“Getting on base is not what’s going to drive this kid’s future” and then went on to say “he pulls the ball and drives it out of the yard that’s who he is”

Thank you Bobby. Like I said – nobody in their right mind would give a DAMN about his OBP, what is going to pay Duda’s rent is hitting HRs and driving in runs, not standing on base.

Earlier this week bayonne was in the shout box talking about Ike being a clutch hitter yet so far he’s been exactly the same hitter with runners in scoring position as he has been without.

He’s also been less than stellar with RISP w/2 out: .229/.373/.323. with 22 hits and 22 walks.

Late and close: .227/.307/.391. Tie game: .221/..320/.359. w/in 1 run: .232/..326/.399. And these are the numbers from a first basemen, not a middle infielder or catcher but a big gun.

Ike’s best numbers by far are when there is a lead of more than 4 runs: .297/.366/.554 or when we’re already ahead: .300/.403/.502. Those numbers are above Ike’s average production to date, the more pressurized stats are below it.

None of this means that Ike won’t up his production in tight situations after all he’s only got one full year in the Majors, Nor does it mean that I don’t like Ike, want him traded or anything else. It just means that the statement that Ike so far has shown the propensity to drive in big runs in big spots is not fully supported by the facts. Yes, he has driven in some of them but at a far lower rate of production as he has in less pressurized situations by a substantial margin so far.

In addition the notion that 2 out RBI’s are not a good form of clutch measurement because it doesn’t take into account the score or inning at the time is almost laughably naive.

Picking up 2 out RBI is the very essence of clutch even in the first inning because it could be your only AB all game with any runners on base at all. Who knows, it could be the only AB all game your team has with RISP. With a lead it extends that lead and gives your pen more margin of error. When trailing it closes the gap and offers additional opportunities to close it some more after the hit. When tied puts you ahead.

What’s not clutch about any of that?

Lastly Venters slider was by far and away the most difficult pitch to make contact on last year in the Majors, the fact that one of our hitters was struck out by him is not very surprising at all especially a LH hitting one, after all in Venters first two seasons he’s stuck out one of every two LH hitters he’s faced.

It’s also no surprise to see that Gonzalez made sure Venters faced Duda. Expect to see this occur every time we face the Braves.

How about I got and find ONE at bat where he came through? I guess that makes me right, doesn’t it?

LOL, so once again when proven wrong you can just run back to your high school coaching experienced eyes.

But to not use those stupid stats and to use the only ones that count, he also had 3 HR and 11 RBI in 47 AB’s late and close.

LOL..

He had 2 walk off hits last year. I’m not saying hes NEVER done it. I’m saying he has shown TO ME and I know what i’m watching because i have 100% confidence in my ability and experience and don’t have to run to a number that can be misleading in many ways to begin with. 2 outs and RISP can be 2 outs in a 10-2 game. Your stupid late and close stat does not tell me anything about RBIs so what runs has he driven in those spots, again, your STUPID bases loaded stat doesn’t say when he’s getting those hits. High leverage can be anywhere in the game and you can still wind up losing those games anyway.

Stupid numbers by a stupid person who has to lean on information and misleading information to begin with because he has no trust in his own judgement.

Going forward what’s important to watch is Duda’s development in becoming a big spot producer, yesterday he struck out with the base loaded with the game in tow and he’s done that quite often already in his young career. But he is young. I’m not knocking Duda, just pointing out a TRUTH that other stupid people like this numbers-sucking clown ignore.

So it’s perfectly obvious to anyone who actually knows what they see when they watch baseball that Duda doesn’t “tighten up” in big spots. He’s just fine.

Still young, still new, and plenty of time to gain confidence so I’m not knocking him just pointing out a very, very important aspect of his game that the other saber goons don’t even regard. Anyway, if he doesn’t overcome that aspect of his game he can have the highest OBP in the world, if he tightens up when the game is on the line and doesn’t drive in the important runs, and THAT is going to be his bread and butter – not his OBP – then all you wind up is with another player that just gives you window dressing for numbers.

I want to be wrong about this and hope as soon as the next game Duda comes up in a big RBI spot with the game at stake he delivers. If he makes a career of that…THAT will be the thing that turns him into a star, not his stupid obp

Valdespin has work to do at the plate for his own benefit before we bring him here. In a year or two I could see Kirk moving over to RF for Duda in the late innings with den Dekker coming on for him in CF and Valdespin coming on for Murphy when he’s not starting at 2B or SS himself.

As for swagger I’d rather not see that until they actually win something.