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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 27, 2006
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Reynolds is def. not the same hitter I remember in beginning of season. He 52 strike outs already and is on pace for like 200 if he keeps this up. If Tracy's rehab starts go well, I would consider starting him more again at 3B, esp if Tracy swings a good bat.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 20, 2006
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I'm all for platooning them especially if Tracy can hit like he used to. Reynolds surly needs to cut down on the strikeouts, but really, the whole team needs to get it going again. If Hudson and Byrnes weren't hurting right now, I think our lineup would still be on a tear. Those two are the heart and soul of the team. It will be more important to get them back healthy, than it will be to get Tracy, IMO.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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I think Tracy is definitely going to get a few starts, but they probably aren't going to be just for showcasing him to teams interested in a possible trade like they would have been had Reynolds kept it going. His recent struggles have been monumental, and he looks really lost at the plate. Night and day from the beginning of the season. The dramatic difference in his form from last season and early this season compared to recently leads me to believe that a lot of it is mental for him. Maybe sending Reynolds down would do him some good. I don't see it happening, but there's no doubt he's struggling to catch his feet at the major league level right now. With any hope it's just a bad slump. But I don't care how much raw power a player has, if they are third baseman batting below the Mendoza line, which is where Reynolds is headed, he won't stick around for too long. I hope Reynolds can start seeing the ball sooner.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 4, 2007
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Chad Tracy should get some playing time at third base once he is activated from the disabled list. He could also play first or right field to give the starters a day off.
He hit .308 with 27 homers only 3 years ago, but injuries have really slowed him down. He has the potential to be very good (he is only turning 28 later this month).
Mark Reynolds strikes out way too much. I watched the game yesterday against the Cubs (yes, I was actually able to see a Diamondbacks game), and he chased a lot of bad pitches. After is hot start, Reynolds is just 10-66 with 31 strikeouts in his last 17 games.
He is going to get around 40 at-bats in the minors, and if all goes well, he will be activated from the DL.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Jun 21, 2007
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I hate to be a fly in the ointment but Chad Tracy is only an average 3rd baseman, fielding wise. True, he does add some pop but I don't think he never really established himself as a consistent RBI man and I wonder if we might not be putting to much emphasis on his coming back? I don't see much we can do at present but stay with Reynolds as long as he is still knocking in runs. We don't have anyone on the farm and it does not look like we will be trading for anyone. It is what it is. Reynolds is our guy and if we can stick with Byrnes as much as we have, I don't see Melvin making any changes at 3rd base either.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 8, 2007
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Something happened to Chad Tracy back in 2006. While he still had some pop in his bat, he started to strike out a lot and just couldn't hit lefties at all. He's never been a great fielder nor a fast base runner.....and with his injuries he could have slipped in those two categories. He may not be much more than a guy who gives Reynolds or Jackson a game off against a tough righty.
Most of us realized that Mark Reynolds was a streaky hitter who would strike out a LOT. I think some people forgot that when he got off to that great start. Reynolds got us here and, unless he just stops hitting for weeks on end.....he's the D'Backs third baseman.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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Reynolds is the current third baseman, but his average this month is below .200. I don't care how good a guy's glove is at third base or how much raw power he has, there's a point where a player becomes a big liability if he can't get on with average or walks. Reynolds is really struggling right now, and the only way he'll keep an everyday spot is by turning it around. If he keeps this pace up, he won't be playing. Tracy isn't a terrible option in the fifth or sixth spot, but I would much rather see Reynolds turn it around. I agree that his glove is a lot better than Tracy's at third and it would be a shame to take that away from the club.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 11, 2007
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Chad Tracy will not be with the Diamondbacks at the end of the season. Mark Reynolds is the thirdbaseman for the team for the upcoming years. He has struggled recently, but he is a streaky hitter at this point. As he continues to gain experience he will strikeout less, but he'll still k a lot.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 8, 2007
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I don't care how good a guy's glove is... or how much raw power he has, there's a point where a player becomes a big liability if he can't get on with average or walks.
I know you were talking about Mark Reynolds, but you also just described Chris Young!
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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Since April 24th Reynolds has 4 BBs and 29 Ks and Young has 7 BBs and 20 Ks. Reynolds has 1 HR and 8 RBI during that stretch and Young has 4 HRs and 10 RBI. Reynolds OBP of .309 is due mainly to his hot start in April. His OBP was .358 in April and so far in May sits at .250. Young has been consistent all year, .339 in April, .333 in May.
You can look simply at the numbers from the beginning of the year until now and it will tell you one story, but if you look closer or watch the games you'll recognize that Chris Young impacts the game a lot more. Not only does he have a better approach and numbers at the plate, but his glove is better at a more premium position for a glove. The corner infield spots generally need to have production from the plate because of the lesser importance of a glove at those positions. He also steals bases, which adds to his value and gives him further room in terms of what his average or OBP needs to be.
This isn't rocket science. I like Reynolds, but history shows us that if a player drops down below the Mendoza line and looks like they will stay there then they aren't going to stay at the major league level for very long. I really hope Reynolds turns it around, but how long can Arizona fill the sixth spot in the lineup with a guy batting below .200? How many consecutive weeks can they afford no production from that spot? Reynolds needs to realize that and do what he can to turn it around. I don't like Tracy's game that much. I'd much rather have the power and glove Reynolds brings, but the recent average and OBP just won't cut it.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 8, 2007
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I didn't say Mark Reynolds has hit better in May than Young, but for the year, they are similar.
Why does Young impact the game more? Is that your opinion? I saw Reynolds driving in run after run up until a few weeks ago....isn't that "impacting" the game. And as far as corner IF not being important as far as fielding....you might want to ask how many games the Detroit Tigers have lost because of poor fielding at the corners. As far as stolen bases....while Young might have more speed....I have not seen it this year.
And why are you jumping the gun on Reynolds hitting under .200. The last I look he was just behind Young in BA and even ahead of Byrnes.
Just my opinion but I think you are trying to find a scapegoat for the D'Backs recent loses. Some want to pillar Eric Byrnes, some want to castigate Qualls and the bullpen, you've focused on Reynolds. Their slump must be a combination of all those things - I would think. Melvin has run with Byrnes a long time despite his poor hitting....I assume he'll do the same with Reynolds.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 16, 2006
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I pointed out the inconsistencies in how they arrived at those numbers. Young has consistently had a better OBP. Reynolds had a very hot start and since has been very cold. Young's performance has never effected the team in the same manner because he hasn't gone through a similar stretch of being unproductive.
I didn't say that a corner infielder's defense was unimportant, but rather that it's less important than a center fielder's.
Why does Young impact the game more? I listed the reasons. You do understand the obvious differences between hitting in the leadoff spot and batting fifth or sixth? RBI depends a lot on where a player hits in the lineup.
I'm not looking for a scapegoat. I'm pointing out facts. How many players can you list that have stuck around the major league level while hitting below the Mendoza line? How many of them played for teams competing for a pennant?
I like Reynolds. He is struggling. If he rights the ship he'll hold his spot. If he continues to struggle he won't be playing much. I don't know how you can argue that. It's just the way it is. It doesn't mean that I'm picking him out as a scapegoat. Arizona is tied for the best record in baseball right now. Why would we need to point fingers?
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 8, 2007
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You keep bringing up something about hitting below .200....Reynolds isn't hitting below the Mendoza line. He is currently at .230. If hitting below Reynolds means that players won't be major leaguers for long - then here is a list of starting players batting below Reynolds (this is NL only)
Carlos Delgado, Eric Byrnes, Jose Bautista, Corey Patterson, Khalil Greene, Adam Dunn, Adam Laroche, Austin Kearns, Matt Bourn, Rickie Weeks, Josh Bard, Ryan Howard, Andruw Jones, Bill Hall, Tulo Tulowitski, Armando Alezaga. I left out a few that platoon at a position.
An awful lot of starters must be headed for the bench,or even worse, the unemployment line.
Just like Melvin....I suspect the managers of the players listed above will give these players a lot more time to start hitting. Besides, I'm not convinced that Chad Tracy is the answer as Reynolds replacement.....if he is- great, but from recent past records, he probably won't give us that much of an increase in hitting. (I hope he does - the D'Backs need more left-handed hitters)
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 4, 2007
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iffy: I guess you meant Michael Bourn, Troy Tulowitzki, and Alfredo Amezaga.
Anyway, I don't mind that Mark Reynolds is hitting around .230. It's the strikeouts that bother me. If he hits 30 homers while hitting .230, I wouldn't mind too much, as long as he keeps the strikeouts down. There is such a thing as a productive out, and a strikeout is not one of them.
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Reputation:93
Level:All-Star
Since:Sep 8, 2007
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Yeah, Matt Bourn is an old professional wrestler. lol
Actually, I'll take a K over a DP. But, you are right. If you are going to strikeout close to 200 times you better be knocking in over 100 runs. (And make some defensive plays like Mark Reynolds did in the 9th helps too)
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