Kurt Suzuki's Offensive Resurgence

[LaBombo]

If we trade Suzie's new bat, I'll be very disappointed.

 

As if you're not already after a season like this.

 

Nobody would have dealt for Roy Hobbs without Wonder Boy, nobody's going to burn a high pick on Thor in their superhero fantasy draft without Mjolnir, and unless the Bunyan Bat comes with him nobody's going to come calling for Suzuki and the chance to benefit indirectly from his appearances in a new multi-million dollar Axe Body Spray promotion.

 

 

[jorgenswest]

No one seriously believes players ride a roller coaster of value. Do they? Suzuki's skill level hasn't changed in the last month. Teams know that slash stats need a full season of sample if you are looking for a skill change.

 

Suzuki might fit as a back up catcher on a few teams assuming they don't buy into framing and don't care about throwing out runners.

[Dozier's Glorious Hair]

.279 average?

 

Suzuki being the Twins' All-Star representative isn't looking too outlandish right now.

[jorgenswest]

When comparing stats at positions it is really hard to see how Dozier gets the All Star spot. He is the best the Twins have to offer but there are so many middle infielders more deserving. Mauer compares better at first than Dozier or Nunez do as middle infielders.

 

Looking at offensive numbers. At catcher, Perez is the only stand out. Wieters is next. After that Castro and Vogt are having slightly better seasons that Suzuki. It would probably be easier for the AL to justify Suzuki's spot on the team. Mix in defense which is hard to measure and Suzuki doesn't look as good.

 

There is no deserving Twin. It might be easiest for the league to stash Abad on the team.

[jimmer]

 

.279 average?

 

Suzuki being the Twins' All-Star representative isn't looking too outlandish right now.

Even with this, um, resurgence, there are at least 5 catchers doing better than him in the AL.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

When comparing stats at positions it is really hard to see how Dozier gets the All Star spot. He is the best the Twins have to offer but there are so many middle infielders more deserving. Mauer compares better at first than Dozier or Nunez do as middle infielders.

Looking at offensive numbers. At catcher, Perez is the only stand out. Wieters is next. After that Castro and Vogt are having slightly better seasons that Suzuki. It would probably be easier for the AL to justify Suzuki's spot on the team. Mix in defense which is hard to measure and Suzuki doesn't look as good.

There is no deserving Twin. It might be easiest for the league to stash Abad on the team.

By the time Nunez would enter the conversation, he wouldn't really be being compared to other players at specific positions.  He would be a "versatility" pick (to satisfy the one Twin requirement, of course), stashed at the bottom of the roster.  Not unlike what you suggest for Abad, although pitchers can't really be versatility picks, so even he would stand out more than Nunez.  Suzuki could not be a versatility pick either.

[Dozier's Glorious Hair]

 

Even with this, um, resurgence, there are at least 5 catchers doing better than him in the AL.

 

I have absolutely no doubt you think that, sir. I do, however, doubt Ned Yost thinks that. That said, Nunez still probably has the spot, even though he's cooled off considerably in June.

[jimmer]

 

I have absolutely no doubt you think that, sir. I do, however, doubt Ned Yost thinks that. That said, Nunez still probably has the spot, even though he's cooled off considerably in June.

It's not hard to look at the stats and see that there are at least 5 catchers doing better than him in the AL. Of course, I have no idea what Yost thinks.  Then again, none of us do, so I at least won't assume to know.

[Dozier's Glorious Hair]

 

It's not hard to look at the stats and see that there are at least 5 catchers doing better than him in the AL. Of course, I have no idea what Yost thinks.  Then again, none of us do, so I at least won't assume to know.

 

Yeah, we're definitely looking at the stats and coming to different conclusions. Among AL catchers with at least 150 at-bats, Suzuki is 4th in OPS. Vogt is 3rd, and Suzuki has more RBI and a higher BA. I honestly don't know who those "5 catchers" are, but we can simply agree to disagree on this one.

[jimmer]

 

Yeah, we're definitely looking at the stats and coming to different conclusions. Among AL catchers with at least 150 at-bats, Suzuki is 4th in OPS. Vogt is 3rd, and Suzuki has more RBI and a higher BA. I honestly don't know who those "5 catchers" are, but we can simply agree to disagree on this one.

Looking at catchers with 170 or more PAs,

 

 

6th in WAR

5th in wRC+

 

He can't throw batters out, he can't frame pitches. Defense counts.

 

But yeah, disagreeing is fine.  Enjoyed the mini debate we had.