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St. Louis Cardinals: Departed Players Are NOT Better

By Dr. Michael D. Miles

Mar 21, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (91) is congratulated after hitting a two run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (91) is congratulated after hitting a two run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Red Sox defeated the Cardinals 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Peter Bourjos (8) looks on during batting practice before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Peter Bourjos (8) looks on during batting practice before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Center Fielders

St. Louis Cardinals sent Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos to the middle outfield position in 2015.  Both of these players were sent on their way during the winter of 2015.  Bourjos was sent packing due to his failed experiment (as it was often called) and Jay was used as a trade piece to land Jedd Gyorko.  Are Jay and Bourjos having a better spring than the Cardinals’ 2016 center fielders?

Let’s start by examining Jon Jay’s spring numbers:

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS GDP HBP OppQual
2016 SD 31 16 56 52 7 17 3 1 2 6 0 0 1 11 .327 .375 .538 .913 1 3 8.1

These numbers, against AAA-equivalent players, are very respectable which indicates clearly the value of using Jay to gain Gyorko.  Before making drawing any conclusions as to whether Jay is better than the players on the 2016 roster, let’s turn our attention to Bourjos.

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB HBP OppQual
2016 PHI 29 15 47 43 8 14 3 1 2 5 1 1 3 12 .326 .383 .581 .964 25 1 8.3

Bourjos too is posting respectable numbers (if only against AAA-equivalent players) but are these two players better than the Cardinals players?  To the numbers of the 2016 center fielders, Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham.

First, Tommy Pham:

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB HBP OppQual
2016 STL 28 16 48 40 5 10 1 1 1 4 3 7 12 .250 .375 .400 .775 16 1 7.9

Pham, one year younger than Bourjos and three years younger than Jay, is posting lower numbers than the departed players.  That stated, Pham has recorded three stolen bases while only Boujos has recorded even one.  This is important as part of the Bourjos experiment was to provide speed to the Cardinals.  Pham is better, in this regard, to the departed players.

How about Grichuk?  Is he doing better than Jay and/or Bourjos?

Year Tm Age G PA AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP OppQual
2016 STL 24 14 42 39 6 13 5 2 5 3 13 .333 .381 .615 .996 24 0 8.3

As you can see here, Grichuk- seven years younger than Jay and five years younger than Bourjos- is out-performing the 2015 center fielders in all three fields of his slash line.

Taking these greater numbers into consideration and taking into consideration his younger age (and likely thereby longer trajectory with the team), Grichuk illustrates how the departed players are NOT better than what is on the squad this season.

Next: Tony Cruz

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