The two players who control this season

[Ryanwb]

I base this upon last season's dive so please disagree with me if you have another viewpoint

The two players who have the most impact on this season's team are Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds. First and foremost both of these players in logical terms should have likely hit their first major league seasons either late last year or this season based upon when each was in AA and using the logical promotions to AAA ball.

Upton clearly has demonstrated superior talent in both the field and the plate but has never shown any consistancy. In looking at both Drew and Jackson they turned the corners in their careers in their 3rd years, therefore it is logical to assume that Upton will make his move in his 3rd year. Upton has shown above average play in the field so the main area of need is his bat.

In Reynolds, he not only set the major league record for strikeouts in a season he lead the league in errors. I truly thought he showed potential in his rookie year at 3B, but he regressed into what he displayed last season. If he can drop his strikeout total by 35-50 this season by putting the ball into play more he will increase the run out put of the team putting the club beyond the struggles of May and April of last year.

The true down fall of the team existed in May and June after the fast April start, not at the tail end of the season. With the amount of games scheduled in April this season at home it wouldn't be a stretch to have a repeat in 2009.

 

[Black Jesus]

I agree, but I think you need to include Max Scherzer on the list. He needs to come up with some big starts...

This team still has some question marks. What is up with Byrnes, who si playing first, who is our closer, setupman, and bullpen in general.

I think Chris Young has to step up to. H ewas disappointing last year.

 

[BC867]

I agree, but I think you need to include Max Scherzer on the list.

Last season Max Scherzer was in the rotation, he was out of the rotation, he was a starter, he was a long reliever (when needed).

He never had a chance. And it caused his injuries.

I would much rather see him named our #3 starter this season instead of #5.

Doug Davis, at the age of 33, could much better handle the missed starts that go with being the #5 starter.

The deck is still partially stacked against Scherzer's development.

 

[WildBB]

Whoever is the closer (by committee?) will determine a large fate on this team.

 

[Homer Simpson]

In Reynolds, he not only set the major league record for strikeouts in a season he lead the league in errors. I truly thought he showed potential in his rookie year at 3B, but he regressed into what he displayed last season. If he can drop his strikeout total by 35-50 this season by putting the ball into play more he will increase the run out put of the team putting the club beyond the struggles of May and April of last year.

Ryan,

I know I don't post here much, so I don't want to come across as picking a fight, but I'd really like you to prove that Mark Reynolds will increase the run output of the team by striking out 35-50 less times.

Mark Reynolds' focus should be on getting on base more, not on the superficial "cutting down of strikeouts". If he raises his OBP from .323 to .350-.360, but still strikes out the same number of times, he has helped the team far more than if he whiffs 160 times but can't raise his OBP. And forget the "move the runners argument", because how many runners will he move in those 40 plate appearances?

The problem is, if you say he needs to cut down strikeouts, he accomplishes his goal by simply popping the ball up. He also accomplishes his goal by not allowing the count to get to two strikes. He also accomplishes his goal by tapping the ball weakly with two strikes (a weakly hit ball is far easier to field than a scorcher). The same approach that leads to Reynolds striking out 204 times also leads to him hitting 28 homers.

Reynolds needs to improve, but simply "cutting down on his strikeouts" won't solve anything. It will force him to focus on the wrong thing.