Arguably best player in baseball, Mike Trout didn't have 35 HR (granted his was in the minors in April). Amongs the guys that hit 35+ bombs: Adam Dunn (.204 avg) Edward Encarnacion Josh Willingham Curtis Granderson Do you think those guys are really top 9 hitters? What about guys that didn't accomplish that? Albert Pujols Troy Tulowitzki Prince Fielder Andrew McCutchen Robinson Cano David Wright Joe Mauer Carlos Gonzalez Of the top 10 WAR by offensive players, only 3 hit 35 HR. Of the top 27, only 4 hit 35 HR. Lance Berkman only hit 35HR twice in his career. 25-30 HR consistently is a true star when accompanied by a good average and walk rate. Everyone wants the next Pujols, but that isn't happening.
Ok cool, then hopefully he hits .280 with 25 hr and 90 rbi and Crane spends big bucks on a true star . . don't think he is gonna do that, but hopefully he will
Only 15 players in all of baseball accomplished that last season. Throw in a good walk rate, and I'll take that player all day, though I expect more RBIs, since the guys leading off will hopefully be on base.
Looking at Singleton's swing, it's more of a line drive swing that will produce 40+ doubles. He's got great power, but I think he's more of a 25-30hr guy with 40+ doubles and will draw 80+ walks. I think Joey Votto would be a pretty good comparison stat wise, as he's a great hitter, but certainly not a masher like Prince Fielder or Ryan Howard. I think he'll be a very good all around hitter, but not a 40hr type guy.
It sounds like you showing him how his #'s fit into the realm of today aren't working. Everyone needs to get their minds out of the roided up stat days...it'll take a while for the current to seem "great"
C: Castro 1B: Singleton 2B: Altuve 3B: Dominguez SS: Correa LF: J.D. CF: Springer RF: Santana DH: DeShields Now it should look more like this: 1. Appel 2. Folty 3. McCullers 4. Cosart 5. Thurman Bench: Tucker Bench: Stassi Bench: Jose Martinez Bench: Aplin BP: Musgrove BP: Stoffel BP: Chapman BP: Quevedo BP: Long BP: Clemens CL: Velasquez And then you still have free agency to fill holes. This team could be competitive sooner than 2017.
I think Lyles needs to be in the conversation more. He has really turned it around outside of one start against TEX this year.
I agree, and most people don't realize how young he is because he was called up so quickly. Lyles is younger than Springer, Cosart, Tropeano, Wojo . . .to name a few.....at this age if he were dominating in the minors he would be talked about a LOT more
Oversight on my part. I completely agree that Lyles could be around a #3. Which really just bolsters my point that the team is well on it's way.
I agree, IF Singleton and Springer are ready next year, and by ready I mean ready to truly contribute, we could be pretty good on offense next year already. We are 19th in runs scored as we speak, not good obviously, but not terrible. Add in two bats that could/should be the best two in the lineup, and all of the sudden you can field an offense that poses a true threat.
I've always though competitive 2015, playoff team 2016 C-Castro 1B-Singleton 2B-DeShields SS-Fontana 3B-Correa LF-Santana CF-Springer RF-Martinez DH-Carter SP-Appel SP-Foltynewicz SP-Lyles SP-Cosart SP-McCullers Santana, J.D., and Carter are there by default, not because i really think they'll be there. I'm not really sold at this point on any of our OF's in the minors. Not saying they won't become something, just nobody I'm ready to project as a ML starter. I'm thinking, maybe hoping, we add a big masher via FA or trade to bolster the lineup once we become competitive. Correa may add some weight and move to third,Fontana may be a 3B instead, or Dominguez may hold down the job. A whole bunch of variables involved. I think Altuve gets moved. He'a great story but ultimately only a decent player. I think his rising salary, combined with players to replace him makes him expendable.
OF: Flip JD and Santana. JD doesn't have the arm for RF and profiles best in LF and Santana has the arm (and profiles) for RF. I know it's a rare chance that both Springer and Santana pan out but I expect to get one CF out of Springer, Aplin, and Grossman. Obviously Aplin and Grossman don't have the ceiling of the other two but they could be solid second division CFs on the way back to relevance. Preston Tucker could also be in play at LF/1B/DH. IF: Same thing as the OF, we have a lot of options that can play multiple positions. It all depends on SS because we'll have Correa/Fontana/Villar in play there. Correa can shift to 3B and Fontana to 2nd (doesn't have the arm for 3B). So DDJ and Fontana are in play at 2B, and probably Villar even though its a waste of his athleticism. Singleton has a lock on 1B but Tucker could see time there. Pitching wise, there's now a ton of mid-level upside starters behind Appel. If we got a 50% hit rate we'd be absolutely stacked. Even a 25% success rate and we're sitting pretty. Upside TOR: Appel, Cosart, McCullers MOR: Folty, Velasquez, NiTro, Wojo, Lyles, Thurman BOR: Rodgers, Emmanuel The 40 man roster decisions in a few years will be insane. Keep in mind once the team starts getting competitive, they may begin packaging prospects for an established player.
I read so many people talking about Correa at 3b on here, and yet when you look at most of the top publications the thing they say is his top asset is his defense. I know he profiles as someone "larger" than the typical SS, but if the tools and athleticism are there I see no reason he would have to move off of SS. Elias mentioned this week that Fontana has the tools to play 3b and he certainly seems like a legit bat even if his particular tools aren't those typically looked for at 3b. An on base machine certainly has a place in a lineup though . .i'll take a shot in the dark on 2017 Deshields, CF (speedy leadoff man to set table) Altuve, 2B Correa, SS Singleton, 1B Springer, RF Castro, C Santana, DH JD Martinez, LF (or a FA if Crane is going to be willing to spend if needed) Fontana, 3B (Could see him in 2 hole if they move Altuve for salary reasons) Rotation Appel McCullers/Foltynewicz Lyles Wojo/Valasquez/Thurman Tropeano, Emanuel Closer: Cosart Pen Arms: Peacock, Musgrove, Ambriz
Looking at Fontana's prospect rating on his arm it has him listed at 5/5. Not sure if that would be good enough for 3rd. Though I would be fine seeing him at 2nd as well if he can hit in the bigs. If Correa doesn't outgrow SS he'll be there. If he does he has a 7/7 arm so would be perfect at 3rd if that's where he ends up.
Yea I was just going by what the Astros scouting director said yesterday in an interview on Fontana. I've never seen him play so going purely on speculation.
It's mostly because we have no 3B prospects outside of Ruiz (who I've never been very high on) and we have several SS prospects.
Na trust me man, i'm not a young guy who grew up in the roid age and don't konw the difference in numbers. Even last year there were 27 guys who hit 30+ HR, so we aren't back in the mid 80's when Glen Davis was a banger hitting 31 HR to finish 2nd in the MVP voting. As for Votto being a good comparison, well i'd love that. I personally don't see Singleton hitting .330+ though, I sure hope I am wrong on that. I'm hoping for consistent production along the lines of last years Adrian Beltre, Whatever first name he goes by now Stanton, or Edwin Encarnacion. High 200's average with mid 30's+ HR.
