What are the Most Valuable Intangibles?

Well, it kind of depends on position.

For example, no other position besides catcher can “handle the pitching staff”. I’d say Dustin has the biggest clubhouse presence, with his big mouth. Then some others just naturally fill the clubhouse with awesomeness when they walk in (John Smoltz.)

And the MVI goes to… (unfolds card) Jason Varitek, team captain!

Well, I'll appreciate for you to keep my zingers outta your mouth!

by BoSox415 on Jan 19, 2009 4:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

For me

an intangible that I look at from young pitchers or new guys brought in via FA or trade is can they handle the limelight(sorry everyone is thinking of Rush right now).

The ability to not give into the pressure and do your job. For me guys like Okie and Masterson are extremely valuable bc they showed the Sox that they can handle pitching in big games.

Many pitchers cannot do that, Kenny Rogers comes to mind immediately.

by SoxAcumen on Jan 19, 2009 4:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Red Sox are very fortunate to have many players like this.

Just off the top of my head: Paps, Smoltz, Pedroia, Youk, Bay, Lowell, etc. Heck, even Drew can be a good vocal-clubhouse-leader type guy. I want Tek to come back because I think he adds to this.

Also, I haven’t been a Sox fan for like thirty years like some of you. I wasn’t a Sox fan until I watched the ‘99 All Star game and decided (because at the time I was just getting into baseball) that I would start following them. So ever since I have been a fan, Varitek has been on the team. And if we let him go, that’s another 2004 player gone. I know it’s ridiculous but that’s a major reason why I’d hate to see Tek go.

The rhythm is the bass and the bass is the treble

by DirtySouthSox on Jan 19, 2009 5:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Top intangibles

1. A midget
2. Cool handshakes
3. Knowing the weakness of ever hitter on the opposing teams roster and knowing how to exploit that weakness
4. Dirty uniform
5.Videotape of you dancing around like a goofball during college
6. Showing up to spring training on time and in shape
7. Resembling Jesus
8. A cape
9. “Being”
10. Being good at baseball

Manny ain't the only bad man.

by tommy.otm on Jan 19, 2009 6:30 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Don't forget

Being white and undersized.

by Gnick on Jan 20, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

#7, #1

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 20, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry to be an asshole

But, really, intangibles are only excuses for some players who aren’t as good as we hope. See Derek Jeter, or even the late Jason Varitek. It hard to defend those guys these days, so the only thing a guy can say is “yeah? But what about the fist-pumping ‘come on let’s get those suckers’ or ‘not in our fucking house’ thing? Or even the game-managing badass attitude he brings to the table? Dude’s a winner”.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 19, 2009 7:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Jan 19, 2009 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

don't forget

the ability to blow bubbles with your chewing gum at every possible moment of the game…Jeters the best at that

Homer: Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.

by DougieWentDeep on Jan 20, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

AND SMILING!!!

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 20, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to be a definition Nazi on this.

How could a intangible be valuable? It’s not able to be seen, measured, etc.

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 19, 2009 8:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think, technically...

…that just means it can’t be quantified.

Value is a subjective assessment of desireability – although it may (and often does) take on an almost objective character, as a result of multiple subjects determining that the same thing will be valued. It doesn’t require tangibility.

Of course, the lack of quantifiability makes the value of an “intangible” notoriously subject to debate. It’s also my impression that some sabrmetricians tend to discount intangibles entirely, because they can’t be measured. That, I think, is a mistake. Certainly, a sabermetric conversation about intangibles is not very useful, but that doesn’t mean that they’re valueless.

I also think that being a “gamer” or a “good clubhouse guy” is a far different intangible than a catcher’s game-calling ability. The first two being intangibles, and the second being an unquantifiable…

Rock me, sexy Jesus...

by nuthinboutnuthin on Jan 19, 2009 9:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm by no means a sabermetrician.

I’m just a bit crazy about these things.
But if we’re talking about the most important thing you want out of a player, I’d go with moxie, leadership, presence, or what have you.

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 19, 2009 9:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take

OBP as the thing I’d want most out of a player. There is something to be said for the guy who just goes out and does his job every day.

-Zach Sanders
http://www.mlbnotebook.com

by mlbnotebook on Jan 20, 2009 8:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Intangibles.

And you just precluded pitchers from ballplayers. Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn is not happy:

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 20, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Quote from Tek:

“This team has had a tremendous amount of adversity, day in and day out,” … “You develop character that way”

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090119&content_id=3750113&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09

by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 19, 2009 9:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

There are negative intengibles as well, AND

evidently that is less recognized around here with all the I love Manny rhetoric of the past. Manny brought negative intangibles in his “I don’t have to hustle” attitude and his “I am privileged” attitude so that I don’t run down to first and maybe you should not either. I personally believe that Youk now flourishes more because of the removal of this Manny negative intangible.

I also personally believe negative intangibles are a lot more obvious and easy to prove than the extremely wishful but elusive Tek positive intangibles!

by NG on Jan 20, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

For the record...

I am not a Varitek guy and I agree that the more someone talks about the intangibles, the more they arecovering the stats. However, as a player I have witnessed first hand the difference strong character guys have. Good and bad characters both.

the difference between a yankee stadium hot dog and a Fenway frank is that they dont sell yankee dogs in October anymore.

by fishfarmr on Jan 20, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs