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Blue Jays' Ernie Clement is a battle between old-school and new-age baseball
TL;DR
Ernie Clement, the Toronto Blue Jays' second baseman, represents a clash between traditional and modern baseball philosophies. This debate sparked discussions among fans on social media regarding his skills and approach to the game.
Blue Jays' Ernie Clement is a battle between old-school and new-age baseball originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ernie Clement is your father's favorite baseball player.
The Toronto Blue Jays' second baseman is, in some ways, the battleground between old-school baseball and the new-age of the sport.
That feud was playing out on social media on Monday as Toronto fans debated the merits of Clement's skillset:
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It is a fascinating debate in both directions, to be sure.
On some levels, stats like OPS tell the story. It's shown to have a higher correlation to scoring runs than batting average.
So if given the choice, teams would generally take the guy with the higher OPS compared to the higher batting average.
Of course, for the first century of this sport, batting average was pretty much king.
Clement doesn't have the skillset to have an OPS over .800 (it's at .716 right now after a strong game on Sunday). But that doesn't make him worthless, either.
He hardly ever strikes out, which has subtle value -- just two punchouts in 61 at bats so far this season.
By putting the ball in play so much, with decent speed and relatively pure contact, Clement has a .311 average entering Monday's action.
And then he plays solid defense at multiple spots on the infield (he was a nominee for the utility Gold Glove in 2025).
It's tough for the analytically minded fans of the sport to appreciate quite as much.
Clement is the ballplayer who it was easier to recognize in his brilliance when there weren't numbers overloading our television sets.
When it was just a hitter, and a pitcher, and a ball, and an outcome, a hitter like Clement would've been a beloved figure. Frankly, he still is for many Toronto fans, even now.
It's the kind of skillset that it's refreshing to see in modern baseball, because there aren't a lot of guys left who play ball like Ernie.
What's that worth? Debate that all day long.
Clement is just going to keep swinging, keep making contact, keep getting hits and keep helping the Blue Jays win.
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Q&A
What are the main differences between old-school and new-age baseball as seen in Ernie Clement's play?
The main differences revolve around traditional techniques and strategies versus modern analytics and performance metrics that influence player evaluation and game tactics.
How are Toronto Blue Jays fans reacting to Ernie Clement's performance?
Toronto Blue Jays fans are actively debating on social media, expressing divided opinions on the merits of Clement's skillset and his fit within the team.
Who is Ernie Clement and why is he significant in the current baseball landscape?
Ernie Clement is a second baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays, significant for embodying the ongoing debate between conventional baseball values and contemporary approaches in the sport.
