I’ve been thinking a lot lately about player production/value and how it compares with fan perception of that player. To elaborate, I find it interesting when two players with similar outputs can be perceived so differently by fans and media types. I also don’t get out much and allow this sort of thing to occupy my headspace.

So, let’s try a little experiment in order to explore value and perception.

“Player A” through almost three full seasons: .290 BA/.347 OBP (35 HR, 12 3b, 87 2b, 10.8 WAR)

“Player B” through three full seasons:  .287 BA/.343 OBP (32HR, 19 3b, 72 2b, 9.7 WAR)

The stat lines above are certainly similar. If we want to split hairs, “Player A” is a slightly more valuable player based on this three-year sample size. Here’s the interesting part. Player B” is one of the most beloved Phillies in recent memory, whereas “Player A” is generally loathed by a surprisingly large number of fans.

“Player A” is, of course, Odubel Herrera. “Player B” is Shane Victorino.

Now, it’s important to state the obvious, which is that much of the love given to Victorino has to do with the fact that his teams won 86, 89 and 93 games, respectively, during his first three seasons—the last of which culminated in a World Series victory. Herrera’s first three years have been on a team that has trudged through a laborious rebuild as they’ve totaled 63, 71, and what will likely be 60-65 wins.

Herrera doesn’t have a portfolio filled with dramatic postseason moments, so certainly he’s not going to be viewed through the same lens as Victorino. Still, we’re not talking about fan indifference with Herrera– we’re talking about widespread contempt, at worst, and annoyed eye-rolls, at best. But why?

It’s certainly not because he’s overpaid. Herrera is in the midst of a five-year deal worth a team-friendly $30.5 million that pays him an average of just over $6 million per year– super valuable for a 25-year-old All-Star caliber center fielder.

And it can’t be because his production has tapered off. His OPS has increased in each of his first three seasons (.762 in ’15, .781 in ’16, and .799 in ’17).  Despite only appearing in 113 games so far this season, Herrera already has 51 total XBH, which is already nine more than he had all of last year in 159 games played.

Is it that he can’t overcome adversity? Well, no. He rebounded from a difficult first two months of the season by hitting .321 in June and .360 in both July and August. He’s slashing an absurd .383/.450/.692 since the All-Star break.

The truth is, the bizarre disdain held for Herrera by a surprisingly large portion of this fan base has nothing to do with him as a baseball player and everything to do with this city’s archaic and misinformed infatuation with imperceptible concepts like grit, hustle, and “playing the game the right way.”

I imagine for these people the thought process goes something like this:

Is he an extremely talented and ascending player under control with a cost-effective contract? Yes. But does he bring his lunch pail and yellow hard hat to work every day? No? Trade him!

No Philadelphia sports fan likes the tired clichés about the 700 Level and booing Santa Claus. For me, I’m equally tired of puffing our chests out for blue-collar grinders.

He flips his bat? He uses his superior athleticism to make difficult things seem easy? He makes an occasional overly aggressive mistake on the basepaths because he’s not focused with his team down six runs in the 7th inning as they look to avoid falling 33 games under .500? He doesn’t speak great English? That’s what makes him not a loser, or not a leader? Not Philly enough? Give me a break.

The humanity.

When people say you can’t win with players like Odubel Herrera, they simply don’t know what they’re talking about. Herrera is exactly the type of player you want– a rising talent, an extra base hit machine that has demonstrated an ability to consistently reach base, with a team-friendly contract. What’s not to like? It’s just that sometimes he’s a knucklehead. So was Victorino, who proved this theorem nearly a decade ago. He just happened to have the fortune to arrive with other young and talented players who all hit their prime at the exact same time. Let’s see what Herrera does if/when the Phillies surround him with a team that allows him play in the same context.