Maicer Izturis Comes Into His Own

Hey guys, thought you may find this piece I had over at THT interesting. I've always felt that Maicer was under-appreciated, and hopefully he gets more credit down the road.

over 2 years ago Pat Andriola 16 comments 0 recs |

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Still can't believe....

we got Juan and Izzy for Jose Guillen, what a steal. I know Stoneman has often got a bad rap for not dealing enough, but when he had to, he made it count. He fleeced Bowden on this one.

by Rycat512 on Aug 27, 2009 12:51 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for writing this. I wholly agree.

I went to war with Steve Bisheff of the LA Times over this one earlier this week. Bisheff thinks Izturis is a benchplayer who has been given too many ABs over Kendrick this season.

He moderates his blog’s comments, and refused to print a point by point comparison of the two players, which effectively toasted his argument. Never trust a man with a combover who throws darts in public.

by Turks Teeth on Aug 27, 2009 2:19 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks.

Kendrick’s biggest problem is his lack of patience at the plate, which basically means his performance is driven by his BABIP. Sure, he has the potential for some fantastic stuff, but because his value is so average-driven, when he struggles (like he did at the beginning of the year), he really struggled. Maicer, thanks to his patience and quality defense, is at the least consistent.

And that’s unfortunate that a journalist wouldn’t allow for dissenting views to be expressed on his blog.

by Pat Andriola on Aug 27, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Izturis is a utility player who is having a career year

He’s a poor man’s Chone Figgins, when Figgy was playing all over the place for Angels.

Still, it doesn’t mean Izturis hasn’t deserved the playing time he has received.

If Kendrick had been playing better at the beginning of the year, it wouldn’t be an issue.

Or is Kendry perhaps the one who needs to sit?

by BBFan1 on Aug 27, 2009 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions

That is true.

As is also true that this wouldn’t be an issue if Howie played better after coming back from injury last year. Or played better in the playoffs. Or didn’t go out injured this year. Or played better after coming back from injury this year. Or lived up to Adam Kennedy’s defense. Or Mike Scioscia’s expectations. And on and on and on…

But, instead, it is what it is. Maicer is staying healthy, kicking ass on both offense and defense, and looks totally comfortable and confident at-bat regardless the situation. Dude’s rocking.

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Aug 27, 2009 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions

and not too long after your post, he made the most amazing defensive play of 2009.

Diving for a ball up the middle AWAY FROM FIRST, pitches it with his glove to Aybar, who barehands the reception and chucks it to Kendry. Unreal. I’m still shaking my head in awe.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Aug 28, 2009 12:07 AM PDT up reply actions

I was at the game

easily the best play by an angel this year, with torii’s mother’s day catch coming in close second.

But i just checked espn.com’s webgems…
… it didn’t make the cut. not even top 5. it may be changed by tomorrow morning as far as TV goes, but it should have been an instant web gem. FUCK ESPN and John Kruk

Vlad's back!

by ryanb517 on Aug 28, 2009 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions

agreed

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.

by Moondoggy on Aug 28, 2009 5:05 AM PDT up reply actions

It was MLBN's

Quick Pitch Capitol One Premier Play of the Day

Angels baseball. We do what we must, because we can -- HaloDutch

by red floyd on Aug 28, 2009 7:56 AM PDT up reply actions

I ended up seeing that over and over again on the highlights.

Then I see in the game thread where Zu Long claims that Howie makes that play. Still shaking my head.

(Sorry Zu, maybe it is the delta between Kennedy and Kendrick that makes me view Howie in such an inferior defensive light, but unless Howie was moved over to his right before the pitch, he ain’t reaching that particular ball. And HK is bulkier than Izzy. He impacts the ground harder and his momentum prevents him from making that quick flick to Aybar. Pull out all the defensive stats you want. Until MLB installs digitizing tracking cameras on every field for every defender on every pitch, and can overlay player reaction, movementa nd range against ball flight, defensive numbers are just too full of holes to warrant the label of “facts”.)

We don't have a Bullpen. We have a Cowpen. Before we get to call it a Bullpen these guys gotta grow a pair.

by Stirrups on Aug 28, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Howie DOES NOT make that play.

Not even on 2k9.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Aug 28, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

He does

after I’ve jacked up all of the Angels’ defensive stats.

*Ade-Rock 34*

by TheTypingFiend on Aug 28, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions

So which part of his post was "true" again?

You essentially dismantled his post point by point.

by Turks Teeth on Aug 30, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Awful lot of weasel words in that post, BBFan.

Try some empirical analysis rather than just throwing around loose labels like “utility player” onto a player with a better career stat line than Orlando Cabrera. You didn’t cite a single number in your defense. This whole numbskull rationale for tearing down Maicer’s performance to date was the exact same, almost to the word, that many fans used on Figgins in 2006-2007.

I love handwavey speculative arguments like “if Kendrick had been playing better at the beginning of the year, it wouldn’t be an issue”. Yeah, if Joey Gathright, who hit like a muthafrigga in the minors, could hit breaking stuff and take more than 30 walks a year, he might be leading off for the Rays. Performance matters.

Check this: Maicer Izturis is an everyday Major League middle infielder whose only drawback has been injury.

The numbers support that in spades. It’s not just this season. Given the positional context, Izturis had really really solid seasons in 2006 and 2007. And there’ve been times in the last four seasons that Mike has willfully played Maicer over HK, simply because he was the better player at the time. If you want to tear him down, then you better start by tearing down Mike. But Mike’s right: the player who plays most consistently at the plate and on the field should get the ABs.

Howard Kendrick’s great, and may still have a high ceiling. But I don’t need to take down Maicer Izturis to be able to concede that. Why play the fanboy zero-sum game?

by Turks Teeth on Aug 30, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for taking me to task

My comment was more an flippant indictment of Kendrick’s inability to develop into an everyday second baseman and how Izturis has deserved all the playing time he has received, because Kendrick wasn’t able to take charge from Day 1.

What don’t I understand?

Izturis has earned Scioscia’s benefit of the doubt and is posting career highs in probably almost every individual offensive category because he is playing mostly at one position [due to the fact Izturis is primary an infielder and Figgins has had third base nailed down while Aybar has done the same at shortstop has been claimed] and on a regular basis and is healthy.

Or is Kendry perhaps the one who needs to sit?

by BBFan1 on Aug 31, 2009 1:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Love me some Izzy

Has probably become my fav Halo since GA departed. Dude is just a lil gamer. Doesn’t matter where you play him, he’s going to be solid, if not spectacular (but he can be). The play last night had me yelling at my TV. I’m a HK fan as well but Izzy has been more consistent with the bat this season, and he’s much better with the glove right now. Halos def. could of used Izzy’s bat in the postseason last year, and assuming the halos make it this season, i’m anxious to see the difference he’ll make in those RISP situations.

Meet me @ the budweiser patio

by BigBangRobbDawgg on Aug 28, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions