Beyond the Box Score’s Satchel Price has an interesting article out, in which Price compares number nine hitters across the American League (right off the bat, Price admits that the piece is somewhat cursory, in that number nine hitters are subject to change give certain situations, as we saw last night with Curtis Granderson). Each player is ranked according to perceived offensive potential – that is a key phrase here – with our boy, Brett Gardner, coming in at number five (out of fourteen hitters). The only players ahead of Gardner are Travis Snider, Alexei Ramirez, Kelly Shoppach, and Marco Scutaro. Looking at the list, CHONE actually projects a .335 wOBA for Gardner, which, if we exclude Snider, is the highest out of that group of remaining four. It says a lot about Gardner, who is considered a defensive player, but actually brings some good offensive stuff to the table relative to the rest of the AL’s number nine hitters.
Photo by the AP
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4 Responses to Gardner solid at the bottom of the order
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And that’s what I have said over and over this off season that Gardner had to do. Yet tons of fans wanted him gone and Damon in Left field. If Gardner hits .270 and steals 30 – 40 bases and provides solid defense for a 9th hitter, I would take that any day.
I’m definitely not one of the guys that wanted Damon back. His defensive lapses were (IMO) worse than what I read or heard anywhere. Every fly ball to left became an adventure and his throws were laughable.
I’m not a big fan of justifying ++ defenders in corner OF spots who have little to offer offensively, but I think he’s going to be a decent offensive player.
I disagree with the folks who say MLB pitchers won’t respect his lack of power and therefore his walks will decrease more than a slugger with similar walk totals being promoted. There have been too many players who walked plenty without much power. It has more to do with patience and knowing the strike zone and not swinging at pitches out of the zone than anything else.
Gardner’s definitely good at not swinging outside the zone; his problem is that he doesn’t swing at enough pitches IN the zone. That tends to get him into unfavorable counts and he suffers for it. Everyone knows I’m always all for patience, but Gardner needs to swing away a little more. That’s the main reason why I don’t want him working on his bunting.
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