We now enter the “split decision” row…
Day #3 results
“Loved by fans, bad player,” and this was fascinating, because there were a lot of credible candidates mentioned. I think it goes to show that fans are not utterly beholden to pure metrics. There’s an emotional connection to players as well, and that can lead to an attachment which goes beyond numbers. It’s hard to say what causes that connection to take place. If we look at the players suggested here, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious connection. It’s likely a combination of factors which can play into it. Do they seem to be enjoying themselves? How do they come over in interviews? I think in most cases, it’s likely to be lower-paid players, rather than superstars.
That’s the case for most of the Sedona Red candidates. Starting at the bottom, we have Augie Ojeda (4 recs), then Ryan Roberts (5) – whom I still consciously have to stop myself from calling “Ryan Reynolds”! – and Tony Womack (6). The last-named goes against the low-paid narrative, having earned $6m in 2003, at a time when the average MLB salary was only $2.37m. The equivalent in 2024 would be $12.6m, more than any Arizona position player save Marte. But this ended up a two-way battle between Tuffy Gosewisch and Tim Locastro. I’ve a feeling the former would only achieve recognition on the SnakePit, where he has been a favorite since an AFL sighting in 2009, and seven years later got a tribute article.
But the winner, with nine recs to Tuffy’s seven, is Locastro. It wouldn’t be fair to call Tim a one-talent player, because he also stole 45 bases at a 90% clip. But Locastro will forever be known as a black hole, pulling baseballs onto his body with amazing power. His career trots to first base were more often from an HBP (43) than a walk (36). That’s unsurpassed in the live-ball era. [Though watch Leo Jimenez, who had a 16:12 ratio for Toronto last year!] And that was it. Locastro had just four home-runs in 179 games for Arizona, and was barely above replacement at 0.4 bWAR. He spent last year in the minors for San Diego and is currently a free agent. Would anyone object to a spring training invite? I doubt it!
Adding him in, here’s yer grid, with Timmy doing Timmy things!
Helpful links:
Day #4: Fans are divided, good player
This row will be interesting, because you need to think a little outside your own opinion. If you like someone, they still need to be someone with a significant counter-opinion, and the same goes the other way round. However, it could be someone about whom you, yourself, are conflicted. Perhaps you never used to like them, but subsequent events have made you warm to their time here in Arizona. As long as you feel that’s an opinion potentially shared by fandom at large, it’s another possibility.
In case you need a reminder, this is how it works.
- Go to the comments section.
- If your choice is already mentioned there, give it a “rec”.
- If your choice is NOT mentioned, leave their name as a new comment, and make your case for them.
- One nomination per comment
- Duplicate nominations will get deleted.
- Whoever gets the most recs wins the square. I’ll used my executive power to decide any ties.