Markakis

[gamer]

as far as not being able to turn on fastballs, i honestly think its more of an approach thing,,, anyhow this is the swing he needs to get back to,,, http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=3469142&c_id=mlb

He gets in a strong hitting position right before he starts coming forward. His upper body and really his swing in general looks much looser in this video.

But hey, whatever

[theobird]

With all do respect Roy, and I have plenty of that for you, Nick Markakis is certainly good enough to be a RFer on a playoff team. Nick is an outstanding all around RFer, despite not being the second coming of George Brett at the plate. He is still one of the games very best RFers and he is a solid hitter. What he is not is the big run producer we all wanted him to be. I thought he would be a better power hitter and run producer also. I was wrong. I still say he will turn in a 280-.300 average, hit his 10-15 HR's and be a nice contributor at the plate, but not the main event. Thats good enough for me, although a little dissapointing.

[Tony-OH]

Nick Markakis is certainly good enough to be a RFer on a playoff team. Nick is an outstanding all around RFer, despite not being the second coming of George Brett at the plate... I still say he will turn in a 280-.300 average, hit his 10-15 HR's and be a nice contributor at the plate, but not the main event. Thats good enough for me, although a little dissapointing.

If that team has power in center field or second base then I'll take what Markakis is in RF, but he's not a traditional RFer anymore.

Look, I own a Markakis jersey, but you know what, I'm convinced he is what he is at this point and the sooner Showalter accepts this the better.

Markakis has been a .773 OPS hitter since 2010.

Year 	Tm 	G 	PA 	AB 	R 	H 	2B 	3B 	HR 	RBI 	SB 	CS 	BB 	SO 	BA 	OBP 	SLG 	OPS 	OPS+ 	TB 	GDP 	HBP 	SH 	SF 	IBB2010-2012BAL   349 	1555 	1383 	165 	395 	81 	5 	30 	144 	19 	5 	149 	189 	.286 	.356 	.416 	.773 	113 	576 	41 	10 	0 	13 	16

Here's what 34-36-year old Torii Hunter put up over the last three years

Year 	Tm 	G 	PA 	AB 	R 	H 	2B 	3B 	HR 	RBI 	SB 	CS 	BB 	SO 	BA 	OBP 	SLG 	OPS 	OPS+ 	TB 	GDP 	HBP 	SH 	SF 	IBB2010-2012LAA 	337 	1413 	1259 	170 	343 	64 	2 	50 	186 	15 	19 	134 	259 	.272 	.346 	.446 	.792 	121 	561 	49 	12 	0 	8 	9

It's sad to admit it, but Markakis has become an overpaid average major league outfielder, not a run producer that should be batting third. Add in his lack of speed and range in the outfield, he's a guy who is no longer one of best players, but nice complementary player.

[SoBo]

Any correlation to Nick's drop off to Brian Roberts absence on the base paths?

[OsShallreturn]

Guys, seems like this is a yearly conversation, and while I in general agree with the overall idea that Markakis is declining and his power numbers will never be what we imagined back in 2008, you guys need to remember that Nick Markakis has always been a weak starter and strong finisher. See his split monthly stats below:

Split G GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB ROE BAbip tOPS+

April/March 168 164 721 623 97 164 35 3 16 72 7 4 86 121 .263 .354 .406 .760 253 16 5 1 6 7 7 .301 88

May 169 161 719 644 77 172 34 2 20 83 9 0 65 100 .267 .337 .419 .756 270 26 5 1 4 9 4 .288 86

June 152 147 659 592 67 189 41 1 7 64 9 4 59 80 .319 .381 .427 .809 253 15 3 1 4 3 8 .358 100

July 152 150 660 590 100 186 49 1 18 91 15 2 56 92 .315 .375 .493 .868 291 17 5 1 8 3 5 .344 113

August 169 168 744 665 104 207 49 4 27 117 8 8 71 96 .311 .378 .519 .896 345 11 3 0 5 3 3 .329 120

Sept/Oct 165 164 712 634 89 181 34 2 19 79 7 2 71 95 .285 .357 .435 .792 276 15 2 0 5 6 5 .309 95

And by the way if someone could message me how to improve the look of the chart (embedding, etc.) feel free to do so, I'm not super-techie as you can see.

[Slappy]

Markakis is disappointing. Whether true or not, you look at his numbers and really wonder if he lost his drive to be a great player after getting paid.

[OsShallreturn]

Markakis is disappointing. Whether true or not, you look at his numbers and really wonder if he lost his drive to be a great player after getting paid.

That's another topic I wanted to address.

1. Stop talking about the money. It's not his fault he got paid and you're not paying the bills. And FWIW, Nick Markakis would be the 7th highest-paid player for the NYY, slightly higher than Rafael Soriano.

2. Find ONE coach or player that's ever questioned Markakis' drive and determination to improve his game. In fact, it may be to his detriment that he's a constant tinkerer always trying to improve. So it's just silly to ever call that into question. The guy hustles non-stop. Send me proof that he has no drive or never mention that again.

[weams]

Markakis is disappointing. Whether true or not, you look at his numbers and really wonder if he lost his drive to be a great player after getting paid.

I think he has changed some since then, also his family and foundation commitments have seemed to have been priorities. Frank Robinson told the crowd at his ceremony that he had been married for 25 years. His wife has been married for 50. He thanked his wife for raising a great daughter for him. Doesn't sound like he was around too much.

[Lucky Jim]

I'd like to see him work with Brady this summer, family or not. Sorry tykes.

[gamer]

His next at bat should be interesting. he got two base hits in back to back at bats off of feliz's offspeed pitches. i hope markakis sits dead red on an inside fastball for the first pitch of his next at bat, if he gets it i hope to see him swing out of his a$$. If he misses it, he misses it, but please put a good swing on it

[CheeryO]

Markakis will get hot at some point. He's just in a slump. Still, while he'll never be the .900 OPS hitter we all hoped he'd be, chances are he's still better than Chris Davis will ever be. Davis has looked like his old horrendous self the past couple of games. The Orioles have major holes in the lineup while they have Chavez, Davis and Reynolds in there, not to mention Nick Johnson.

[Can_of_corn]

That's another topic I wanted to address.

1. Stop talking about the money. It's not his fault he got paid and you're not paying the bills. And FWIW, Nick Markakis would be the 7th highest-paid player for the NYY, slightly higher than Rafael Soriano.

2. Find ONE coach or player that's ever questioned Markakis' drive and determination to improve his game. In fact, it may be to his detriment that he's a constant tinkerer always trying to improve. So it's just silly to ever call that into question. The guy hustles non-stop. Send me proof that he has no drive or never mention that again.

During the season I agree with you.

From all I have heard he spends a significant portion of every offseason in a deer blind.

[Lucky Jim]

During the season I agree with you.

From all I have heard he spends a significant portion of every offseason in a deer blind.

Has Nick ever publicly addressed his declining numbers?

[Can_of_corn]

Has Nick ever publicly addressed his declining numbers?

Considering his response to Frobby's (SG'S) question about his batting stance I am going to go with no.

You know the local legitimate media isn't going to ask.

[Yardball85]

Goodness, Markakis. I feel like over 50% of his at-bats are routine grounders to second!

I KNEW that would work. :laughlol: