I sometimes read posts on SFGiants.com, even though they are often pretty silly. The mailbag posts, in particular, are good for a robust chuckle.
Even still, I could hardly believe my eyes when I read this:
Organizational Players of the Year
MLB.com’s Preseason Picks
Charlie Culberson, 2B: After a huge 2010, Culberson showed it wasn’t a fluke, hitting for average and some power while stealing some bases. He did hit 10 homers and steal 14 bases, though he finished with a .259 average, striking out 129 times against just 22 walks.
I think this is some of the most clumsy sugrarcoating I’ve ever come across, to the point that it’s hilarious.
Proving his “huge” 2010 was no fluke, Culberson had the tenth best (out of a qualified field of 11) wOBA of Eastern League second baseman in 2011. That 129/22 strikeout-to-walk ratio is nothing to worry about. Oh, and his “huge 2010″ yielded the fifth best wOBA out of seven second baseman in the A-Advanced California League.
It’s probably a bad time to mention he’s not very good defensively, though I do believe he’s made massive improvements. Then again, I suppose committing 75 errors across two seasons in the Sally League (2008-’09) didn’t exactly set a high bar.
I think what Jonathan Mayo meant to say was… “Culberson hit some home runs for some power and some hits for a batting average and… Well crap, we really swung and missed on this preseason pick for organizational player of the year.” And he was also probably thinking that he’d already written 15 of these obituaries with another 15 to go.
I guess we really should take those Arizona Fall League stats with a sack of salt. We also shouldn’t hold this against Mayo, but we can still laugh at it.
