The "Is Felix Ready?" Thread

[NCCubFan]

Here is to Hill shutting out the Reds today!

Fixed. :D

[CubsWin]

Yeah, if he keeps hitting like crazy the next two months, maybe we can say he doesn't have anything left to gain there, but we're hardly at that point.

I agree, but, after what Pie's done the last two days, we might be getting there. :lol:

 

I'm joking. Of course, it's going to take more than half a month for Pie to work out his plate discipline issues, but I just found it funny that here we are debating his batting eye and he goes and walks 5 times in two games.

 

He has now walked 8 times in 29 ABs in the first half of April. A year ago, he walked 8 times in the entire month of April over 83 ABs. (He actually walked 10 times, but 2 were intentional.) His current OBP is .526 and his IsoD is .112. I know, I know. It will all even out. I just makes me laugh.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Des Moines Register[/url]"]"I'm working on being patient at home plate," said Pie, who entered Saturday ranked seventh in the Pacific Coast League in batting with a .444 average. "Being able to take more (pitches) and swinging at strikes. I'm working a little on base-running, too."

 

Both are key aspects identified for improvement as the 22-year-old from La Romana, Dominican Republic, seeks to eventually climb to the big leagues.

 

Pie hit and walked his way to a .341 on-base percentage last season at Iowa, which, while solid, is short of the .360-and-up benchmark.

 

"I'm working so every day I get better a little bit," Pie said.

 

So far, so good.

 

Pie had a 14-game hitting streak snapped Saturday. The streak encompassed this season's first eight games and last season's final six.

 

He has walked eight times in his first 37 plate appearances this season, after managing 46 walks in more than 600 trips to the plate last season.

 

Pie drew a base on balls in his first plate appearance Saturday to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning. He later added two more walks.

 

"It's not really hard when you concentrate; when you think of what you need to do," Pie said of better pitch selection.

 

...

 

"The (recognition) is good, but I don't care about that," Pie said. "I've got to do my job and work hard."

[imb]

Doesn't it seem like Pie adjusts and picks up new things really easily? (outside of stealing bases, anyway)

 

I try not to get my hopes up, but I can see six cheap years of him in the outfield and I get pretty excited.

[CubmanPi]

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1034/pi2qr4.gif > Floyd

A few days late, but thanks for the vote of confidence. I heartily agree.

[jersey cubs fan]

Doesn't it seem like Pie adjusts and picks up new things really easily? (outside of stealing bases, anyway)

 

I try not to get my hopes up, but I can see six cheap years of him in the outfield and I get pretty excited.

 

Well, I would hope he plays well enough so that only about 4 of those years are truly cheap. Ideally he'd come out and play well his first year, then continue to improve enough to give the organization incentive to sign him longterm before he hits free agency. That would mean giving him near market value in years 5 and 6, but it would be worth it if he plays well enough to earn it.

[rawaction]

Doesn't it seem like Pie adjusts and picks up new things really easily? (outside of stealing bases, anyway)

 

I try not to get my hopes up, but I can see six cheap years of him in the outfield and I get pretty excited.

 

When I saw him in Lansing, my unexpert scouting report on him was about the adjustments he made. He did a great job of taking pitches early and waiting on his pitch. If he didn't get a pitch to hit, he wasn't afraid to lay down a bunt. In one game, I saw him ground out to the pitcher reaching for a slider (I believe) in the 1st. Then next time up he drove one into the RCF gap. 3rd time vs. the same pitcher, he bunted for a single. This was all vs. a LHP too.

 

I think he's ready now. I have faith that Perry can help him make adjustments so he doesn't have the prolonged slump like he did the middle of last season.

[Balsa]

I keep forgetting he's so young because I've been hearing about him for so long.

[Garwilly]

Time to find out.

[98navigator]

Time to find out.

[CubsWin]

Time to find out.

I like what I found out today. The sharply hit gapper for his first hit and RBI. Scoring with ease on Lee's single. The strong and accurate throw from center to cut down the runner at home and keep the score tied. It was a great debut.

 

That said, he still hasn't shown me that he's as ready as he can be. I would like to have seen more time in AAA with the excellent IsoD he showed in the first 11 games. He didn't draw a walk today. And even if he did, I'd still need to see more games before we can judge whether he is indeed "ready".

 

Here's hoping that during those games, he proves that he is.

[NCCubFan]

Um, yes, I think he's ready. :D

[sweetpeteman]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/sweetpeteman/home_run_pie-1.jpg

 

Now without the odd "Made With Dutch People" and with Felix!