4 posts were merged into an existing topic: The Unholy Atrocity That Is “Banana Ball”
Salvador Perez hit career home run #318 today in a win over the Tigers. He now holds the Royals franchise record, one more than George Brett.
Perez is 36 years old. He may retire after this season, or he may opt to play another couple of years. Personally, I hope he retires, as his numbers have continued to decline.
Question for the Dopers: is Perez worthy of the HOF? Overall, his numbers aren’t great: 35.1 WAR, .261 BA, 318 HRs, 1791 hits, 1059 RBIs, 287 BB, 1388 Strikeouts.
He has been an all-star 9 times, won 5 Gold Gloves, 5 Silver Sluggers, 2015 WS MVP.
I’ve watched him throughout his entire career. For a good long while, he was the best defensive catcher in the game.
As a Royals fan, I certainly want him to be in the HOF, but I’m not quite sure that he should be there.
I think it’s really hard for a guy to make it into the Hall primarily for defense, even at a defensively-important position (i.e., catcher, middle infielder), unless he’s seen as being an all-time great in the field – not that Perez hasn’t been a good hitter (he’s been pretty consistent in hitting about .260 with 20-25 homers throughout his career), but it feels like he hasn’t generally been a great hitter. The only time he finished in the top 10 in MVP voting was 2021, when he had a career year in HRs and RBIs.
WAR doesn’t necessarily capture defensive play well, but he’s only had a 4+ bWAR twice.
So, probably Hall of Very Good.
I am entirely unable to give an honest and objective opinion on Salvy in the Hall. He’s one of my favorite players of all time, and I’d punch someone’s grandmother if it provided me the opportunity to give that man a hug. He is an all time great personality, and not enough people have him on their list of favorite players of the last 15 years.
As the years have gone by, I’ve learned more and more that I know less and less about WAR, especially as it relates to comparing different positions players - especially catchers. I also know Salvy is one of the worst framers in the catching world, and his fielding numbers have suffered as a result. In his prime, he kept more players from stealing 2B than I’ve ever seen.
If it wasn’t for his insatiable appetite for low and away breaking balls, he’d have an offensive record that Cooperstown would welcome with open arms. I do think he’s the type of player that veterans love, and eventually a Veteran’s Committee is going to vote him in. I’ll be in the field at Cooperstown to cheer and cry when he gives his speech.
Totally agree with everything you’ve said here. Watching him over the past 15 years has been a joy, because he absolutely loves to play the game. That’s probably something that only KC fans know and love about him.
Also agree with you re WAR, especially catchers. Salvy’s snap throw to first has caught many an unwary runner loafing back to the bag. Not sure how that move is figured into the WAR metric, other than catching a runner stealing…even when the runner wasn’t trying to steal.
Well, that didn’t last long.
The Brewers tried McCullers as a reliever, and he was not good. He made his second relief appearance last night, coming in for the 8th inning, with an 8-2 lead against the Rockies. He walked four, plus giving up a hit, in 1 2/3 innings, and gave up three runs (unearned, thanks to an error); he turned a six-run lead into a save opportunity for Trevor Magill.
In two games, and 4 2/3 innings pitched, he posted a WHIP of 1.7. Milwaukee decided that they had seen enough, and have designated McCullers for assignment.
3 posts were split to a new topic: The Unholy Atrocity That Is “Banana Ball”
5 posts were merged into an existing topic: The Unholy Atrocity That Is “Banana Ball”
Don’t suppose there is a chance that bananaball could get its own thread? It has nothing to do with MLB.
The Miami Marlins, who were doing well earlier in the season, have now lost 12 in a row. The issue it seems, is that they just can’t hit. I tried to watch them on Saturday, but fell asleep a few innings in.
Yanks are very light on hitting now as Bellinger just went down and still no word on when and if Judge will return.
Cubs DFA Jameson Taillon.
https://x.com/cubs/status/2081839935175172173?s=46&t=KEWgwenxgQmz-pLDK_DMFQ
As much as they need pitching, that was the right move.
Agreed. That was ugly yesterday and no room for optimism.
And Bellinger is out 4-6 weeks with his hamstring.
So the Ted Sox acquired IF Curtis Mead the other day. He left his Boston debut after being hit by a pitch.
Well…
Today Shane Bieber walked six men in the first inning. (Which he didn’t finish.)
Basically everything that could have gone wrong for the Blue Jays this year, has.
Three of them with the bases loaded.
After leading 8-3, the Nats’ bullpen did their best to give away the lead, but couldn’t quite manage it.
Vlad jr. slashed .397/.494/.795 with 8 homers in the 2025 postseason. He was a monster. This year he has 6 home runs and a .702 OPS in 103 games. Is he playing hurt or is something else going on?
Nobody knows. I suspect injury just because it’s the most common explanation.