Steven Kwan Appreciation Thread

[Criznit]

Kwan is shifted against in 5% of his pitches seen. Almost all of those happened back in May. He has better numbers against non-shift defenses.

Rule change won't effect him.

I think he was implying that with the shift ban, there will likely be some other players who should see an uptick in their offensive numbers. How many of them there are and by how much is the question. Will this change suddenly create a dozen "new" offensive juggernauts and how does this affect player values/extensions???

I don't see this wrinkle (and sorry if I missed your point @Funkball2 ) effecting his overall value in anyway. I expect MORE of his 2nd half play going forward...

He's an All-Star next year... Or should be!

 

[Funkball2]

Kwan is shifted against in 5% of his pitches seen. Almost all of those happened back in May. He has better numbers against non-shift defenses.

Rule change won't effect him.

Thanks for the reply. And thanks Criz for your reply. But that’s my question. A rule change for next year is going to make almost every hitter better…except for Steven kwan because he already rocks. How should I feel about that?

 

[CATS44]

Everybody seems to be assuming that all batters will improve when the shift is eliminated, except those who already have proven they can use shifts to their advantage.

The reasoning holds some validity...and that is exactly why the banning of severe shifts is being implemented.

But the law of unintended consequences applies here, too. There are a lot of defensively limited infielders for which shifts covered up their inadequacies, and who now are gonna get exposed. There are also gonna be some defensively limited right fielders who won't have the benefit of a 2B lining up 25 feet into right field.

Imagine a Chicago infield of Moncado, Anderson, Abreu, and whomever...plus one of their DH types in right....having to play straight up without any help.

How all this will effect the comparative value of Kwan is hard to tell, but there are a lot of pre shift players who played themselves into Cooperstown by hitting them where they ain't.

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[DCTribefan]

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I was just looking at some stats. (from baseballsavant.com)
It's fascinating to see how Steve Kwan and Oscar Gonzalez are almost opposites of each other in some skills.
But both are damn good players.

Category Steve Kwan Oscar Gonzalez.
Max Exit Velocity 29% 91%
Hard Hit % 1% 52%
K% 100% 58%
Walk % 72% 2%
Wiff % 100% 37%
Chase Rate 94% 1%
OF Jump 92% 15%
Sprint Speed (surprise) 78% 90%

 

[Benway]

Kwan has a stationary target in his quest for Rookie of the Year.
Julio Rodriguez sits at 5.7 WAR.
Kwan has rocketed from 4.0 to 5.0 WAR in his absence.
And that's not including today's 3/5, 2r, 5RBI, HR, 2 SB.

It's within reach.

 

[KluberSociety]

I was just looking at some stats. (from baseballsavant.com)
It's fascinating to see how Steve Kwan and Oscar Gonzalez are almost opposites of each other in some skills.
But both are damn good players.

Category Steve Kwan Oscar Gonzalez.
Max Exit Velocity 29% 91%
Hard Hit % 1% 52%
K% 100% 58%
Walk % 72% 2%
Wiff % 100% 37%
Chase Rate 94% 1%
OF Jump 92% 15%
Sprint Speed (surprise) 78% 90%

Just goes to show, sprint speed isn't all that important when it comes to playing good defense.

 

[Benway]

I saw Kwan playing in AA Akron. He seemed like an OK ballplayer, a smart organization guy. Just efficient, y'know?
I am absolutely stunned by his transition to MLB; never saw it happening.

And he's a total iconoclast. There's nobody like him in the game today. In fact, I can't rightly think of anyone quite like him ever at all.

Maybe Nellie Fox?

 

[MadThinker88]

I saw Kwan playing in AA Akron. He seemed like an OK ballplayer, a smart organization guy. Just efficient, y'know?
I am absolutely stunned by his transition to MLB; never saw it happening.

And he's a total iconoclast. There's nobody like him in the game today. In fact, I can't rightly think of anyone quite like him ever at all.

Maybe Nellie Fox?

Skipping Ichiro???

 

[Benway]

Skipping Ichiro???

Not a close comp. Suzuki didn't walk and had an arm like Dewey Evans.
Kwan is like the ultimate pest. When I watch him, I think Carew, though that ain't likely happening either!

 

[CDAV45]

It seems to me that the severe shifts are against LHH the majority of the time, but I could be wrong. If that indeed is the case then Cleveland's heavy LH lineup could benefit greatly. At the same time how many fantastic plays have we seen Andres make in shallow RF? All those will be going away. We should pretend that curbing the shift won't negatively affect Cleveland. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

After Seager's 112 mph line out to Andres in shallow right I was thinking that there is no way that should not be a hit.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Kwan has a stationary target in his quest for Rookie of the Year.
Julio Rodriguez sits at 5.7 WAR.
Kwan has rocketed from 4.0 to 5.0 WAR in his absence.
And that's not including today's 3/5, 2r, 5RBI, HR, 2 SB.

It's within reach.

Rodriguez: 5.7 bWAR and on the IL
Kwan: 5.3 bWAR and on fire

He should catch him, but it won’t matter with regards to ROTY.

Hopefully this board doesn’t get too pissed if/when he finishes 3rd.

 

[CATS44]

As a TYPE, Carew and Wade Boggs are decent comparisons...esp Carew as he got older and cut his K rate.

And while concerns about how Kwan will do without shifts are legit, both Carew and Boggs never had the opportunity to beat shifts.

A shift basically cuts a field in half...leaves large holes in some spots and no holes in others. Playing straight up leaves smaller holes in all directions. A batter with elite bat control has just as many opportunities against both types of defensive alignments. Besides, Kwan doesn't face many shifts anyway.

Kwan spreads the ball around...30% pull...36% center...34% opposite.

 

[Urban]

Rodriguez: 5.7 bWAR and on the IL
Kwan: 5.3 bWAR and on fire

He should catch him, but it won’t matter with regards to ROTY.

Hopefully this board doesn’t get too pissed if/when he finishes 3rd.

Hopefully he can get a Gold Glove. I think that's attainable.