Markakis

[Pedro Cerrano]

It might be time to move him down in the order to get his act together. His batting average, OBP and OPS are all below his career averages and are career lows as of now. He's a big reason why we struggle so much to score runs outside of the long ball as he has just 11 RBI despite hitting out of the 3 hole all year. Oh, and he's also hit into 6 double plays.

I would suggest, particularly if he's still skidding when Reimold/Roberts are ready, that he be dropped to 6th or so in the order.

[Rene88]

It might be time to move him down in the order to get his act together. His batting average, OBP and OPS are all below his career averages and are career lows as of now. He's a big reason why we struggle so much to score runs outside of the long ball as he has just 11 RBI despite hitting out of the 3 hole all year. Oh, and he's also hit into 6 double plays.

I would suggest, particularly if he's still skidding when Reimold/Roberts are ready, that he be dropped to 6th or so in the order.

I love Nick, favorite Orioles but he is really struggling and hurting us with runners on base. #1 in Double Plays in the AL I think they said? Almost had 2 tonight. Ouch.

[VeveJones007]

Send him down! He clearly isn't cutting it! Loud noises!!! :angryfire::angryfire::angryfire:

[Pedro Cerrano]

Send him down! He clearly isn't cutting it! Loud noises!!! :angryfire::angryfire::angryfire:

Hopefully this is a lame attempt to piggy-back off the Matusz thread because that isn't what I was suggesting at all.

[VeveJones007]

Hopefully this is a lame attempt to piggy-back off the Matusz thread because that isn't what I was suggesting at all.

I'm aware of that. I wasn't poking fun at you. In fact, I agree.

[olehippi]

I agree with the idea of dropping him in the batting order....and would also suggest sitting him down for a game every now and then, especially against LH pitching.

[Can_of_corn]

Do what the Yankees did when Capt Jetes kept hitting into double plays, move him into the leadoff spot.

[accinfo]

He certainly should be moved down at least against left handers. He is not hitting them at all.

[El Gordo]

Do what the Yankees did when Capt Jetes kept hitting into double plays, move him into the leadoff spot.

Good idea.

[Can_of_corn]

Good idea.

Yea, I was irritated when Giraldi had it.

[Scrat1]

Forget 2008 Markakis, I'd absolutely love to see '09-'10 Markakis back. .800 OPS would be plenty with the bats surrounding him.

[Can_of_corn]

Forget 2008 Markakis, I'd absolutely love to see '09-'10 Markakis back. .800 OPS would be plenty with the bats surrounding him.

Heck I will take 2006 Markakis at this point.

[Sparkwinder]

Has Markakis ever hit well from the 3 hole? Wasn't the rap on him that he didn't hit well in the 3 spot? I dunno, I think rather than moving him down right now, you switch him with JJ Hardy. JJ's on a tear, and markakis's game is a 2-hole hitter and has been for 3 years now. If he's still struggling on June 1, slide him to 6. weak ground balls and walks play better from the 2 spot. I'd still take markakis over the course of a season vs. anyone but Wieters. He'll snap out of it.

[mcinww0]

Has Markakis ever hit well from the 3 hole? Wasn't the rap on him that he didn't hit well in the 3 spot? I dunno, I think rather than moving him down right now, you switch him with JJ Hardy. JJ's on a tear, and markakis's game is a 2-hole hitter and has been for 3 years now. If he's still struggling on June 1, slide him to 6. weak ground balls and walks play better from the 2 spot. I'd still take markakis over the course of a season vs. anyone but Wieters. He'll snap out of it.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=markani01&year=Career&t=b

Those are his splits, including by batting order position. He has a much better OPS in the 2-hole, but that may be skewed by the fact that he hit there more earlier in his career. Switching him and JJ seems totally obvious, and with all the HRs that JJ hits you'd think having kakis on first would give us some free runs. But maybe theres a reason behind it that we don't know.

Besides batting positions, they need to do something about Markakis in general. Even when he finally got hot last year his power was sapped, and now that he's supposedly back from injury he hasn't flashed much power since that opening series. The guy hit 23 home runs as a 23 year old and had an OBP of .406 as a 24 year old. He should be a superstar, not just a solid everyday player. If he's injured, make his take time off and rehab it properly so he can stay healthy. Give him some protein shakes and get him in the gym. He's our highest paid player- the Orioles need to be doing everything they can to get their money's worth. He can still take a walk, doesn't K too much and plays a great right field. Why can't he drive a baseball? This kind of regression just isn't natural.

[Brendan25]

Markakis is a #2 hitter. Been saying it forever.