World Series Disappointment

I don’t have any particular rooting interest between the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers, but have been disappointed in one aspect of the series: the unfelt presences of Vladimir (The Impaler, The Voodoo King) Guerrero and Pablo (Kung Fu Panda) Sandoval. Guerrero is sporting a .100/.167.100 BA/OBP/SLG line in this World Series and was embarrassed when forced to play Game 1 in right field. Sandoval has only appeared in Game 3 as the DH and failed to get on base. It was my hope that these two players, two of the most entertaining to watch, would have good World Series performances on the biggest baseball stage, but so far this has not come true.

Guerrero has been fun to watch throughout his entire career because he could do anything, including things that seemed impossible. Hit a ball that bounced first? Guerrero did it. Throw a runner out at home from the warning track? Check. Combine power and speed? Guerrero had two 30 HR/30 SB seasons and currently has 436 HR and 179 SB. In his prime Guerrero was dominant enough to lead the league in being intentionally walked five times, and has put up a career .320/.380/.563 line, good for a career .394 wOBA. Besides his hitting, his defense (mainly with his cannon of an arm) was also spectacular, which is why Baseball Reference has his most comparable player for age 23-27 seasons be Willie Mays. Obviously, Guerrero is no Mays, in large part due to his body breaking down after playing about half of his 1004 games for the Expos on their debilitating artificial turf, which has turned him from an outfielder into a full time DH. Hopefully the sight of him hobbling in the outfield in Game 1 does not overshadow his hitting ability in the minds of new fans just being introduced to him.

Sandoval was a sensation last year, when he hit .330/.387/.556, a .396 wOBA (practically Guerrero’s career line) with a body type possibly not seen since Babe Ruth. But to call him just fat is unfair, as he somehow has enough agility and flexibility to play third base (and hence the nickname of Kung Fu Panda, as opposed to something else, such as Fat Albert). However, Sandoval severely regressed this year and has been benched for most of the postseason. Hopefully this season has just been bad luck (his BABIP was 59 points lower this year than last year), although it is impossible to ignore the possibility that his lack of conditioning has gotten the better of him. Nevertheless, it would be great if he could work up some of his old magic and deliver a clutch hit for the Giants in the remaining game(s) of the World Series.

Baseball is a fun game, and no one showcases this better than Guerrero and Sandoval. It is a shame that they haven’t been able to do so on the biggest stage so far.