Has there ever been a more hollow .292?

[jim]

The catcher isn't the problem with this team. And, right now, he's not even a problem.

I don't see why people would know what's coming when Reyes pitches, vs everyone else. He's the only regular starter I can remember in the last several years to regular not make it out of the 5th inning. I don't see how you pin that on Yadi.

The problem I see with Reyes is not that the hitters know what's coming, it's that Anthony doesn't have a clue where his pitch is going.

I don't see how that's Molina's fault. Shake off the pitch. Work out a system if it's not working. Talk to Duncan. If the other pitchers aren't having this problem, why is he?

It's funny you bring this up, because Steve thinks Yadi tips off pitches. If either of you were correct, I'd think you would see problems throughout the pitching staff over the last 3 years. That hasn't been the case.

I wasn't really bringing anything up, other than Reyes can miss his spots BADLY and in the worst possible place.

[Bo Hart]

I think everyone here knows Yadi's limitations.

I think they've been amply covered (my god, have they) over the last few years between here and CT.

I don't know of anyone who has expressed a certain belief that he's turned a corner. I think I may have done so in a chat, completely in jest, because for some reason he's a hot button issue.

I don't agree with this at all. I think there are numerous people on these boards who believe that Yadi has turned the corner and, because of his age, still has a lot of time and potential to develop into a competent major league hitter.

I'm not going to call people out, though, because that would be stupid.

[stretch]

I think everyone here knows Yadi's limitations.

I think they've been amply covered (my god, have they) over the last few years between here and CT.

I don't know of anyone who has expressed a certain belief that he's turned a corner. I think I may have done so in a chat, completely in jest, because for some reason he's a hot button issue.

I don't agree with this at all. I think there are numerous people on these boards who believe that Yadi has turned the corner and, because of his age, still has a lot of time and potential to develop into a competent major league hitter.

I'm not going to call people out, though, because that would be stupid.

You can't possibly know that he won't maintain this level of production. Just like I can't possibly know that he will. Statistics can tell what is likely, but not what will definitely happen. I don't think there is any problem when people want to hope for the best, even though they know it is unlikely.

Sometimes we get beat over the head with numbers and it seems like we are being told not to hope for the best or not to enjoy what we are currently seeing. That's just how it seems to me.

Just my last .02

[Bo Hart]

I think everyone here knows Yadi's limitations.

I think they've been amply covered (my god, have they) over the last few years between here and CT.

I don't know of anyone who has expressed a certain belief that he's turned a corner. I think I may have done so in a chat, completely in jest, because for some reason he's a hot button issue.

I don't agree with this at all. I think there are numerous people on these boards who believe that Yadi has turned the corner and, because of his age, still has a lot of time and potential to develop into a competent major league hitter.

I'm not going to call people out, though, because that would be stupid.

You can't possibly know that he won't maintain this level of production. Just like I can't possibly know that he will. Statistics can tell what is likely, but not what will definitely happen. I don't think there is any problem when people want to hope for the best, even though they know it is unlikely.

Sometimes we get beat over the head with numbers and it seems like we are being told not to hope for the best or not to enjoy what we are currently seeing. That's just how it seems to me.

Just my last .02

I don't rule out the possibility of Yadi becoming a good major league hitter. It's just, as you said, very unlikely. But that's not what I'm arguing -- I still maintain that there are a lot of people who believe that his chances are far better than "unlikely."

Is there anything wrong with hoping? No. But sometimes blind optimism is going to be shot down.

And those sound like fightin' words, I'm sure... but I can honestly and objectively say that I haven't seen much out of Yadi (even during this season) that leads me to believe he's going to maintain this for any extended period of time during his career. And maybe other people do have their reasons for feeling optimistic about the way they do -- its just to me, their reasoning doesn't cut it for me. I'm not saying that makes it any less valid, I'm just saying it isn't convincing enough to convert me into an optimist.

[stretch]

I don't rule out the possibility of Yadi becoming a good major league hitter. It's just, as you said, very unlikely. But that's not what I'm arguing -- I still maintain that there are a lot of people who believe that his chances are far better than "unlikely."

Is there anything wrong with hoping? No. But sometimes blind optimism is going to be shot down.

And those sound like fightin' words, I'm sure... but I can honestly and objectively say that I haven't seen much out of Yadi (even during this season) that leads me to believe he's going to maintain this for any extended period of time during his career.

And I've got no problem with what you just said. Good post.

[ghostrunner]

I don't agree with this at all. I think there are numerous people on these boards who believe that Yadi has turned the corner and, because of his age, still has a lot of time and potential to develop into a competent major league hitter.

I'm not going to call people out, though, because that would be stupid.

Well, I do think he has time to become competent, and I think he'll get the time. So you're right there. I don't think anyone has said he's turned a corner. Those things are quite a bit different.

[thrill]

Bryan Anderson 4 life.

[greenback44]

I don't see how that's Molina's fault. Shake off the pitch. Work out a system if it's not working. Talk to Duncan. If the other pitchers aren't having this problem, why is he?

Other pitchers may be having this problem (see Thompson's up-and-in pitch to Granderson yesterday, for example, that got shot down the line for a triple). I just haven't noticed it as I have with Reyes. The Helton homer off Reyes (with Molina catching) got my attention. Judging by the way Molina watched Helton his next at-bat, it got the Cardinals' attention too.

It's funny you bring this up, because Steve thinks Yadi tips off pitches. If either of you were correct, I'd think you would see problems throughout the pitching staff over the last 3 years. That hasn't been the case.

The pitching staff currently is dead last in the NL in strikeouts and 15th in ERA. They weren't great shakes a year ago either.

[Richie Allen]

I don't agree with this at all. I think there are numerous people on these boards who believe that Yadi has turned the corner and, because of his age, still has a lot of time and potential to develop into a competent major league hitter.

I'm not going to call people out, though, because that would be stupid.

Well, I do think he has time to become competent, and I think he'll get the time. So you're right there. I don't think anyone has said he's turned a corner. Those things are quite a bit different.

It's not just people here that are noticing a difference.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... ed=rss_stl
By the way, I'll go on record as saying that I think he'll "turn the corner" in 2007. I'm not deluded enough to think that there's some magic switch that turned on at last year's post season. But I've thought for the last two years that Yadi's had the unfortunate task of trying to dig himself out of an enormous hole by starting each season with horrible first months.

It's tough to not "press" when you're sporting a .147 BA. If given the opportunity to relax at the plate, and not be worrying about having the worst BA in the ML, I think he'll be a more confident productive hitter. That's what I've argued since last October. He admitted that it was nice having a clean slate when the post season started. And, amazingly enough, he looked like a much more confident hitter. I'm seeing a lot more of that this year as well.

No, there's no monster power, no Ted Simmons-like line drive ability, no chance of many (if any) infield hits...but there is a good eye, a modesty to hit the ball the other way, the built-in cockiness that he has on the defensive side that could carry over to his ABs and (I'm sure I'll get arguments over this) as his productivity at the plate continues to stay somewhat high, there's the likelihood that he'll draw more walks.

Anyway, it has been beaten to death so I'll let that be my final say on the subject. At least for the time being.

[skmsw]

By the way, I'll go on record as saying that I think he'll "turn the corner" in 2007.

Fair enough.

I'll go on the record as saying that some time in 2007, he'll still have a stretch or two like he had in April 2005 and April 2006 (and Sept 06, and July 05, etc) -- they just won't happen to come at the start of the season. And they'll serve to put his overall numbers to that middle ground I've been mentioning -- .260/.300/.350.

And I'll sign off too.