Following up on Peter King thinking Kaz Matsui is right up there with Carlos Pena in terms of improved-ness:
Carlos Pena
2006 WARP3: 0.3
2007 WARP3: 11.8
Zero point three to eleven point freaking eight.
Kaz Matsui
2006 WARP3: 2.1
2007 WARP3: 5.3
Carlos Pena
2006 EqA: .271
2007 EqA: .353
Kaz Matsui
2006 EqA: .302
2007 EqA: .265
That's right. Kaz Matsui's EqA went down from 2006 to 2007 (although he played many more games this year, obviously). Now, King did say "the last couple of years," and Matsui was terrible/not playing much in 2005, but come on. Read it again:
There can't be a more improved player in baseball over the last couple of years -- other than maybe Carlos Pena -- than Kaz Matsui.Maybe Carlos Pena?
Maybe? Going from AAA fodder to MVP candidate in one year like Pena did is pretty unique stuff. A KazMat grand slam in the playoffs doesn't erase Pena's 46 regular season home runs.
Labels: peter king