Red Sox Force Lincecum Out After 3 Innings

[clenz]

Baseball lore is where they are looking to be staying right now. Teams don't seem to be looking for that kind of player anymore. Defense, average, and speed seem to be the trending direction right now. A team will have a player, maybe two, that will hit about .240-.270 but with power and they will load the rest of the line up with speed, average, and defense.

You're going to see a lot MORE .240 power hitters (of course "power" will be redefined as 30+ HR and 100 RBI, like back in the good old days)....And before you bash Dunn, check out his OBP.

Yep... it's .368. That's good for 48th best in the majors. He also has the third lowest batting average of all of those in the top 50. He is also already at 85 strike outs, which is 5th most in the majors. Although, being a Dbacks fan you are probably ok with guys striking out a couple hundred times a season since you have two players with the most strike outs (Reynolds 107 .209 BA 52 hits...yep more than double the K's than H's...but 17 of those 52 H are HR so it's all good, Upton 97 .271 BA 71 hits, a little better ratio but still bad, also has 14 HR so he is passable).

[AZGrizFan]

You're going to see a lot MORE .240 power hitters (of course "power" will be redefined as 30+ HR and 100 RBI, like back in the good old days)....And before you bash Dunn, check out his OBP.

Yep... it's .368. That's good for 48th best in the majors. He also has the third lowest batting average of all of those in the top 50. He is also already at 85 strike outs, which is 5th most in the majors. Although, being a Dbacks fan you are probably ok with guys striking out a couple hundred times a season since you have two players with the most strike outs (Reynolds 107 .209 BA 52 hits...yep more than double the K's than H's...but 17 of those 52 H are HR so it's all good, Upton 97 .271 BA 71 hits, a little better ratio but still bad, also has 14 HR so he is passable).

His career OBP is .383...and that .368 would place him 3rd among Twins regulars. He'd also be leading the Twins in HR's and within 2 of the lead in RBI and trailing only Justin Morneau in slugging %. Something tells me he'll have a job as long as he wants one.

[clenz]

I thought I would bump the Mauer discussion for Z.

Mauer's average is up to .335 as he is finally adjusted to the new ball park. He hit his first homerun at Target Field last night, and has been crushing the ball to the left center gap the last month or two. The only problem is the ball doesn't carry at Target Field like it did the HomerDome.

Depending on what projections you look at (some take his current pace and carry that through the season, others go based on expected match ups and what not) he "should" finish with between 11-18 home runs, a BA between .320 and .356, between 90-110 RBI's, a slugging right around .500, and an OPS over .900.


I would think that outside of home runs there aren't many catchers than can touch those numbers. Correct me if I'm wrong

[clenz]

Actually I did the research, out of the "qualifying" catchers, the only stat anyone touches him in is home runs




Out of all catchers, the only one that is comparable with a respectable amount of AB's is Buster Posey

[UNHWildCats]

I would take Mauer over any other catcher.... without even looking at stats.