Monday, May 31, 2004
YOUK, YOUK, YOUK
Most scouts have never been high on Youkilis and after his poor performance in RI last season, STAT/SABR evaluators were down on the GGofBB as well. Baseball Prospectus wrote the following:
In AAA, he was fed a steady stream of high fastballs that he usually took for strikes, resulting in a lot of pitcher's counts and weakly batted balls...A career resembling Ken Oberkfell's or Dave Magadan's, with less defense...
Hopefully, Youk's 317/442/488 line is starting to end the questions regarding his ability to hit at the MLB level. Chicken Cesar Crespo (thanks Steve) has witnessed a change to Youk's approach at the plate.
"He is much more aggressive. He knows he's going to get good pitches up here, and he's not taking the way he used to. He's able to wait for mistakes and then capitalize on them. And he hits fastballs, curveballs, and changeups."
Youk has until the All-Star break to convince scouts that he is ready to play everyday in the Show. A stat line of 280/380/450 would make him a valuable commodity for the Sox. If Mueller can return to form, the Sox will likely pick up his $2.1 million 2005 option at the conclusion of the season creating a log jam at the hot corner this season and next. Youk's salary makes him the most valuable trading chip in the organization. Youk is the likely centerpiece of a blockbuster deal, if one emerges, in July.
Most scouts have never been high on Youkilis and after his poor performance in RI last season, STAT/SABR evaluators were down on the GGofBB as well. Baseball Prospectus wrote the following:
In AAA, he was fed a steady stream of high fastballs that he usually took for strikes, resulting in a lot of pitcher's counts and weakly batted balls...A career resembling Ken Oberkfell's or Dave Magadan's, with less defense...
Hopefully, Youk's 317/442/488 line is starting to end the questions regarding his ability to hit at the MLB level. Chicken Cesar Crespo (thanks Steve) has witnessed a change to Youk's approach at the plate.
"He is much more aggressive. He knows he's going to get good pitches up here, and he's not taking the way he used to. He's able to wait for mistakes and then capitalize on them. And he hits fastballs, curveballs, and changeups."
Youk has until the All-Star break to convince scouts that he is ready to play everyday in the Show. A stat line of 280/380/450 would make him a valuable commodity for the Sox. If Mueller can return to form, the Sox will likely pick up his $2.1 million 2005 option at the conclusion of the season creating a log jam at the hot corner this season and next. Youk's salary makes him the most valuable trading chip in the organization. Youk is the likely centerpiece of a blockbuster deal, if one emerges, in July.
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Thank you - Red Sox!
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