In his first 138 big-league games, Josh Hamilton is hitting .309 with 31 HR and 100 RBI.
As we speak, Josh Hamilton leads the American League in batting average, HR and RBI.
If the season ended today, Josh Hamilton would be the MVP.
Josh Hamilton is the best OF in the American League through the first quarter of the season.
He deserves your All-Star votes.
18 comments:
i wonder which BARB team has hamilton
Why don't we elect Hamilton into the Hall right now? Sounds amazing, I propose it right now!
after all, he has played 138 games. WOW!!
Ryan braun is the fastest player ever to 40 HR but we are talking about Hamilton?
Ryan Braun reminds me of Harmon Killebrew for some reason.
Josh Hamilton reminds me of Dale Murphy or Andy Van Slyke, except hitting for a much higher average. He definitely has a higher peak than any of the other players in this post and I know who I would take.
And by the way, Matt, Hamilton has actually only played in a grand total of 164 PRO games since 2003, total.
You heard me right. Hamilton's recent minor-league career consists of 26 games, 11 at A ball, 15 at AAA. All told, he appeared in just 277 games since 1999. This guy flushed his life away, appeared in only 26 games in the minors between 2003 and 2006, and now he's on the cusp of superstardom. He's still getting better on a monthly basis. Watch the breakdowns, follow his at-bats if you don't believe me.
By contrast, Grady Sizemore needed five years and 529 minor league games before establishing himself, and he seems to have already reached his peak. Sizemore's a great player (hey, I drafted him, after all), but I wouldn't trade Hamilton heads-up for Sizemore.
of course not because hamilton is on a hot stretch on your in love with him.
I second that... how good really is Sizemore? Same as Crawford...? They have been here a while and haven't lived up to their hype. Yeah they have done good, but below there suspected ceiling. Hamilton is a better player than perhaps both, unless Crawford finds that power people have been waiting for (don't hold your breath) and Sizemore learns how not to strike out 100+ times.
Also, about your "big three"... don't over hype them. Only has Haren lived up to his hype. Eric B. is donig horribly and perhaps that not a strong enough word, giving his last performace... OUCH! And on the DL... sorry, on this team really only Hudson has the best track record making him the most reliable arm on your team and Haren being your second. Perhaps Hudson is your ace because of his track record!
BARB doesnt play off of track records. I dont care how good a player has been throughout their entire career. It's irrelevant. All that matters is how they preformed last season and as of last season Haren, Bedard, Young are better aces than Hudson. In any event, were sitting here debating which of my four pitchers are more "ace like". Its a good problem to have and yet im still losing. Its ridiculous.
oh an sizmore and crawford... Ronald your dumb. both are perennial top 15 OFs. Sizemore set his career high in walks last season (101) career high in OBP (.390) hit 24 HR and stole a career high 33 bases. And won a gold glove (the first of many I am sure). The year before he led the majors in extra base hits with 93. Not living up to his potential is ridiculous or as SH has said hes hit his plateau. And you guys are the people that are talking about track records. And Crawford... your insane. Highest career OBP last season at .355. Only player in MLB history to increase his BA six straight season to a career high of .315 last season. 289 career stolen bases (50 last season). i cant believe you've just said these players have done good, but preformed below there expected ceiling. How high was there ceiling?
About your "Aces":
#1: Dan Haren
I like him. I think he is the real deal; I thought that ever since... well before he played his first game with the cards. Though, his second half last year was horrible: he pitched less innings (93.1), had an ERA of 4.15, and had an AVG of .298. HORRIBLE! He blew up... or maybe he ran out of gas after 129.1 innings before the break. His track record shows that he can go over 200 innings, but only has average numbers in the past. SO, this year he will have to show that he is truly an "ace" and that his pre-all star numbers of 2007 wern't a fluke because his second half numbers showed otherwise.
Current Numbers (5/24/08)
63.2 Innings: 3.39 ERA, 53 K's, .228 AVG, 1.01 WHIP (GOOD)...
#2: Erik Bedard (Went on DL once already)
Showed positive progression in pitching as years went on, though 2007 was perhaps over his head (batting against wise). He showed that he can strike out people and that his control was OK, but never showed quite the AVG against in the years past. 2007 was a career year for him, but he will have to show it wasn't flukeish. Right now, not looking good; injury prone pitcher.
Current Numbers (5/24/08)
46 Innings: 4.70 ERA, 40 K's, 20 BB, .229 AVG, 1.30 WHIP (last start: 4.1 innings with 9 ER; not good; injury concern)...
#3: Chris Young (Just went on DL; freak accident)
Young was always considered to have a bright future. Though, it is obvious PETCO park has helped Young, who's stat line changed dramatically after leaving Texas. Not only in 2007 was his ERA lower at home (1.69) than on the road (4.52), he ended up giving up more HR away (9) than home (1). It is obvious just by looking at a few numbers he benefits greatly from his park. The problem with Young isn't necessarily batting against, but his control. With starters with bad control, you never know what your going to get from them. All in all, he had a good year, but thanks to his park, his numbers were lower than they should have been.
Current Numbers (5/24/08)
54.0 Innings: 4.40 ERA, 51 K's, 30 BB, .242 AVG, 1.48 WHIP (BAD)...
#4: Tim Hudson
Now, right off the bat, currently he is arguably your best SP in 2008 MLB (Haren is the other). He is more experienced than all your other SP, is more of a workhorse than the others, and rather than exploding in the second half, he is actually stronger than the others, posting better numbers. Cause of this fact, and of his track record, he is more qualified to be your #1 than the others. He also doesn't have a park that help padds his numbers (Bernard in SAFECO, Young in PETCO). Really, Hudson, Haren, Bernard, and Young is the way I'd rank them in your rotation.
Current Numbers (5/24/08)
69.2 Innings: 2.97 ERA, 42 K's, .227 AVG, 1.05 WHIP (Ace Quality)...
Matt, you boast more about your team than most, and most of it his hot air. You can fill thousands of hot air balloons if you think about it. Your rotation is overrated with no past experience or similar 2007 performance to back it up, 2 of the 4 are having aweful 2008 years... and your "mighty pen"... Moylan is out for the year and the others aren't doing that great and too bad they will all be established next year...
Anyways, thats that.
this is all irrelevant. we are a roughly 11 starts into the season. players effectiveness fluctuates. The fact is my four starts should be posting a slimmed down stat line that looks like this;
ERA
D. Haren 3.07
C. Young 3.12
E. Bedard (L) 3.16
T. Hudson 3.33
They are not and its making me angry. As of last season, i am not over hyping my pitchers. Numbers speak for themselves and they are not preforming well. Funny no comment about crawford and sizemore huh?
also i guess its lucky i have;
Lester 3.41 ERA
Guthrie 3.62 ERA
Litsch 3.57 ERA
Im not stuck with Young and Bedard the whole season if their struggles continue (which i doubt they will).
Ronald you also flip flop so much its ridiculous. just a few post ago, you acknowledged the fact that i have three aces (before the Hudson trade) by saying "Only Matt can talk cause he has Haren, Bernard, and Young; but Young and Haren blew up in the 2nd half... so well see what they do this year before the jurys in."
And Matt you worry too much and expect too much. Lets remember your arms as well as everyone else are almost facing starts every at-bat, unrealistic in real life. Also, Lester has horrible control problems, so I take his stats with a grain of salt. I'm not even going to waste my time talking about the other two arms.
For the record, I think Young is a 2-3 SP (if he played for another team away from PETCO, a 3-4), Haren a 1-2 (ONLY IF HE PROVES HIS PRE-ALL STAR 2007 NUMBERS WERN'T A FLUKE; if a fluke, a solid 3), and Bernard only a ace if he proves himself this year otherwise a 2-3 (a two only if he can stay off the DL).
waste your time? are you mental. Litsch has allowed just what 8 walks the entire season. and is just 22. Guthrie is amongst the league leaders in quality starts and if he played for a team with a better offense he would have roughly 6 wins.
oh and its BEDARD not BERNARD.
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