Loading ...You will recall that Edwin Encarnacion, after signing his new contract, told everyone who would listen that he wanted to try to pull the ball less. Slyde has a very interesting post here on Edwin’s approach at the plate, and whether the young guy should really be trying to change that approach.
I’m still waiting for the “breakout” season.
Right now he’s an average offensive 3b with below average defense. Something needs to change.
It just seems to me that the most successful hitters, hit the ball where its pitched. RPA’s right, EE needs some serious improvements in all phases of his game.
I’m just not convinced EE will ever “breakout”. I hope I am wrong and will admit so if I am while I celebrate his greatness. We’ll see.
I just can’t believe the Reds paid him so much to avoid arbitration. 2 years no less. IMO he hasn’t had the type of career that warrants that much money.
I think in order for Edwin to start breaking out again he needs to go back to his ways of getting catcher interference all the time.
EE has had an above average OPS for each of the past 3 seasons.
Last year, his AVG dropped .038 points below his 2007 #’s, which hid improvement he showed in two important projecting statistics:
1 – Improvement in bb/pa. bb/pa > 10% for the first time in his career
2 – XBH/AB > 10% after being below 10% in 2007. He has now had an XBH/AB ratio > 10% in 3 of his 4 seasons.
Better patience, better power. An average back over .275 like it was in 2006 & 2007, and Edwin has a 2009 OPS in the 850-900 neighborhood. Very good for a 3B.
Consistency seems to be EE’s greatest need but then again what hitter can’t say that. Maybe longer stretches of consistency.
e5e5 isn’t an above average hitter for a corner infielder.
he certainly doesn’t hit well enough to put his god-awful throwing mechanics out there at 3b every night.
Honestly guys, I just hold my breath everytime a ball’s hit in his direction.
Being fair to Phillips, Encarnacion’s estimates from Baseball Prospectus over the same time period…
Runs allowed on defense: 2008 was a minus 19 runs, below average, minus 11 for 2007, and minus 3 in 2006, a total of minus 33 over the past three years on defense.
On offense, plus nine in 2008, plus six in 2007, and plus 8 in 2006, for a total of plus 23.
that makes for a minus ten total versus the average third baseman.
He’s two years younger than Phillips
“e5e5 isn’t an above average hitter for a corner infielder.”
Of the top 30 third basemen in 2008 (based on plate appearances), Edwin had the 12th best OPS.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting?split=0&league=mlb&season=2008&seasonType=2&sort=OPS&type=reg&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&state=0&college=0&country=0&hand=a&pos=3b&startDate=null&endDate=null&minpa=350
And he’s just months older than Joey Votto! It seems like he’s been around forever, but EE is still young. His prime years are ahead of him.
I think people have unrealistic expectations. He’s been very good for a young player.
I’m with Chad here, for all of the aforementioned reasons AND because of what BP has said – that Gonzalez seems to have a calming effect on him.
We’ll see. That comment is about as subjective as it gets when talking baseball, but indeed, IF A-Gon actually plays AND plays at a similar level to his past (which I seriously doubt – but, hey, it’s spring training, let’s give it the benefit of the doubt), then I’m willing to give EE another year(if not another depending) to reach that “potential”.
After all, it’s not like the Reds are going to throw around $ in the free agent market if he’s still showing that he has serious signs of all-star potential (which he does).