Wernes

[flippinhogmana]

One thing I did notice about Wernes last year despite the fact that he wasn't hitting much, he did have a good batting eye and walked a lot.  Sometimes when you aren't hitting you try to get on base to contribute any way you can, so I didn't probably credit Bobby with as good a batting eye as he actually had.

This year he is drawing a lot of walks too, not because he isnt hitting but because of the good batting eye he has already had ((I also expect its a little easier to draw a walk this year since he is hitting a ton so far).  To go along with 23 official at bats, Wernes has walked five times and been hit once for an on base percentage of .621, or fairly close to two thirds of every time he has come to bat he has safely made it onto base. 

It's not just singles either: he has a double, three triples, and a homer for a slugging percentage of .957 (that's Albert Pujols in his good year's territory).  I suppose I should also say that his straight batting average is .522 after eight games.  Well done Bobby!  Keep up the great work.

[SPAL]

Has been a pleasant surprise. The best defender we have and now his bat is coming along.

[Kevin]

amazing what happens, when you don't just play all the time. but, take time to work on your body, and skills of the game

[ricepig]

Has been a pleasant surprise. The best defender we have and now his bat is coming along.

Yep, if he hits .280ish, he's not coming out.

[TikiHog]

he's the leader on the infield he's not coming out

[flippinhogmana]

agreed.  He is a leader, however, an 0 for 4 day (he did hit the ball hard a couple of times) drops his stats considerable due to being so few at bats so far- he is down to .444 BA now.   

[GatorHog]

If Wernes keeps hitting hot, does he move up in the lineup, or better to keep him put?

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

If Wernes keeps hitting hot, does he move up in the lineup, or better to keep him put?

Might move him up, but don't think we mess with a good thing right now and I wouldn't want a player to feel like he has "arrived" by moving him up after a short period of time. Plus, DVH typically likes to have one of his better hitters somewhere in the bottom of the order to kind of keep them honest. We are still tweaking the lineup, it's still early, so who knows?

It's fun having guys like Wernes and Shaddy batting at the bottom and being a threat to score runs and start big innings. Scouting reports on those two from last year are not going to help.

Competition is making this team better. Nice to have offensive options that are solid defensively.

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

he's the leader on the infield he's not coming out

Definitely the leader, saw that back in the fall and felt he would start in game one this season. I wasn't expecting him to hit as well as he has and felt Bernal or someone else would eventually take his spot, because of his bat. DVH liked Wernes last year and has been telling us that we would be pleasantly surprised with his offense this year and we are. Hope he keeps it up because I now think he is not coming out anytime soon.

And Bernal, now that he is getting healthy and looking like he is picking up right where he left off at the end of last year with his bat, what do we do with him? Nomura and McAfee are looking good and Max Hogan is just now coming around from injuries and DVH really likes him too. About a week before season started (and Hogan's injury) DVH said Hogan was solid defensively and needed to find a way to get his bat in the lineup.

And Gassaway, he could come in and play 1b for Eagan to free him to move to the OF which puts pressure on the outfielders to produce.

And Shaddy, he needs to be in the lineup somewhere, but Pennell has done well for a newcomer catcher.

Problems, problems, problems....

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

The cream always rises to the top unless in some case it doesn't.

Straight to the point, sorta.

[TikiHog]

I cant see Nomura sitting he's the spark plug on the team

[Kevin]

i think it will be interesting who starts at short this weekend

[TikiHog]

has to be Bernal

[dotnet]

has to be Bernal

Why? I didn't expect for Bernal to hit as well as he has, but McAfee has proven much more to me than Bernal - assuming health

[bulldog04]

[/quote]

Why? I didn't expect for Bernal to hit as well as he has, but McAfee has proven much more to me than Bernal - assuming health

Yeah I don't see where it "has" to be Bernal.

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

McAfee should do well enough at the plate to not ever be considered a defensive specialist. I think we keep him at SS until DVH sees to many E6's. Bernal may have more range and may make more SC POTD's, but McAfee won the job back-back in the offseason and in preseason and it's his to lose again. Bernal started hitting much better at the end of last season and showed some power. If anybody slips up at 4, 5, or 6 Bernal can slide right in at any of those spots. I think Nomura is the #2 guy at 3b(Bernal close 3rd), but Bernal would take his spot at 2b if something happens to Wernes. 

[TikiHog]

McAfee is 4 for his last 18....I would keep Bernal in there till he cools down

[flippinhogmana]

McAfee is 4 for his last 18....I would keep Bernal in there till he cools down

If stats dont matter yet, they will shortly...that goes for McAfee and everyone else, doesnt it?

[TikiHog]

has to be Bernal

nailed that

[A_R_K_A_N_S_A_S]

nailed that

Yes you did and so did Bernal (2 for 3). Good to have him back. Now we see what Hogan can do, we're going to find a hot DH'er or two.

[flippinhogmana]

Yes you did and so did Bernal (2 for 3). Good to have him back. Now we see what Hogan can do, we're going to find a hot DH'er or two.

We have nine quality hitters right now (what I would consider quality).  All of the nine, except Benintendi and Eagan are hitting above three hundred.  They have a minimum of 18 at bats with the exception of Bernal and how do you leave Bernal out?  Serrano ba is too low right now to join the group, several just dont have enough performance (mainly at bats).  Bonfield just doesnt have at bats, extra base hits, rbis, nothing to speak of at this point.

Point is this is more than we had last year by any measure, it may be the ball, but it is due to other factors, too I think.  Nomura, Spanberger, and Shaddy are additions, Wernes and Bernal are second year players (on this team) and Spoon and McAFee are health are contributing factors.

                  BA    g-gs  ab  r hits 2b 3b hr rbi tb  slg   bb hp so gdp ob% sf sh sb-att
B Wernes    .433  10-9  30  9 13  1   3  1   7  23 .767  5  1   6  1    .528  0  0  0-1
T Spoon     .417    9-9  36  8 15  5   1  1  10 25 .694  1  2   3  0    .462  0  0  0-1
R Nomura   .382  10-10 34  7 13  2   0  1   4  18 .529  4  1   2  1    .450  1  0  1-1
B McAfee   .321   8-7   28  9  9   0   0  2   4  15 .536  3  0   6  0    .387  0  0  1-1
C Eagan    . 293 10-10 41  7 12   2  1  0    8  16 .390  5  0   8  0    .370  0  0  1-3 
Benintendi  .290 10-10 31  8   9   1  0  3    8  19 .613  8  1   4  0    .419  3  1  2-3
M Bernal    .667   5-4    9  4   6   1  0  1    6  10 1.111 3  0   2  0    .750  0  0  0-0
C Shaddy  .500  10-5   22  7 11   1  0  1    4  15 .682  3  1   5  1    .577  0  0  1-1 Spanberger.333   7-5   18  3   6   0  1  0    5   8  .444  1  0  4  1    .368  0  0  0-0