Youk!!!

[cjbucks]

I listened to the last three innings of the Yankees/Red Sox game in the car today. Kevin Youkillis took three walks today with a 23 game hitting streak on the line including a 5 pitch walk in the bottom of the 8th with the Sox leading by 4. Outside of Lee there is no one on the Cubs that is that concerned with doing the right thing for the team.............we could use about 3 or 4 guys like that.

[Soriano12]

Plus, he is Jewish.

 

That is fantastic.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Take that, Mel!

[Omar]

Well, he's living up to his name.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

I continue to be amazed by the common sense the Red Sox use when it comes to bringing along young players at the ML level.

 

Pedroia was awful in April (.182/.308/.236). Francona played him every day. In May, Pedroia was one of the best hitters in baseball (.415/.472/.600). Now, in Chicago, Pedroia either goes back to the minors or is buried on the bench. No instruction happens and the player flounders. In Boston, they allow the player to work through the struggles to get to the level they know the player is capable of.

[Tracer Bullet]

Well, he's living up to his name.

 

His facial hair is rather godly...

[rabidawg900]

Kevin Youkilis...he defines what "Moneyball" stands for. The ultimate plate discipline.

[TruffleShuffle]

I listened to the last three innings of the Yankees/Red Sox game in the car today. Kevin Youkillis took three walks today with a 23 game hitting streak on the line including a 5 pitch walk in the bottom of the 8th with the Sox leading by 4. Outside of Lee there is no one on the Cubs that is that concerned with doing the right thing for the team.............we could use about 3 or 4 guys like that.

 

it has nothing to do with doing the best thing for the team. He's a very patient hitter who doesn't swing at junk; that's why he walked three times. The Cubs don't lose because they have selfish players; they lose because they don't have patient hitters like Kevin Youkilis.

[10man]

Kevin Youkilis...he defines what "Moneyball" stands for. The ultimate plate discipline.

Actually, plate discipline has nothing to do at all with Moneyball. Moneyball philosopy is taking a commodity that the rest of the market undervalues and takes advantage of it by "buying low". Plate discipline/OBP used to be undervalued but the rest of the league (except the Cubs) have been made aware of it and so it is now being paid for at a better market rate.

 

What Hendry did with Soriano is the exact opposite of Moneyball, cause he overpaid for commodities which the rest of the market overvalues (home runs and stolen bases).

Edited June 3, 2007 by 10man

[Soriano12]

Kevin Youkilis...he defines what "Moneyball" stands for. The ultimate plate discipline.

Actually, plate discipline has nothing to do at all with Moneyball. Moneyball philosopy is taking a commodity that the rest of the market undervalues and takes advantage of it by "buying low". Plate discipline/OBP used to be undervalued but the rest of the league (except the Cubs) have been made aware of it and so it is now being paid for at a better market rate.

 

Yep. see JD Drew.

[wilk]

Kevin Youkilis...The ultimate plate discipline.

 

What about Jack Cust? Here's a guy who has a 1.033 OPS despite a .233 batting average...

Nearly 200 points of isolated discipline and 400 points of isolated power...

[nilodnayr]

Kevin Youkilis...The ultimate plate discipline.

 

What about Jack Cust? Here's a guy who has a 1.033 OPS despite a .233 batting average...

Nearly 200 points of isolated discipline and 400 points of isolated power...

 

But Andy Laroche just got sent down to the minors...its not just the Cubs who dont realize the value of OBP (note. Laroche didn't show Cust's power in his short time up).

[SouthSideRyan]

I listened to the last three innings of the Yankees/Red Sox game in the car today. Kevin Youkillis took three walks today with a 23 game hitting streak on the line including a 5 pitch walk in the bottom of the 8th with the Sox leading by 4. Outside of Lee there is no one on the Cubs that is that concerned with doing the right thing for the team.............we could use about 3 or 4 guys like that.

 

it has nothing to do with doing the best thing for the team. He's a very patient hitter who doesn't swing at junk; that's why he walked three times. The Cubs don't lose because they have selfish players; they lose because they don't have patient hitters like Kevin Youkilis.

 

Thank you.

[cjbucks]

I listened to the last three innings of the Yankees/Red Sox game in the car today. Kevin Youkillis took three walks today with a 23 game hitting streak on the line including a 5 pitch walk in the bottom of the 8th with the Sox leading by 4. Outside of Lee there is no one on the Cubs that is that concerned with doing the right thing for the team.............we could use about 3 or 4 guys like that.

 

it has nothing to do with doing the best thing for the team. He's a very patient hitter who doesn't swing at junk; that's why he walked three times. The Cubs don't lose because they have selfish players; they lose because they don't have patient hitters like Kevin Youkilis.

 

Thank you.

 

So patient ab's are not the best thing for the team?

[TruffleShuffle]

I listened to the last three innings of the Yankees/Red Sox game in the car today. Kevin Youkillis took three walks today with a 23 game hitting streak on the line including a 5 pitch walk in the bottom of the 8th with the Sox leading by 4. Outside of Lee there is no one on the Cubs that is that concerned with doing the right thing for the team.............we could use about 3 or 4 guys like that.

 

it has nothing to do with doing the best thing for the team. He's a very patient hitter who doesn't swing at junk; that's why he walked three times. The Cubs don't lose because they have selfish players; they lose because they don't have patient hitters like Kevin Youkilis.

 

Thank you.

 

So patient ab's are not the best thing for the team?

 

They are, but Cubs players aren't hackers because they don't give a crap about helping their team. They're hackers because that's just the way they are. Some hitters are naturally impatient or never learned patience.... the Cubs just happen to collect these sorts of hitters.

 

Let's put it this way. I don't believe that Youkilis goes up to the plate thinking "I want to help my team win" - he just follows his instincts, lays off the bad pitchers and usually swings at the ones he thinks are hittable. If the pitcher throws four bad ones before throwing three strikes, then Youkilis strolls down to first.

[tkenm356]

Kevin Youkilis...The ultimate plate discipline.

 

What about Jack Cust? Here's a guy who has a 1.033 OPS despite a .233 batting average...

Nearly 200 points of isolated discipline and 400 points of isolated power...

 

Jack Cust's Patience vs. Kevin Youkilis' patience

 

Cust wins hands down.

 

Sickening statistic:

 

Jack Cust has 23 walks in 23 games this year. Derrek Lee & Mark DeRosa lead the Cubs in walks with 20 through 48 games played. Youkilis has 25 walks through 50 games.

 

If Youkilis is the Greek God of Walks, Jack Cust is the Almighty Omnipotent God of Walks

[nilodnayr]

Well theres a big difference betwen Youk and Cust as Cust is a Dunn-esque three true outcome guy and Youk puts the ball in play a lot more.

[tkenm356]

Well theres a big difference betwen Youk and Cust as Cust is a Dunn-esque three true outcome guy and Youk puts the ball in play a lot more.

 

Yeah, I know. Cust is a horrible contact hitter. He's struck out like 36 times or something in those 23 games. But as far as patience and taking walks is concerned he's second to none

[soccer10k]

I continue to be amazed by the common sense the Red Sox use when it comes to bringing along young players at the ML level.

 

Pedroia was awful in April (.182/.308/.236). Francona played him every day. In May, Pedroia was one of the best hitters in baseball (.415/.472/.600). Now, in Chicago, Pedroia either goes back to the minors or is buried on the bench. No instruction happens and the player flounders. In Boston, they allow the player to work through the struggles to get to the level they know the player is capable of.

 

Pedroia has been crushing the ball recently. He's from this area - Woodland which is 10-15 minutes north of Sacramento.

[TruffleShuffle]

I continue to be amazed by the common sense the Red Sox use when it comes to bringing along young players at the ML level.

 

Pedroia was awful in April (.182/.308/.236). Francona played him every day. In May, Pedroia was one of the best hitters in baseball (.415/.472/.600). Now, in Chicago, Pedroia either goes back to the minors or is buried on the bench. No instruction happens and the player flounders. In Boston, they allow the player to work through the struggles to get to the level they know the player is capable of.

 

Pedroia has been crushing the ball recently. He's from this area - Woodland which is 10-15 minutes north of Sacramento.

 

The two picks ahead of Grant Johnson were Hunter Pence and Dustin Pedroia. The pick after Johnson was Kurt Suzuki. WTG, Cobs.

 

Pedroia is the type of player I'd love to see the Cubs pick more of - pretty highly regarded college position player with good patience, a somewhat limited ceiling, but also a very attainable ceiling.

 

Lost in the fact that the Red Sox have a ton of money is that they've produced a LOT of big league talent in the past few years. Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Murton, Papelbon, Meredith, Bard, Hansen, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez... it's a solid list. Clay Buchholz is well on his way to Boston too.

[illiniguy]

I continue to be amazed by the common sense the Red Sox use when it comes to bringing along young players at the ML level.

 

Pedroia was awful in April (.182/.308/.236). Francona played him every day. In May, Pedroia was one of the best hitters in baseball (.415/.472/.600). Now, in Chicago, Pedroia either goes back to the minors or is buried on the bench. No instruction happens and the player flounders. In Boston, they allow the player to work through the struggles to get to the level they know the player is capable of.

 

Pedroia has been crushing the ball recently. He's from this area - Woodland which is 10-15 minutes north of Sacramento.

 

The two picks ahead of Grant Johnson were Hunter Pence and Dustin Pedroia. The pick after Johnson was Kurt Suzuki. WTG, Cobs.

 

Pedroia is the type of player I'd love to see the Cubs pick more of - pretty highly regarded college position player with good patience, a somewhat limited ceiling, but also a very attainable ceiling.

 

Lost in the fact that the Red Sox have a ton of money is that they've produced a LOT of big league talent in the past few years. Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Murton, Papelbon, Meredith, Bard, Hansen, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez... it's a solid list. Clay Buchholz is well on his way to Boston too.

But, none of those guys you mentioned played at Notre Dame where Hendry's buddy coaches. Or none played for Hendry's old high school. Think of the talent we could have if we didn't have the worst gm ever in charge of our team.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'll also add that Lars Anderson (now there's a late round pick who was actually worth the big bonus) is raking, Brandon Moss and Jacoby Ellsbury are showing promise, and Michael Bowden looks to be a good one. You might be able to find a common theme among the Sox hitting prospects, by the way.

[CubinNY]

But, none of those guys you mentioned played at Notre Dame where Hendry's buddy coaches. Or none played for Hendry's old high school. Think of the talent we could have if we didn't have the worst gm ever in charge of our team.

 

I'll just pile on here and add Cliff Floyd to the list. Hendry recruited him when he was at Creighten

 

I'm sure there are others.

[NewUserName]

I continue to be amazed by the common sense the Red Sox use when it comes to bringing along young players at the ML level.

 

Pedroia was awful in April (.182/.308/.236). Francona played him every day. In May, Pedroia was one of the best hitters in baseball (.415/.472/.600). Now, in Chicago, Pedroia either goes back to the minors or is buried on the bench. No instruction happens and the player flounders. In Boston, they allow the player to work through the struggles to get to the level they know the player is capable of.

 

Pedroia has been crushing the ball recently. He's from this area - Woodland which is 10-15 minutes north of Sacramento.

 

The two picks ahead of Grant Johnson were Hunter Pence and Dustin Pedroia. The pick after Johnson was Kurt Suzuki. WTG, Cobs.

 

Pedroia is the type of player I'd love to see the Cubs pick more of - pretty highly regarded college position player with good patience, a somewhat limited ceiling, but also a very attainable ceiling.

 

Lost in the fact that the Red Sox have a ton of money is that they've produced a LOT of big league talent in the past few years. Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Murton, Papelbon, Meredith, Bard, Hansen, Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez... it's a solid list. Clay Buchholz is well on his way to Boston too.

But, none of those guys you mentioned played at Notre Dame where Hendry's buddy coaches. Or none played for Hendry's old high school. Think of the talent we could have if we didn't have the worst gm ever in charge of our team.

 

The Cubs player development system would have probably screwed them up though.

 

Hey kid why are you taking pitches?

[chuckywang]

I think that I speak for everyone when I say that we already have a first baseman.