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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 22, 2006
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Heating up? By heating up..do you mean he's batting like .212 this month? If thats ur idea of "Heating up", i guess Delgado must be scorching the ball. Since he's batting .271 this month.
Howard is better than he's batting, but he's not as great as most of you think he is. If he were on another team, you'd be calling him all sorts of bums who cant hit the ball. You just proved my point, by referring to how bad Tex's stats are for half the month. Well guess what..thats very similiar to Howard's stats for the MONTH of April.
Howard is better than his average and stats show, but he's not someone you should expect to bat close to .300 or better. Like someone said earlier.. you cant make a productive out, by striking out.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 21, 2007
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well i agree he will not come close to hitting .300 this year. Still i'd take his numbers over Tex... any day. Runs, RBI, HR', and it will be very close in the end with On Base Percentage. you can have the .270-.280 avg from Mark and the 70 less K's.
heating up i mean... 7 game hit streak. compared to Mark getting nothing last 3 games.
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Reputation:88
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 12, 2007
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Howard's having a slow star, but he'll heat up and still hit close to 50 home runs with 120 + RBI. Will he hit close to 0.300? No, but I'll take OPS over batting average any day (and I'll take strikeouts over double plays any day, too).
Here are the OPS's from the past 3 seasons for 7 of the biggest hitters in the game (not necessarily THE biggest). Who would you take (as a hitter, defensive position aside)? Values multiplied by 1000:
1) 1001, 1049, 1066
2) 1039, 1102, 997
3) 1031, 915, 1067
4) 923, 1084, 976
5) 982, 1058, 881
6) 954, 885, 963
7) 981, 909, 781
1 - David Ortiz; 2 - Albert Pujols; 3 - ARod; 4 - Ryan Howard; 5 - Manny Ramirez; 6 - Mark Teixeira; 7 - Carlos Delgado
Based on these, there are 3 who I'd pretty clearly take over Howard (Ortiz, Pujols, and ARod) and 3 who I pretty clearly wouldn't (Ramirez, Teixeira, and Delgado). Factor in age and splits, and it would be a closer call between Howard and Teixeira. Factor in position, and it's pretty hands down ARod. Miguel Cabrera (946, 998, 966) and Vladimir Guerrero (959, 934, 950) would be close calls. This is how Howard stacks up.
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 22, 2006
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The problem with the stats your putting up, is that all of the mentioned have at least 5yrs of service, and just Tex and Miggy are younger. No one knows if he hit his peak in '06, but its pretty much graved in stone that he wont be batting over .300 this year. Im assuming his OPS was .923 last year. Ok i can agree on you picking Howard over Delgado and maybe Tex, but Manny Ramirez? Are you kidding me? You can't expect me to believe that you seriously think Howard is a better hitter than Manny. Manny IS going into the Hall of Fame, and has more time in the Majors hitting successfully than Howard has post puberty.
But to answer your question, without a doubt you choose A-Rod, Pujols, Ortiz, Vladdy, Miggy and Ramirez. If anything You gotta give the bat to Tex because he'd still put the ball in play and he hits from both sides. Delgado is no longer the delgado from 3+ years ago, but Howard isnt the Howard from 2yrs ago and he's 28. Better yet in a 6x6 or 7x7 Roto league how would you rank those people.(Strikeouts being a factor)
You mention that you'd prefer a strikeout over a Double-Play. Well if Reyes hits into Double Plays, i know Howard is too. So not only is he capable of striking out, but he's capable of hitting into double plays too. Either way, when a player makes nearly 100 more outs by whiffing or getting a strike 3 called, he still isnt going to drive in a run. Where as a player, out of the 100 outs, can still make a productive out.
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Reputation:88
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 12, 2007
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1) Wrong, 923 is from his ROY (short) season, 976 is from last year, in which he got a slow start. I'd be surprised if he isn't still over 900 this year.
2) Manny WAS better, but right now I'd take Howard any day. Personally, I couldn't give a crap if Howard ends up in the Hall (given that he's been the fastest to 100 homers, he just might if he keeps up this pace), Manny definitely should (we agree there), but right now I'd take Howard.
3) I would not take Guerrero over Howard. I've said it before, though, I would probably trade Howard for Cabrera straight up, but that's only because Cabrera can play positions that Howard can't and he's much younger.
4) I don't play roto, don't know anything about it, don't care.
5) Double play = 2 outs rally killer. Strike out = 1 out. Obviously, strikeouts don't drive in runs... so, yeah, I'm disappointed that Howard wastes those extra 100 at bats, otherwise he'd be driving in 180 runs insted of 140. Strikeouts don't bother me in the least unless there's nothing else to go along with it... Bill James and Billy Beane (2 people who actually understand the game) would agree with that. Oh, by the way, Howard has hit into a total of 29 double plays in 452 at bats, which is more than some players hit into in a season (granted, Reyes hits into fewer).
6) It's easy to attack a player when he's down... come back in October... you can berate Howard then while he's still playing and Delgado is golfing.
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Reputation:88
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 12, 2007
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sorry, that'd be 452 GAMES.
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 22, 2006
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WOW!! You know there are situations u protect ur players, but how could anyone look at what Manny has and CONTINUES to do, and say with a straight face..id take Howard. Hitting a ball 500 feet, doesnt mean squat if ur batting . 250 or less, or in his case .180+
You wouldnt get Cabrera on a straight up deal,lol. So thats a pipe dream. If ur putting Howard in the same category as these hitters, than u must think Utley is the best player in baseball. Because Utley is a better player, | |
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