"Only Friday, scouts behind home plate had to check their watches and double-check them when Taveras was clocked to first base in a Mickey Mantle-esque 3.54 seconds." http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3127079 For reference, Ichiro is supposedly running at 3.7 or 3.8 seconds. That's about a step difference if the info is correct. That is huge for a righthanded hitter. As long as he makes contact, he should have a good average.
You have to wonder just how long will it take for Taveras to get out of the 8th spot. If the guy can lead the MLB in BA(yes I know it's only 5 games) hitting behind Ausmus and in front of a pitcher, why is he hitting 8th?
Damn right. Common sense says Taveras is your prototype leadoff hitter. Instead the guy with the worst OBP, Everett, is leading off. Bizarre.
Everett was showing signs that he could be a leadoff hitter for about a month before his injury last year. Another week of Taveras with an OBP over .400 (not cumulative) should get him in the leadoff spot. I think Garner didn't think Taveras would beat out Scott, Lamb, Burke for PT when Berkman returns. Right now, it looks like Taveras is in the lead, but all it takes is someone to start bashing homers to change this.
Taveras is amazing to watch in person. I've been to 4 of the 5 games and he makes it all look so easy. You'll see him in the leadoff spot before long... it should be noted though that his hitting and speed at the end of the lineup has won a few games for us.
If I were Phil Garner I'd go Major League on him. "Every time you hit the ball in the air you owe me 20 pushups." If he learns plate discipline and draws a walk here and there he could be a prototypical old school leadoff hitter. Plus it would allow the Indians to give us a leadoff hitter to make up for the infamous Eddie Taubensee/Kenny Lofton trade.
A week and a half ago everyone was crying that there was no way Taveras should be leading off because he was unproven and had had shoddy averages in the minors.
He was a batting champ in the minors and had great spring numbers.... BUT was unproven. I never bad mouthed his abilities and would have chastised anyone who did, but calling for a rookie to leadoff from the start of a season when he doesn't have to isn't exactly the smartest move. I like Garner starting him off at the end of the lineup and letting him get acclimated to the improved defense and pitching of the Majors. You have to remember he made the jump from Double-A to the big show which isn't made successfully by many on their first attempt, if at all. I'd be comfortable with Taveras leading off now, but I'm sure Garner will give Everett a week or two more to find his stroke before he makes any decisions. If I would have had my way Biggio would have been leading off to start the season... I knew Everett would be rusty to start because of his injury, and the past has shown us that he doesn't usually get very comfortable at the plate in April or May.
I was talking about this yesterday with some friends at the game. I'd say another week of the current lineup and Garner will likely make the switch.
Give Taveras time. He will be the prototype leadoff hitter we've all wanted for a decade. I think Garner has him at the bottom of the order so there's not too much presure on him. Soon it will be Taveras, Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman at the top of the order.
Either let the guy leadoff or bat him 2nd behind Biggio......either way, we have to get Everett out of the leadoff spot...he cant hit.
I agree. It would have likely assisted Luuuuke to hit in the 7 hole. Speaking of the 7 hole, Ausmus and taveras should switch now -- WT gets on 1st, swipes 2nd, and then BA can't hit into a DP.
Did anyone read Garner's comments about the 8 spot in the SI Baseball preview? Basically, he said that it's a horrible spot for a rookie or unproven player. The first time I read the quote, I looked up and Taveras was having his first AB of the season. From the 8 hole.
I heard a follow up which may answer the thread . Garner said that the 8 spot was tough because you are rarely going to see anything to hit with the pitcher coming next. The 8 hitter should be seeing nothing but junk. Hitting 8 should make him a better hitter. Lots of hitters can hit fastballs. Fewer can hit breaking balls, offspeed stuff and major league changups. Taveras , while my favorite new Astro, is still not exactly tearing the cover off the ball. Everett will hit. Will he regain the form from last year that showed maybe he could be a good lead off........... We shall see?. In the meantime why tinker with 4-1. If the pitching to date can buy you a 4-1 start then let things alone and see what shakes out B4 Berkman gets back in a couple of weeks. If it ain't broke...........
