The whole team is good overall.

Rajai Davis!

Love you Mike, dont ever change!

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

If you are going to come at me, come at me harder with something better than Rajai Davis.

Baez has become my favorite player to watch. The guy makes taking an extra or tagging out a base stealer exciting......

He is good for baseball.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

Are you talking baserunning or stolen bases? Baez has had more steals this year, but Davis averaged 40 for much of his career.

Stolen bases is see as one element in the overall evaluation of base-running. The key here is present day. Yes Davis may have been better in the past, but we are talking 2018.