Comments on: Twins Friday: Punto likely will miss series http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/ The latest on the Minnesota Twins Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:14:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Me Too http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80979 Me Too Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:10:06 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80979 Just to be clear, I am a Span supporter. I just don't think that it is in the least bit fair to compare 75 major league AB's to basically a year worth for Gomez. To do so, well, you are making some assumptions. Main one being that what he has done up till now is going to be the norm. All players play thru slumps. To point at a limited sample as a basic comparison, well, it just plain unfair. Wait until Span has a slump (0 for 11 is only a mini slump, nothing more) and then you can use those numbers. To compare AAA numbers to someone else's Major league numbers are simply comparing apples to oranges. That is what I find so laughable about some of the comments about Liriano lately. One thing I must agree with you on though is that Span is definitely working the count. That is the sign of a good hitting approach, and that helps limit the opportunity for extended slumps. So many players get so frustrated when they go thru a slump, they end up exacerbating it by swinging at junk, just trying to make something happen. I am pretty sure that is where Gomez is at right now. Just to be clear, I am a Span supporter. I just don’t think that it is in the least bit fair to compare 75 major league AB’s to basically a year worth for Gomez. To do so, well, you are making some assumptions. Main one being that what he has done up till now is going to be the norm. All players play thru slumps. To point at a limited sample as a basic comparison, well, it just plain unfair. Wait until Span has a slump (0 for 11 is only a mini slump, nothing more) and then you can use those numbers. To compare AAA numbers to someone else’s Major league numbers are simply comparing apples to oranges. That is what I find so laughable about some of the comments about Liriano lately.
One thing I must agree with you on though is that Span is definitely working the count. That is the sign of a good hitting approach, and that helps limit the opportunity for extended slumps. So many players get so frustrated when they go thru a slump, they end up exacerbating it by swinging at junk, just trying to make something happen. I am pretty sure that is where Gomez is at right now.

]]> By: romer http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80978 romer Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:09:20 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80978 A pivotal event in last night's game was Mauer throwing out the attempted steal (Bradley?) with a spot-on rope about 8 inches above the ground. Precisely perfect. Nothing else would have gotten the runner. That helped shutting down the TX offense as much as anything. I hope his AS appearance has infused Mauer with more of the reality of how good he really is. Looking forward to him playing with even more energy and confidence the rest of the year. A pivotal event in last night’s game was Mauer throwing out the attempted steal (Bradley?) with a spot-on rope about 8 inches above the ground. Precisely perfect. Nothing else would have gotten the runner.

That helped shutting down the TX offense as much as anything.

I hope his AS appearance has infused Mauer with more of the reality of how good he really is. Looking forward to him playing with even more energy and confidence the rest of the year.

]]> By: The New and Improved Craig http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80977 The New and Improved Craig Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:12:28 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80977 Span has carried a .400 + OBP from AAA to the majors. Though he hasn't had many major league AB, that is an indication of a consistent approach at the plate. You can see by watching him work deep counts. He makes the pitcher throw the ball over the plate. He can foul off a borderline pitch. He is a much improved player. I'm not saying Gomez isn't a good player. He is a good player, but right now he is just a horrible hitter. He needs to work on his hitting approach. He has just barely survived with the bunt and beating out ground balls. That's a very limited set of hitting skills. Span has carried a .400 + OBP from AAA to the majors. Though he hasn’t had many major league AB, that is an indication of a consistent approach at the plate. You can see by watching him work deep counts. He makes the pitcher throw the ball over the plate. He can foul off a borderline pitch. He is a much improved player.

I’m not saying Gomez isn’t a good player. He is a good player, but right now he is just a horrible hitter. He needs to work on his hitting approach. He has just barely survived with the bunt and beating out ground balls. That’s a very limited set of hitting skills.

]]> By: The New and Improved Craig http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80976 The New and Improved Craig Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:00:15 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80976 Me Too, Gomez has created OBP data over the course of two seasons and a significant number of AB. He is sub .290, for OBP over two seasons. That isn't much of a major league hitter. The last two months he has been absolutely dominated by major league pitchers. They have his number. He has to adjust. I haven't seen any indication of him making adjustments. Me Too,

Gomez has created OBP data over the course of two seasons and a significant number of AB. He is sub .290, for OBP over two seasons. That isn’t much of a major league hitter.

The last two months he has been absolutely dominated by major league pitchers. They have his number. He has to adjust. I haven’t seen any indication of him making adjustments.

]]> By: BC Beneke http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80975 BC Beneke Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:27:25 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80975 not sure if anyone else saw this yet, and if you have forgive me, but usatoday.com has a list of 5 players that can carry the load to help their teams win in the 2nd half. David Ortiz - no brainer CC Sabathia - solid choice Upton (diamondbacks) - a bit of a stretch and number 4 Kevin Slowey of the Minnesota Twins. They seem to like him a lot. not sure if anyone else saw this yet, and if you have forgive me, but usatoday.com has a list of 5 players that can carry the load to help their teams win in the 2nd half.

David Ortiz - no brainer
CC Sabathia - solid choice
Upton (diamondbacks) - a bit of a stretch
and number 4 Kevin Slowey of the Minnesota Twins.

They seem to like him a lot.

]]> By: Me Too http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80974 Me Too Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:22:59 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/neal/2008/07/18/twins-friday-the-return-of-the-airborne-rangers/#comment-80974 Ahem, Craig, you still have to remember that Span's sample size is still incredibly small to be making these types of comparisons. Heck, Gomez doesn't really have a body of work to point too (one year worth of at bats does not a career make) and Span definitely doesn't. Considering that Span has only 75 AB's so far this year, and 0-fer is probably going to drop his average about 20 points, at that point, your comparison looks pretty petty. Now, soon, I am sure Gomez is going to pull a good game out of his hat again, and you will see those numbers spike again, similar to how Spans numbers spiked after his big game last week. That is what happens with all players, not just young ones like Gomez and Span. Heck, Young put up a great night last night, and it spiked his average up to the point that people are starting to see .300 as being realistic (I think he will be there at the end of the year). Anyway, these splits are all fine and dandy, but hey, understand they are splits and not the complete picture. Ahem, Craig, you still have to remember that Span’s sample size is still incredibly small to be making these types of comparisons. Heck, Gomez doesn’t really have a body of work to point too (one year worth of at bats does not a career make) and Span definitely doesn’t. Considering that Span has only 75 AB’s so far this year, and 0-fer is probably going to drop his average about 20 points, at that point, your comparison looks pretty petty.
Now, soon, I am sure Gomez is going to pull a good game out of his hat again, and you will see those numbers spike again, similar to how Spans numbers spiked after his big game last week. That is what happens with all players, not just young ones like Gomez and Span.
Heck, Young put up a great night last night, and it spiked his average up to the point that people are starting to see .300 as being realistic (I think he will be there at the end of the year). Anyway, these splits are all fine and dandy, but hey, understand they are splits and not the complete picture.

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