SB Nation User Blog: dmitri

Stephen Drew or Yunel Escobar?

dmitri — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:44:53 -0000

Going into last year, Stephen Drew had all of the hype; Yunel Escobar had very little. Then Drew hits less than .250 and Escobar hits .326.

Most commentators expect Drew to perform better and Escobar to perform worse. Drew is projected to hit .260 - .270, and Escobar .280 - .300.

Looking at batting average only, who would you rather have for the next 5 years - Drew or Escobar?

Poll

Who will hit for a higher average over the next five years?

Stephen Drew

113 votes

Yunel Escobar

98 votes

211 votes | Poll has closed

Really Not A Rookie - Grady Sizemore

dmitri — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:47:08 -0000

John posted a crystal ball for Grady Sizemore on this site in April 2006. Sizemore's actual performance in 2006 and 2007 was pretty close to what John had included in his crystal ball for those years.

For 2008 - 2010, John's crystal ball suggested a big step-up in performance - .304, 22 HR, 100 RBI in 2008; .334, 33HR, 119 RBI in 2009; .336, 35 HR, 117 RBI in 2010.

I understand that John posts the crystal balls to promote discussion and not as predictions of future performance, but Sizemore will not turn 26 until August and he is about to enter what should be his peak years. He also hit LH pitching better last year, although he did markedly worse against RH pitching.

How do you think Sizemore will do over the next few years?

Poll

How well will Grady Sizemore perform over the next few years?

Sizemore has a decent chance of approaching the stats shown in the crystal ball.

51 votes

Sizemore won't do as well as is shown in the crystal ball but .300, 30 HR, 90 RBI is likely.

62 votes

It will be more of the same for Sizemore (.280 - .295, 25 HR, 80 RBI).

44 votes

157 votes | Poll has closed

Jose Tabata's Wrist

dmitri — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:07:00 -0000

Has anyone heard any updates concerning Tabata's wrist? If his wrist problems turn out to be chronic he obviously will lose a lot of value. If not, I believe he will be a Yankee prospect who lives up to the hype.

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Matt Wieters verus Jason Varitek

dmitri — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:23:23 -0000

I see Matt Wieters compared a lot to Jason Varitek, which is not surprising since they both are switch-hitting catchers from Georgia Tech.

Varitek has had a decent career but has never hit .300 and never hit more than 25 HR is a season.

Do you think Wieters' major league career will be comparable to Varitek's, or will Wieters be a better hitter?

Poll

Will Matt Wieters Be Better Than Varitek?

Yes - Wieters will have a number of sesaons hitting .300+ with 30+ HR

90 votes

No - Wieters' carrer will be comparable to Varitek's.

63 votes

153 votes | Poll has closed

Conor Jackson

dmitri — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:30:03 -0000

Despite playing in a very good home ballpark for hitters, all of the young D'Backs have struggled -particularly Jackson, Quentin, and Drew. I expected Jackson to build on last season and hit .300 or better this year.

Do you think Jackson is just experiencing normal growing pains and will eventually turn it around, or was he overrated after playing in favorable hitters' parks in the minor leagues?

Poll

Coor Jackson - What Kind of Hitter Will He Become?

Jackson will hit .300+ during his prime.

39 votes

Jackson will hit .285- .300 during his prime.

34 votes

Jackson will hit .270 -.285 during his prime.

16 votes

89 votes | Poll has closed

What's Going on wuth Rickie Weeks?

dmitri — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 15:38:57 -0000

Weeks was toward the top of almost everyone's prospects list a few years ago and the #2 pick after Delmon Young in the draft. Last year he looked like he was developing pretty well (particularly given that he playing with a bad thumb) but this year he's really struggling and has had wrist problems.

John did a Crystal Ball for Weeks a couple of years ago that included a .294 career batting average and many years well above .300, with good power.

What's your projection for Weeks now based on his performance the last year and a half? Will he eventually develop into the player many expected a few years ago?

Poll

Rickie Weeks' Career

Weeks will be a superstar, hitting for high average with power.

12 votes

Weeks will be a star but not a superstar.

40 votes

Weeks will be a solid regular but not a star.

46 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed

Andy LaRoche

dmitri — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:51:23 -0000

Does anyone know what's going on with Andy LaRoche? Is he still bothered by the shoulder problem? He continues to show very good plate discipline, but his other numbers aren't what I was expecting from him given the year he had last year. Thanks.

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Carlos Quentin

dmitri — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 22:56:28 -0000

Does anyone have any predictions on how Quentin will do the rest of the year? I know he has been playing with a partially torn labrum, but I don't know if it's affecting his hitting.

Also, I know he's only had 145 AB, but his home/road split is very interesting: 22 for 75 (.293 BA) with 8 doubles and 4 HR at home; 10 for 70 (.143) with 3 doubles and 0 HR on the road.

Prospect Advice - Milledge versus Carlos Gonzalez

dmitri — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:14:36 -0000

I'm trying to decide between Milledge and Carlos Gonzalez. I keep hearing about how great are Gonzalez's tools, but his numbers aren't that great. Milledge's numbers are better and he's not much older than Gonzalez, but he's been knocked for his attitude.

Who do you think will have the better major league career? Are either of these players going to hit for average in the majors?

Thanks.

Ellsbury

dmitri — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:25:28 -0000

One prospect who doesn't seem to get a lot of publicity is Jacoby Ellsbury. Whenever he is discussed, it seems like the comparison is always to Johny Damon.

Ellsbury has a good BB/K ratio, and has hit for average in the minors. And unless he's traded, he will play in a good hitter's park in the majors.

Do you think he will be a consistent .300 hitter in the majors?

Do you think Cedric Hunter has more upside (although Hunter is riskier, since he is much further from the majors)?