This offense is aging me.
I love it as as whole and on paper we have the most complete group, 1-8, in the NL. But they’re impossible to predict and it’s been all or nothing with them thus far. We all know about the one run games, 0-7, but this team is also 6-3 in blowouts. They’ve scored twice as many runs, hit twice as many homers and have twice as many doubles in the wins as the losses.
There are some troubling numbers from the first 21 games. They’re hitting .301 in the first 6 innings but in 7-9 they’re hitting .236. In late and close at-bats, they’re hitting .205. As a whole, they’re hitting .255 with RISP. Last night was a perfect example. Andrew Miller struggles all night to find the plate, we get 13 men on, and only score 2 runs. It’s going to happen, but a lot of our losses have resulted in the team being unable to rally and on top of the bullpen woes, we’ve got a glaring weakness in the late innings.
KJ’s OBP has got to improve from. 329 if he’s going to be effective as a leadoff man. If he can push that number closer to .400, we’ll be in business because Yunel is going to move him over. When it comes to run production, Tex is still most glaring hole right now at clean up. He’s a beast. He’s going to hit. But right now, he’s inconsistent. He and Kotsay have hit into 9 of the Braves’ 19 DPs. Tex is hitting .261 with RISP. If he gets up above .300 (he’s a career .325 hitter with RISP), this team is going to score 6 runs a game. Kotsay has put up some clutch hits, but he’s also come up with McCann, Francoeur and Diaz on quite often and he’s just not knocking him in.
If this team gets hot, like they did against the Dodgers, look for Tex to start plating Chipper and Yunel more often, who both are getting on-base nearly half their ABs. And watch for the second wave to improve if Kotsay and Diaz can start knocking in B-Mac and Francoeur.
~BH in LA
5 Comments
April 24, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Off to a hot start tonight.
But James is letting it get a little close with those 5 walks and a homer.
April 24, 2008 at 9:07 pm
We need a couple more runs. This Florida Offense is really good. They know how to manage the home-grown kids. I have respect for their constant ability to raise up young kids until they’re no good anymore or too expensive.
April 24, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Off to a hot start tonight. But James is letting it get a little close with those 5 walks and a homer.
April 24, 2008 at 9:47 pm
The bats looked good tonight. Hermida’s attempt at McCann’s Triple was as ugly as McCann’s slide at third. First triple for HEAP! Nice effort.
Let’s hope Jair can blank the Mets tomorrow. We need a good start from him. Acosta is probably unavailable tomorrow.
April 24, 2008 at 8:07 pm
We need a couple more runs. This Florida Offense is really good. They know how to manage the home-grown kids. I have respect for their constant ability to raise up young kids until they're no good anymore or too expensive.
April 24, 2008 at 8:47 pm
The bats looked good tonight. Hermida's attempt at McCann's Triple was as ugly as McCann's slide at third. First triple for HEAP! Nice effort. Let's hope Jair can blank the Mets tomorrow. We need a good start from him. Acosta is probably unavailable tomorrow.
April 24, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Feels like KJ’s starting to pick up the leadoff mojo the last couple of days. Tex is definitely warming up, and has been clutch except for last night.
As for the Fish, Hanley Ramirez is a stud, but damn, what happened to Uggla?
April 25, 2008 at 12:23 am
Chipper’s on FIRE!
Another 3-3 night with a dinger! Happy B-day.
Shaun, KJ is starting to get around on the ball and Tex is stringing together some nights with at least one hit.
How about that triple from McCann?
In other news;
James made another trip back to Richmond. Meaning we should see Glavine ready for his next start.
JB
April 24, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Feels like KJ's starting to pick up the leadoff mojo the last couple of days. Tex is definitely warming up, and has been clutch except for last night. As for the Fish, Hanley Ramirez is a stud, but damn, what happened to Uggla?
April 24, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Chipper's on FIRE! Another 3-3 night with a dinger! Happy B-day. Shaun, KJ is starting to get around on the ball and Tex is stringing together some nights with at least one hit. How about that triple from McCann? In other news; James made another trip back to Richmond. Meaning we should see Glavine ready for his next start. JB