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randyf10 said:
I forget that you guys are the experts on Raburn, but defensive stats show that you are wrong, he isn't that bad of an OF and he has a real good arm and is an upgrade over DY, sorry
I will try to answwer this as best as I can, and even then it might not be good enough.
Yes most all players catch with one hand in the outfield, it was just how Raburn, how do I explain, maybe, his lack of intensity to the situation, and just holding the glove hand out there 'loosely' made me think he played it non-chalantly, given the importance of it all. I think this is how he plays anyways, which is maybe a reason why he screws up, some what we call, easy plays in the outfield. Maybe, and going to fangraphs for their UZR rankings, he isn't as bad defensively as we are led to believe in the outfield, but he is in the infield.
There are just so many players who are not fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game. Am I, or are we, looking for more perfect and complete players? to a degree yes, although it is damn near impossible.
I just wish we had a few more players that were closer to being two way, that is offensive and defensive, more complete if you will.
Corner outfield defense is an issue overall. Each player that has played in left and right has some deficiency out there.
It is all about having 3 out innings, not 4 out innings due to not making a play that should be made.
and yes, I agree that we are harder on this guy than maybe we should be, but it is his bi-polar splits that cause it, with his first half and into the second half before he starts hitting.
I don't know if any will agree with this, it is just from watching our own great rightfielder Kaline from 'very early' in his career that I scrutinize outfield defense, maybe just a bit more than I should. Al always said he would have hitting slumps, but you can't or shouldn't have fielding slumps or make bad plays out there if you practice as game situations, something to that effect.
