356 replies to this topic

[mrdannyg]

Skeleton Jelly, on Monday, March 21st, 2011, 1:51 PM, said:

I don't know what this means.

What I meant was, that a person hitting only a few homers a year should strike out less. Since he is hitting leadoff, homers are even less valuable, so by cutting back, he should be able to strike out much less.Having thought about it for more than 10 seconds, I remembered reading that his strike outs are more due to passivity than a power approach, since he takes a crapton of pitches. Since a 'leadoff approach' would usually indicate taking more pitches, that is irrelevant. And while my point is not completely lost, since he could stand to swing for contact a little more often, he's already hitting so few homers, it is a poor point at best.In summary, my point sucked. I also don't particularly care if you knew what I meant or not.

[Skeleton Jelly]

mrdannyg, on Monday, March 21st, 2011, 11:06 AM, said:

In summary, my point sucked. I also don't particularly care if you knew what I meant or not.

Hand in hand, I'd say.But it got what I wanted, which is for you to explain yourself, so yay me.The one thing I would want most from my leadoff batter is a high on-base percentage followed not so closely by speed. I don't want any of my hitters swinging for contact at the expense of power unless swinging for contact carries with it an increase in OBP that at least offsets the loss of SLG. For what it's worth, Gardner's OBP was 40 points higher than Jeter's last year.

[Swift_Psycho]

Gardner has terrific plate discipline and bat control. His K-rate projects to be (perhaps) only slightly below league average, but his BB-rate easily makes up for that as it is well above league average. Rarely swings and misses (3.3% of the time in his career compared to about 8.5% league average rate) and doesn't chase bad pitches. He works counts well and is a pain in the neck to pitch to just for that reason. He's probably never going to repeat his 5+WAR season from last year (I just don't think he's actually that good so we should expect some regression), but he's still a damn fine player. And at this stage of their careers, I think Gardner is definitely better than Jeter as a leadoff choice. Though I wouldn't be putting Jeter 2nd either. Even with expected regression back to the mean that will probably have Jeter performing better than '10, there are better choices to bat 2nd. It's just a matter of ego for Jeter at this point, as well as management not wanting to upset him.

[mrdannyg]

As implied by the posts above, patience is one of Gardner's big skills. OBP of course being the most important aspect of leadoff hitting. In Gardner's case, his extreme pitch-taking numbers, and his low swing/miss rate suggests he may be overpassive. My initial thought was a 'leadoff mentality' might mean attacking some pitches earlier, where in the past he might have waited to really drive them. If he is over-passive, that should lead to higher OBP (and AVG) with the necessary sacrifice to homers.

[chrozzo]

4 days!Just bought my tickets!Opening Day Bitches!!!

[chrozzo]

was at the game yesterday in baltimore...fucking amazing hitting display! was supposed to thunderstorm but as it turned out it was 70 and completely sunny with a slight breeze...perfect!

[eYank]

chrozzo, on Sunday, April 24th, 2011, 8:42 PM, said:

was at the game yesterday in baltimore...fucking amazing hitting display! was supposed to thunderstorm but as it turned out it was 70 and completely sunny with a slight breeze...perfect!

Nice, the one game in NY I had tix for got rained out. Tix are so cheap on stubhub but the weather has been so crappy I'm afraid to get stuck in the rain.

[chrozzo]

mrdannyg, on Monday, March 21st, 2011, 12:34 PM, said:

since he really does strike out too much given how few homers he hits.

before his last AB tonight his last 3 hits were home runs...kinda exciting

eYank, on Tuesday, April 26th, 2011, 1:20 PM, said:

Nice, the one game in NY I had tix for got rained out. Tix are so cheap on stubhub but the weather has been so crappy I'm afraid to get stuck in the rain.

damn! sorry to hear that! was it the game against baltimore or the rangers?

[Skeleton Jelly]

Almost half of Jeter's hits this year have been infield singles (11 of 25).Stat courtesy of Joe Po.

[chrozzo]

Woooot!!!

[LongLiveYorke]

Skeleton Jelly, on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011, 4:00 PM, said:

Almost half of Jeter's hits this year have been infield singles (11 of 25).

His 3000th wasn't, tho.

[chrozzo]

LongLiveYorke, on Sunday, July 10th, 2011, 9:41 PM, said:

His 3000th wasn't, tho.

thought this needed to be reposted...well done llY

[Skeleton Jelly]

chrozzo, on Saturday, July 16th, 2011, 8:29 PM, said:

thought this needed to be reposted...well done llY

Really? Does one game absolve Jeter of a season's worth of .348 SLG?For what it's worth, I thought that was a pretty cool moment.

[FCP Bob]

Skeleton Jelly, on Monday, July 18th, 2011, 11:58 AM, said:

Really? Does one game absolve Jeter of a season's worth of .348 SLG?For what it's worth, I thought that was a pretty cool moment.

Derek Jeter Relieved He Can Go Back To Not Hitting Ball

[LongLiveYorke]

Skeleton Jelly, on Monday, July 18th, 2011, 11:58 AM, said:

Really?

Maybe you didn't notice that I used the word "tho" instead of "though." Having noticed that, don't you now think it was worth reposting?

[Skeleton Jelly]

LongLiveYorke, on Monday, July 18th, 2011, 11:27 AM, said:

Maybe you didn't notice that I used the word "tho" instead of "though." Having noticed that, don't you now think it was worth reposting?

I didn't care for your comma.

[timwakefield]

Interesting to find myself rooting for the Yankees to beat Tampa Bay. That's what this stupid season has come to! Seriously though, hope to meet you in the ALCS and go 7 games again. Or you could lose in the ALDS, that's okay too, just please beat the Rays a few more times this week.