Mark Reynolds

[Ryanwb]

The guy is one of the top 10 premier power hitters in the game.... however he is also going to absolutely shatter his own record for strikeouts in a season. If he could cut 15% of his strikeouts, he's an MVP candidate (not this year because Pujols is running away with it)

His average is way up, his homers and RBI's are up, even his defense is improved. I just don't know what to say about the strikeouts

 

[PDXChris]

I could really care less about his strikeouts as long as he stays at .280 with his average. Riddle me this, when is the last time you saw him hit into a double play? I think that is worse than a strike out. If he hit 47 HR's and 120 RBI's(his current pace), he can strike out 220 time and I would not flinch. After all, he is top 10 in all major offensive categories except for average. Also, when if the last time he committed a error at third.

Of course he cut his strike outs down to 150 a year, he would probably his 60 HR's and hit .330.

By the way, I remember one of ESPN baseball experts were on before the season started and said Mark would never be more than a 25-30 HR/.250 baseball players. Good call on that one.

 

[PDXChris]

By the way, Mark has hit into 6 double plays. David Wright has hit into 10 and Albert Pujols has hit into 15.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Agreed, if Reynolds can cut down 15% of his strikeouts he should be able to hit a solid .280 or higher every year and would be one of the premier sluggers with speed in the league.

 

[DWKB]

Agreed, if Reynolds can cut down 15% of his strikeouts he should be able to hit a solid .280 or higher every year and would be one of the premier sluggers with speed in the league.

Why is it assumed that Reynolds batting philosophy at the plate, and the mechanics of his pitch recognition to swing mechanics all would stay the same by trying to reduce his strikeouts?

Reynolds doesn't swing at a high percentage of pitches outside the strike zone, nor does he take a high percentage of pitches inside the strike zone. Reynolds simply swings and misses a lot more than your average batter.

That "swing hard and hope something good happens" approach at the plate means hard hit balls, which means power. Take that away and you can't expect all of his other peripherals to remain constant.

It's simply empty speculation to state what Reynolds "should be able to do" while changing his fundamental approach. Hell think how good Prince Fielder could be if he could steal 30 bases in a year and play CF!!

 

[Dback Jon]

Agreed, DWKB. I'll take the strikeouts with the numbers he is putting up.

What is the difference between a strikeout and any other out?

Most times, nothing. Sometimes, stays out of a double play. Other times, fails to advance the runner. I would bet they are about a wash. On the other hand, even when he doesn't hit an HR, a long fly ball at least has the potential to advance a runner, a weak pop-up doesnt.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I could really care less about his strikeouts as long as he stays at .280 with his average. Riddle me this, when is the last time you saw him hit into a double play? I think that is worse than a strike out. If he hit 47 HR's and 120 RBI's(his current pace), he can strike out 220 time and I would not flinch. After all, he is top 10 in all major offensive categories except for average. Also, when if the last time he committed a error at third.

Of course he cut his strike outs down to 150 a year, he would probably his 60 HR's and hit .330.

By the way, I remember one of ESPN baseball experts were on before the season started and said Mark would never be more than a 25-30 HR/.250 baseball players. Good call on that one.

Agreed... if he was batting .250ish, the K's would be a much more serious concern.
However, a .270 - .280 hitter with 30-plus dingers and 100 RBI's can strikeout all he wants! It's a total non-issue...

 

[Ryanwb]

That "swing hard and hope something good happens" approach at the plate means hard hit balls, which means power. Take that away and you can't expect all of his other peripherals to remain constant.

It's simply empty speculation to state what Reynolds "should be able to do" while changing his fundamental approach. Hell think how good Prince Fielder could be if he could steal 30 bases in a year and play CF!!

Reynolds has the worst contact percentage in the majors. I don't think he would become a totally different player by tweaking his fundamentals a bit. Moreover it's not a stretch to think his production would improve a bit by putting the ball in play more. I'm not asking him to do something beyond his physical abilities like your Prince Fielder fallacy

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I just hope we lock him up asap before he prices himself out of D-Backs uni. Build around Upton, Drew, Reynolds and Miggy.

 

[Mulli]

What are Reynolds stats against good pitchers? It seems like a guy who strikes out so much might have problems against tough teams (like in the playoffs).

 

[82CardsGrad]

What are Reynolds stats against good pitchers? It seems like a guy who strikes out so much might have problems against touch teams (like in the playoffs).

I would love to worry about how Reynolds would perform when actually playing in the postseason!!!

 

[PDXChris]

What are Reynolds stats against good pitchers? It seems like a guy who strikes out so much might have problems against tough teams (like in the playoffs).

He has 2 HR's in 7 post season games.

 

[Gaddabout]

Why is it assumed that Reynolds batting philosophy at the plate, and the mechanics of his pitch recognition to swing mechanics all would stay the same by trying to reduce his strikeouts?

This is the same issue Reynolds has raised every time someone asks him about his strikeouts. His response is the best way he can help his team is to swing free and hard, because someone has to drive in runs. He can do that -- at the expense of ba, oba, ks, etc.

The fact remains when Reynolds makes contact, good things tend to happen. I wish I could say that about every D-Backs batter.

 

[DWKB]

Reynolds has the worst contact percentage in the majors.

I'm aware, just above Ryan Howard. Are you suggesting Howard make the same adjustments?

I don't think he would become a totally different player by tweaking his fundamentals a bit. Moreover it's not a stretch to think his production would improve a bit by putting the ball in play more.

Why? Seems when he does put the ball in play now he's pretty productive. He's 12th in MLB in BABIP. I doubt it's going to get that much higher.

He has an average swing percentage of balls out of the strike zone and an above average one insides the strike zone so it's not like his K's are a large result of strike recognition. His lack of contact has to do with the type of swing he has.

You muck with that by trying to make him meet the ball more and it's expected that his power will drop and his BABIP most likely as well.

This isn't to say Reynolds can't have years that he doesn't lead the league in swings and misses or strikeouts, but he's going to be close to the top in both of these for his career.

 

[Ryanwb]

You muck with that by trying to make him meet the ball more and it's expected that his power will drop and his BABIP most likely as well.

Didn't you just accuse me of making "empty speculation", how is this any different? You are appealing to probablity as the basis of your argument, a fallacy

 

[DWKB]

Didn't you just accuse me of making "empty speculation", how is this any different? You are appealing to probablity as the basis of your argument, a fallacy

You're correct, it's not any different the way I worded it. I had said in my head it's just as likely, but the words came out sounding more definitive.

 

[Ryanwb]

You're correct, it's not any different the way I worded it. I had said in my head it's just as likely, but the words came out sounding more definitive.

Understood

 

[Forrestham]

Reynolds has really become a stud. I think we live with the strikeout. He swings hard and connects quite a bit. If he hits .280 with 45 HRs and 125 RBIs I can't get too upset about strikeouts

 

[IAWarnerFan]

I have noticed him swinging on what acording to MLB game tracker looked to be ball four and I noticed again tonight with a 3-1 count (I believe) and he ended up striking out. Sometimes I think he gets a bit eager, but that's quite normal for power hitter. He's still hitting around .280 and is within two HRs of the NL lead, so it's not that big of a deal I guess.

 

[82CardsGrad]

He's second only to Pujols in Total Bases...

Nobody has ever hit 50 HR's and stolen 30 bases in one season.. it's doable for him...

It's gotten to the point that I don't want to miss one at-bat of his!

 

[Dback Jon]

He's second only to Pujols in Total Bases...

Nobody has ever hit 50 HR's and stolen 30 bases in one season.. it's doable for him...

It's gotten to the point that I don't want to miss one at-bat of his!

That would be something to see - I was thinking 40-30 last night after he got his 20th SB

 

[Mulli]

Anyone think he could be more selective if he had more protection in the lineup?

Just wondering.

 

[DWKB]

Anyone think he could be more selective if he had more protection in the lineup?

Just wondering.

Possible, but the numbers show that his swinging and missing --both for pitches in and out of the strike zone-- is far more influential in his high K total than being able to recognize a ball vs a strike, or selectivity.

 

[Mulli]

Possible, but the numbers show that his swinging and missing --both for pitches in and out of the strike zone-- is far more influential in his high K total than being able to recognize a ball vs a strike, or selectivity.

Maybe he wouldn't have to swing at pitches out of the strike zone quite as often?

 

[DWKB]

Maybe he wouldn't have to swing at pitches out of the strike zone quite as often?

He's right at league average for this is what I'm saying. It's not a Jeff Francoeur or Alfonso Soriano type of hacking at anything thrown issue.
Reynolds does a fairly good job at differencing a ball from a strike, but when he decided he wants to swing, the aggressiveness of the swing causes a higher chance of missing the ball.