very well, but it's quite hyperbolic to say he has played as well as Trout. That puts way too much emphasis on an unstable defensive rating through 35 games.
I hope we don't blow up the future by moving guys like Frazier/Mateo/Rutherford in July.
Hicks and Castro - what can you say? Did anyone outside the organization believe either would be able to perform at this level for more than a hot-streak?
Don't break up what is working. Rotate the OFers based on whatever model Joe is using. Don't kill the golden goose by getting greedy.
has been one of the best offensive players in the league thus far. He is 13th in all of baseball in wRC+ (a better version of OPS+).
However, it's worth noting that his rate stats are skewed by his splits in which he faces a higher proportion of lefties than everyday starters which inflates his rate stats. For example, 37% of his plate appearances have been against lefties.
For comparison, the Yankees leader in PAs, Castro, has only had 25% of his plate appearances against lefties.
This is smart of Girardi, but it shows how his rate stats are inflated due to not being an everyday player.
Yet, even with fewer plate appearances, about 2/3rds of the league stars (Castro most on Yankees wit h163), Hicks has still managed to rank 10th in offensive total contribution which is a counting stat (includes SBs and baserunning). That said, there is a notable drop-off between 10th and guys like Trout atop the list.
Media had the Yankees finishing last this year? This is a fun team to watch and root for after 3 years of painful offenses and watching former stars fade.
On top of the young talent, his deals are looking absolutely golden right now. He turned JR Murphy, Brendan Ryan, and Shane Greene into Hicks, Castro, and Gregorius (Adam Warren of course went to Chicago for Castro and returned for Chapman).
On top of the young talent, his deals are looking absolutely golden right now. He turned JR Murphy, Brendan Ryan, and Shane Greene into Hicks, Castro, and Gregorius (Adam Warren of course went to Chicago for Castro and returned for Chapman).
Good point, and while we all mocked him last season for standing by Hicks' ability last season (myself included), he's proving him right this season
He likely won't keep this up, but while he does he sure as hell needs to be in the lineup everyday.
Hicks and Castro - what can you say? Did anyone outside the organization believe either would be able to perform at this level for more than a hot-streak?
Don't break up what is working. Rotate the OFers based on whatever model Joe is using. Don't kill the golden goose by getting greedy.
However, it's worth noting that his rate stats are skewed by his splits in which he faces a higher proportion of lefties than everyday starters which inflates his rate stats. For example, 37% of his plate appearances have been against lefties.
For comparison, the Yankees leader in PAs, Castro, has only had 25% of his plate appearances against lefties.
This is smart of Girardi, but it shows how his rate stats are inflated due to not being an everyday player.
Yet, even with fewer plate appearances, about 2/3rds of the league stars (Castro most on Yankees wit h163), Hicks has still managed to rank 10th in offensive total contribution which is a counting stat (includes SBs and baserunning). That said, there is a notable drop-off between 10th and guys like Trout atop the list.
Hicks: .326/.464/.616
Not as good as Trout but not that far off. Both excellent in CF and great speed on the bases.
I don't predict Hicks will keep it up but that's what he's done so far this season.
If anything, the inflated number of lefties he faced would thus be deflating his current rate stats.
Doesn't make sense other than the product of a small sample size.
But I hope he can at least maintain better productivity going forward than he typically has shown in his career.
w00t!
Good point, and while we all mocked him last season for standing by Hicks' ability last season (myself included), he's proving him right this season