Cojack Strikes Again

[devilalum]

I was watching Dusty Baker talk about some of his players during the rain delay presser yesterday. He was talking about how it usually takes time for most players to develop home run power. He said players have to learn to work the count and force pitchers to throw pitches that can be hit for home runs. Everything he said seemed applicable to Jackson.

 

[devilfan02]

When's the "Tracy Strikes Again' thread gonna start? Some of you are quick to jump all over CoJack, which is deserved, but Tracy is right up (down there I guess I should say) there defensively with Connor. He just geeked a routine grounder, running infornt of Drew to steal a grounder. I don't know what he's thinking sometimes

 

[AZZenny]

When's the "Tracy Strikes Again' thread gonna start?

I'll start it! I'll start it!

People for some inescapable reason treat Tracy like he's the reincarnation of Matt Williams. He's a nice guy, hard working, relatively injury free, but really -- he has yet to show he'll improve over time, based on a teeny sampling. Conor has as good or better overall potential. It would, of course, be nice if Grace could work with Conor as he did with Tracy -- when Grace commented a couple days ago that 'BoMel and Jay Bell talked with Conor and told him to play more aggressively at first base' -- it almost sounds like they've been leaving him to figure out how to play the position on his own all this time. My guess -- that's the kind of help Tracy's been getting at third, too. Way to develop the young talent, Clarabell.

 

[AZZenny]

Cojack is not a home run hitter. He may develop more power but I don't see it.

He just hasn't shown the power for a 1B or corner outfielder.

Let's see... like Troy Glaus? Whose defense was no more gawdawful than Tracy's, and who has the power you want, but you guys couldn't wait to get rid of him. Although his first full year stats were weaker than Conor's, other than belting HR. Or maybe we can do another Richie Sexson deal. Or Hillenbrandt, maybe.

Every scout and knowledgeable baseball person I've ever heard has said you shouldn't worry about a young guy hitting for power until about the third full year in the big leagues. They all also say CJ has the best eye, and among the best plate discipline, of anyone to come along in many years, and you cannot teach that, and that the power will come. He's always been a doubles hitter, not a slugger.

But then, Chad wasn't a slugger either and you guys wanted power. btw, his plate discipline has slipped each of the past three years. His SLG and IsoP are also down from last year. He has ten more errors than CJ, and a lower Zone Rating, as well.

Just for a bit of deja vu perspective below -- how quick so many have always been to trade off our young talent. Then, of course, you rip and snort when a year or two later they look good elsewhere, complaining that they never got the chance, or the education, or the support, to develop here.

Why, GOLLY! only a couple months ago, some folks around here were suggesting that they may as well trade the overrated Carlos Quentin, and go with guys like Chris Young, Carlos Gonzalez, Scott Hairston.... POWER hitters. btw, anyone who mentions Chris Carter and defense in the same sentence without using the adjective 'ghastly' has had way too much power-hitter koolaid!

Chad Tracy is in the Mark Grace, Will Clark, JT Snow mold. A good hitting 1B, but you'd better be strong with power hitters at your three other corner positions. ... Unless Chad Tracy hits .330 on a consistent basis (which he isn't), it doesn't look good for him as our 1B in the future.-- BC867 May 24, 2005

I guess Chad Tracy is penciled in as the Dbacks 1B, however, unless he bulked-up this off-season..he wont really benefit them from that "power standpoint" either.....KLL12/28/2004

Tracey is hopefully gone... he isn't a power hitter. This team needs a power hitter SOME WHERE in the lineup - Ryanwb 11/30/2004

I really can't comprehend people's infatuation with Chad Tracy. He's a corner infielder and he puts up a fair average/OBP but with little power. That would be okay with me if he brought Gold Glove caliber defense to the field every day like Bill Mueller, Edgardo Alfonzo, and Doug Mientkevich do. Unfortunately he brings Roger Dorn caliber defense to third base without the cheesy sweaters and infidelity. Very weak. - MaoTosiFanClub 11/30/2004

I agree somewhat that Chad Tracey will be the third basemen next year but why?

Shea has a better average and both are equally as bad defensively. Binkar 09/21/2004

The guy will hit, and hit for average. Just not much power. Expect maybe .315, with 15-25 homers a year, I think, and about 80+ RBI's. We gave up on Overbay, and he's the same type of hitter.

Santos is better because he's a converted SS? I thought they would move him because he's a butcher in the field. Not saying Tracy isn't, because, wow, he can't field the position either. Green Machine 08/13/2004

(Overbay) was given a chance during the last two springs and he couldn't hack it. Its one thing if you don't hit for power but have incredible defense skills ala Grace or JT Snow, but Overbay had niether. It works great in the minors, butyou need power in this league. Ryanwb 12/01/2003

What is surprising is Lyle's power. He hit his 5th home run today. They had to get rid of Lyle to get Sexson and I would do this trade anyday but the key is signing Sexson to a long contract. Zona90 05/08/2005

Lyle Overbay had a world of potential when we brought him up.
. . .
For Lyle Overbay, what a difference a year makes. BC867 05/08/2006

 

[green machine]

Let's see... like Troy Glaus? Whose defense was no more gawdawful than Tracy's, and who has the power you want, but you guys couldn't wait to get rid of him. Although his first full year stats were weaker than Conor's, other than belting HR. Or maybe we can do another Richie Sexson deal. Or Hillenbrandt, maybe.

Every scout and knowledgeable baseball person I've ever heard has said you shouldn't worry about a young guy hitting for power until about the third full year in the big leagues. They all also say CJ has the best eye, and among the best plate discipline, of anyone to come along in many years, and you cannot teach that, and that the power will come. He's always been a doubles hitter, not a slugger.

But then, Chad wasn't a slugger either and you guys wanted power. btw, his plate discipline has slipped each of the past three years. His SLG and IsoP are also down from last year. He has ten more errors than CJ, and a lower Zone Rating, as well.

Just for a bit of deja vu perspective below -- how quick so many have always been to trade off our young talent. Then, of course, you rip and snort when a year or two later they look good elsewhere, complaining that they never got the chance, or the education, or the support, to develop here.

Why, GOLLY! only a couple months ago, some folks around here were suggesting that they may as well trade the overrated Carlos Quentin, and go with guys like Chris Young, Carlos Gonzalez, Scott Hairston.... POWER hitters. btw, anyone who mentions Chris Carter and defense in the same sentence without using the adjective 'ghastly' has had way too much power-hitter koolaid!

I'm pretty sure I never advocated trading any of these guys...especially not CoJack...I'm trying to defend the guy!

 

[AZZenny]

LOL -- I know, not aimed at you -- it was just more evidence of the quite general sense on Chad after his first year that he would never hit for power. I am quite sure if we look at posts from Webby's 1st and 2nd year he was regarded as overrated at times, too, because he's not a POWER pitcher. It pays to have patience. Power isn't everything. Besides - if we have power at all 3 outfield slots, as we will in another two years, decent power at SS and 3rd, speed at 2nd, SS, and CF, and incredible OBP and contact at 1st -- why must we focus on a power hitting 1st baseman?