Comments on: Me and Julio: the 2nd half drags on the offense (it’s not who you think) http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/ Media, Baseball, Boston, the Red Sox, Music, Literature, and Mnookins Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:58:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: redsoxrantsfromchina http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-159702 redsoxrantsfromchina Sun, 26 Aug 2007 10:53:47 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-159702 Seth, your post got me to do some more digging. Here is what I found. Batting in the 6th slot in the order, where he has had 391 at bats this season, Lowell has a batting average of .304, an OBP of .358 and OPS of .842 In the 5th spot in the order, Lowell has had 69 at bats and is batting .464 with an OBP of .537 and an OPS of 1.276. Please see: www.redsoxrantsfromchina.blogspot.com for more discussion on this Seth, your post got me to do some more digging. Here is what I found.

Batting in the 6th slot in the order, where he has had 391 at bats this season, Lowell has a batting average of .304, an OBP of .358 and OPS of .842

In the 5th spot in the order, Lowell has had 69 at bats and is batting .464 with an OBP of .537 and an OPS of 1.276.

Please see: http://www.redsoxrantsfromchina.blogspot.com for more discussion on this

]]> By: rln2433 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-158583 rln2433 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:45:29 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-158583 I think that Youk's problem has been that he is asked to be more than he can be. His game is driving up opposing pitch counts and getting on base. When he's trying to hit fly balls or play the role of a 3-4 or #5 hitter it simply doesn't work out for him. His swing is a bit big so if he slows down then he's not going to do much save for pop up the ball or whiff. It would also help if he would protect the plate on strike two counts. A ten pitch at bat is still an expensive out for the other team. I think that Youk’s problem has been that he is asked to be more than he can be. His game is driving up opposing pitch counts and getting on base. When he’s trying to hit fly balls or play the role of a 3-4 or #5 hitter it simply doesn’t work out for him. His swing is a bit big so if he slows down then he’s not going to do much save for pop up the ball or whiff.

It would also help if he would protect the plate on strike two counts. A ten pitch at bat is still an expensive out for the other team.

]]> By: jackmack http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-157358 jackmack Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:01:22 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-157358 How about ever since Youk has had his blog? This is where his problem with the bat had started to spiral down-ward. He doesn't blog much, but maybe he's stressed out on what to write in his next entry and it's affecting his swing and decision choice? Youk: Shut down the blog and all of your problems will be solved, or you'll be in Washington w/Wily Mo next year! How about ever since Youk has had his blog? This is where his problem with the bat had started to spiral down-ward. He doesn’t blog much, but maybe he’s stressed out on what to write in his next entry and it’s affecting his swing and decision choice?

Youk: Shut down the blog and all of your problems will be solved, or you’ll be in Washington w/Wily Mo next year!

]]> By: johnw http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-157355 johnw Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:53:45 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-157355 Youkilis has a consistent pattern throughout his major-league career: he's a fine hitter in the first half, and inadequate in the second. Earlier this year, there was talk that his 2006 falloff was because of foot problems (plantar fasciitis, if I recall correctly). But this year, it's happening again. So there's a lot of evidence that this isn't a slump, an injury, or fatigue... it simply, as Bill Belichick would say, is what it is. Unti he proves otherwise, Youkilis is a first-half standout and a second-half burden. Add the two halves together, he's a pretty good #2 hitter, nice OBA no matter what, but his production is marginal for a first baseman. Youkilis has a consistent pattern throughout his major-league career: he’s a fine hitter in the first half, and inadequate in the second. Earlier this year, there was talk that his 2006 falloff was because of foot problems (plantar fasciitis, if I recall correctly). But this year, it’s happening again.

So there’s a lot of evidence that this isn’t a slump, an injury, or fatigue… it simply, as Bill Belichick would say, is what it is. Unti he proves otherwise, Youkilis is a first-half standout and a second-half burden.

Add the two halves together, he’s a pretty good #2 hitter, nice OBA no matter what, but his production is marginal for a first baseman.

]]> By: rog http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-156379 rog Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:12:58 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-156379 I guessed Youk correctly. Why hasn't he been sat down more often during this slump? And why is he batting so high up in the order (I know he still walks a lot, but Loogie and Crisp probably deserve to be high in the order a lot more than Youk right now). I always thought that Wily Mo was more of a DH/1B but now we'll never know if steady at bats at 1st would've worked. I guessed Youk correctly. Why hasn’t he been sat down more often during this slump? And why is he batting so high up in the order (I know he still walks a lot, but Loogie and Crisp probably deserve to be high in the order a lot more than Youk right now). I always thought that Wily Mo was more of a DH/1B but now we’ll never know if steady at bats at 1st would’ve worked.

]]> By: redsoxrantsfromchina http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-155784 redsoxrantsfromchina Thu, 23 Aug 2007 07:25:58 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-155784 Great Post. To do list for tomorrow. "send Memo to Tito: Please don't bat Tek in the top of the 9th with the tying run on base." However, as Manny was really the only viable option off of the bench for pinch hitting duties--and he has really stuffed that role up during his career--Tito did not have much of a choice, even though Tek has hit .229 since the All-Star Break and was 0-4 and had ended an inning each time he was at bat -- with men on base each time no less. MVP for the year in my mind is clearly Mike Lowell. Leads in several offensive categories or is 2nd or 3rd in those areas he does not lead. Although he has an unusual amount of errors this year, he does lead AL 3rd baseman in double plays and is 3rd in assists. Please see more about this at: http://redsoxrantsfromchina.blogspot.com Great Post. To do list for tomorrow. “send Memo to Tito: Please don’t bat Tek in the top of the 9th with the tying run on base.” However, as Manny was really the only viable option off of the bench for pinch hitting duties–and he has really stuffed that role up during his career–Tito did not have much of a choice, even though Tek has hit .229 since the All-Star Break and was 0-4 and had ended an inning each time he was at bat — with men on base each time no less. MVP for the year in my mind is clearly Mike Lowell. Leads in several offensive categories or is 2nd or 3rd in those areas he does not lead. Although he has an unusual amount of errors this year, he does lead AL 3rd baseman in double plays and is 3rd in assists. Please see more about this at: http://redsoxrantsfromchina.blogspot.com

]]> By: tinisoli http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-155642 tinisoli Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:43:12 +0000 http://www.sethmnookin.com/blog/2007/08/22/me-and-julio-the-2nd-half-drags-on-the-offense-its-not-who-you-think/#comment-155642 Daisuke's getting screwed. Is there anyone in the AL with worse run support in the last two months? Goddamn it... At times it's hard to tolerate the rest that the usual starters are enjoying lately. Would be nice to see Manny pinch-hitting for 0-for-4 Varitek in the 9th. Daisuke’s getting screwed. Is there anyone in the AL with worse run support in the last two months? Goddamn it…
At times it’s hard to tolerate the rest that the usual starters are enjoying lately. Would be nice to see Manny pinch-hitting for 0-for-4 Varitek in the 9th.

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