Wilson > Hillenbrand > Phillips Part 2...

Ok, guys, I posted about why we should go with Craig Wilson a few posts ago, but due to comments left on the big (and my opinion, more moronic) Yankee group on MySpace, I decided to revisit why I want Craig Wilson for the 1st base job...

In the Craig Wilson post of the past, I showed the hitting splits... but let's talk about two more things: worries and defense...

Worries? I'll address it from this link (almost a direct copy and paste):

Some random guy posted a reply to my major Wilson points like this:

George "the man" Corsi wrote:

we need a everyday firstbaseman, we dont need sum1 who can play everything, bc thats wat a backup infielder is for, to play when problems arise. Wilson bats the complete opposite of the Yankee idea, look for ur pitch, or take a walk. And he's too old to change that now, u either hav or dont hav an eye for the ball, which wilson doesn't

Aside from the silly grammar and spelling mistakes, he seriously made ridiculous points, so I responded as such with this:

***************

A few things...

1. Are you serious? Wilson is "too old" to change his approach of hitting?

Ok, let me give you examples of players who have tried to change their approach in their playing... and are older than 30 years old?

Remember Randy Johnson? Yea, when he was slumping last year, what did he do? He asked Guidry for help, he put his pride down, he let himself be taught and be given advice, and he changed his release point in order to garner better results...

Let's use another example: Mr. A-Rod himself... he was slumping and striking out (more than Wilson, actually), and guess what he does? He asks Mattingly for help! He put his pride down and he asked for help... he asked for help and he did his best to put his pride down and to change his approach...

To say that people are "too old" to change something that's not working is ridiculous... players are constantly trying to get better... to say that he's "too old" to change and take advice is not only ridiculous, it's inaccurate...

2. Do you really think that Wilson, after playing on a shit-hole of a team for a couple of years, wouldn't change things so he can play better for the Yankees? Think about what you're saying before you say it...

If you can show me that Craig Wilson is a stubborn ass who wouldn't take advice from Kevin Long or any of the other coaches next year, then I'd agree with you, but until then, source your words...

and 3. For all the Phillips lovers in here, can anyone in here prove to me that Phillips is a better defender than Wilson even though Wilson has had more experience at 1b? And even with that said...

Wilson played 588 innings at 1B last year with the Pirates and Yankees... he allowed 3 errors...

Phillips played 533 innings at 1B last year with the Yankees... he allowed 7 errors...

So more innings and less errors... if you wanna use basics, that's pretty basic for you on who's the better defender...

Shea: 597 innings, 3 errors as well... so if you wanna use those, Shea's as good of a defender as Wilson, and yet, Wilson kills lefties better than Shea, which is why the Yankees are pursuing a RH 1st baseman, right? To do what Giambi can't do: hit lefties and actually play 1B well...

Now, if you want me to get into Zone ratings, and show why (career-wise) Wilson has been a much better defender at 1st base than Shea, then, ask me and I will...

But seriously, if you wanna come with what you said, but give me some sources to show me that Wilson's a stubborn ass who won't take direction... because, apparently, all the Yankees aren't that stubborn... :-)

***************

You know what's worse than an "angry blogger", as Jay Marriotti once called us on an "Around the Horn" episode? Idiots on MySpace who don't use the education they supposedly get at school, and apply it in their writings...

*sighs* Thank God I never thought about being an English teacher...

Speaking of defense, I want to address the Zone Rating of both Shea and Wilson...

What is Zone Rating? Though a more detailed description is linked in here, a Zone Rating is the percentage rate of balls fielded by a player in his typical defensive "zone"... though it has been viewed as a "flawed" defensive statistic, it tracks a player's defensive value better than fielding percentage and errors can...

With that said, let's compare career Zone Ratings for Shea and Wilson, provided by ESPN.com...

Shea Hillenbrand: 2971.2 innings for a rating of .829 (27 errors)
Craig Wilson: 1823.2 innings for a rating of .842 (14 errors)

Due to Craig Wilson's flexibility of being able to play left field, right field and catcher, he hasn't played as many innings as Shea has... but the numbers show that Wilson has a better ability to catch more balls in his "zone" than Shea can...

Defensively, offensively, and logically, Craig Wilson is a better overall option to play 1st base than Shea Hillenbrand and Andy Phillips, no doubt about it...

Will the Yankees follow this philosophy?

We'll soon find out...

Happy reading!

B(rent)