Will Jace hit?

[GovClintonTyree]

So we've had a terrific start with some timely hitting, but I can't help but notice a number of key guys really aren't hitting much at all. This is not a big surprise. EY wasn't going to hit. As so many predicted, Markakis looks like a Judy hitter, though we probably ought to see more before declaring him a permanent bum.

Jace, after seeing him a few times this spring, I thought would hit. Sure, he had the brief unsuccessful cup of coffee in SD at the end of last year, but I watch Jace at the plate and everything looks solid, and he hit over .300 at every level coming up, he's just hitting .118. Compounding that, the Callaspo/Johnson platoon at third is working nicely, Gosselin only has one hit himself (of course, it won a game), and Peterson is playing fantastic defense at second, your metrics and my eyes agree....

So is this just an adjustment period? Will he figure it out? Or will his bat force him to utility status?

[Krovahn]

Well, it has been five games. I also don't expect Evan Gattis to hit .000, or Adrian Gonzalez to hit .609 the rest of the year either. I say wait a few weeks and ask again if the answer isn't obvious at that point.

As far as our other options currently on the club it is Peterson, Callaspo, Gosselin, or KJ. Even if Jace can only manage to bat at BJ Upton levels he will/should still have a starting job on this team based on his defense alone; because, those other three are inferior players.

Edit: Anything is possible with Fredi making the lineups, though. This post is more based on logic.

[Dalyn]

I think Jace will figure it out enough to warrant keeping him for his defense. I'm more worried about Freeman. 8 strikeouts, 0 walks. That's not a good sign.

[gilesfan]

Jace is a good utility option. So I would just let him grow and get as many at bats as possible this year. I don't think he will will be a terrible hitter, just a decent average, solid on base skills, no power guy.

[57Brave]

Well, it has been five games. I also don't expect Evan Gattis to hit .000, or Adrian Gonzalez to hit .609 the rest of the year either. I say wait a few weeks and ask again if the answer isn't obvious at that point.

As far as our other options currently on the club it is Peterson, Callaspo, Gosselin, or KJ. Even if Jace can only manage to bat at BJ Upton levels he will/should still have a starting job on this team based on his defense alone; because, those other three are inferior players.

Edit: Anything is possible with Fredi making the lineups, though. This post is more based on logic.

Pre game radio show Fredi talked about he'd made up his mind to drop Peterson but was talked put of it by Tosca and Seitzer

[Dalyn]

Pre game radio show Fredi talked about he'd made up his mind to drop Peterson but was talked put of it by Tosca and Seitzer

So that explains him just dropping him for a couple games while he decides. What a buffoon. It wouldn't be so bad if it meant everyone would just move up, but he would replace him with Simmons.

[Tapate50]

Pre game radio show Fredi talked about he'd made up his mind to drop Peterson but was talked put of it by Tosca and Seitzer

I already hold those two to a much higher regard than FG, just from that sentence.

[Julio3000]

This year is about nothing if not figuring out what we're holding.

I think he's going to do ok, and I'd be content to keep running him out there unless he shows otherwise. So far, though, he hasn't looked like he's hitting into bad luck, just struggling a bit against regular season competition. Either way, he's only 6 games in.

Freddie's lack of walks is strange, considering that we're all forecasting a career high for him in that department. Nobody except Callaspo and Simmons are really stinging the ball right now.

This offense hasn't really been tested by top-flight starters yet. Still, it's hard to know much of anything after 20-30 ABs.

[Krovahn]

Pre game radio show Fredi talked about he'd made up his mind to drop Peterson but was talked put of it by Tosca and Seitzer

... and that is going to make for a long year... because Fredi would prefer to play the lesser player, as always. :(

[JohnAdcox]

Pre game radio show Fredi talked about he'd made up his mind to drop Peterson but was talked put of it by Tosca and Seitzer

I assume that means dropped lower in the order?

[zitothebrave]

Sampling issues are all around in the early parts of the season.

In short Peterson won't be this bad, but he won't be very good either.

Maybe as he gets settled he walks a bit more and Ks a bit less but I don't think that will change too much. That being said, no way his BABIP stays this low, no way does his power stay at 0.

I think with Peterson we're gonna see a lesser Tommy LaStella. Can't quite hit as well, but fields better.

[Enscheff]

Jace has looked really bad against LHed pitching the few ABs I have seen him have against them. He will likely have to be platooned more strictly with Goss. So far I think Fredi has done a decent (not good) job of balancing the platoon situations all over the field while not letting anyone sit so long they get rusty.

We all knew this offense was going to be bad, so despite the 5-1 record I don't think anybody should be surprised by all the poor hitting performances up and down the lineup. This offense is very bad, and the only way they will win is to have outstanding pitching and a few timely hits. That is exactly what has happened the first week of the season.

[zitothebrave]

Jace has looked really bad against LHed pitching the few ABs I have seen him have against them. He will likely have to be platooned more strictly with Goss. So far I think Fredi has done a decent (not good) job of balancing the platoon situations all over the field while not letting anyone sit so long they get rusty.

We all knew this offense was going to be bad, so despite the 5-1 record I don't think anybody should be surprised by all the poor hitting performances up and down the lineup. This offense is very bad, and the only way they will win is to have outstanding pitching and a few timely hits. That is exactly what has happened the first week of the season.

Sampling issues of course, the thing I'm concerned about is Freddie not taking a walk and striking out once evert 3 trips to the plate. He's swinging at more pitches than he ever did over a full season and missing a lot more. WHich is a sign that he's pressing because of pressure. Hopefully he levels out.

[chop2chip]

This year is about nothing if not figuring out what we're holding.

I think he's going to do ok, and I'd be content to keep running him out there unless he shows otherwise. So far, though, he hasn't looked like he's hitting into bad luck, just struggling a bit against regular season competition. Either way, he's only 6 games in.

Freddie's lack of walks is strange, considering that we're all forecasting a career high for him in that department. Nobody except Callaspo and Simmons are really stinging the ball right now.

This offense hasn't really been tested by top-flight starters yet. Still, it's hard to know much of anything after 20-30 ABs.

Freddie is crushing the ball. He's 4th in the majors in hard hit contact rate per Mark Simon.

[Julio3000]

Freddie is crushing the ball. He's 4th in the majors in hard hit contact rate per Mark Simon.

I have no concerns about Freddie. I didn't include him with Callaspo and Simmons because of the 8 Ks in 25 ABs. He has tended to hit the ball hard when he has connected, though.

[gilesfan]

Freddie is crushing the ball. He's 4th in the majors in hard hit contact rate per Mark Simon.

But, the future of baseball is not striking out. And he's striking out.

[Nerfherders]

Sometimes you don't walk because you get great pitches to hit. Not concerned about Freeman. The offense in general has been great so far - putting the ball in play, taking advantage of bad defense, and good baserunning.

[sturg33]

This year is about nothing if not figuring out what we're holding.

I think he's going to do ok, and I'd be content to keep running him out there unless he shows otherwise. So far, though, he hasn't looked like he's hitting into bad luck, just struggling a bit against regular season competition. Either way, he's only 6 games in.

Freddie's lack of walks is strange, considering that we're all forecasting a career high for him in that department. Nobody except Callaspo and Simmons are really stinging the ball right now.

This offense hasn't really been tested by top-flight starters yet. Still, it's hard to know much of anything after 20-30 ABs.

I can't even remember facing one top flight pitcher in general... We've avoided just about everyone so far

[57Brave]

Bartolo Colon -- not a sexy name but I'd consider a top flight pitcher

[sturg33]

Bartolo Colon -- not a sexy name but I'd consider a top flight pitcher

Really?

You would?