quote:
It's early and no need to jump off the cliff. They're not going to bat .050 all year. Numbers are skewed right now.
I like the consistency. Guys need to know what their role is and know what is expected of them. Those expectations don't change when you slump therefore your position in the lineup doesn't.
I hated that with Porter the lineup looked completely different every game. Can't imagine showing up every day and not knowing where or if you'd play or bat. That was not good for a young team.
This guy gets it...
It's a small sample size, and the premise that Luhnow/Hinch live by is that the players' statistical trends will normalize. You are likely to see both Carter and Gattis go on huge power surges at some point in the season... but you will also see them swing and miss a bunch.
Gattis' SO% has been around 24% for his career (though short), right now he is at 48%. He isn't going to stay at 48% all season.
Carter's career SO% has been 33.7%. He is at 35.7% right now, so that isn't his problem. Currently his BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) is .125. THAT is the issue as his BABIP for his career has been .280. His line drive percentage is within his career average as well which means he is hitting the ball, percentage wise, as well as his career average; however, he's been "unlucky" as to where those balls fall in play. I think you'll see his BABIP return to his career norm, and with it, his homerun totals. He led the league in AB/HR last season (13.7AB/HR). This is why you leave him in the lineup. Based on his past performance, he has 44 HR upside on the season if he gets 600 at-bats.