Will Machado hit for power?

[bdlj0887]

Not really. Mauer with power sounded like Johnny Bench.

I think you're confusing scouts with "analysts".

[cmurter]

By all accounts he certainly has some pop, and there is plenty of room to build on that frame...

That said, if he becomes a gap hitter and maintains exceptional defense and walk rates, frankly that's what this team needs

[furryburres]

Because the Orioles desperately need a superstar.

By asking this question on here, are you assuring to yourself or anyone that he becomes one? He's 20, and scouting is an inexact science. Who knows how he'll grow, what he grows out of and into! No one will be able to give you an answer that is any more than 50% likely to be correct (yes, or no). So why does it matter?

[Icterus galbula]

If 35 homers is your definition of power, I hate to break it to you, but there were only 8 power hitters in all of baseball last year.

If Johnny Bench was your expectation for Wieters, I hate to break it to you, but Wieters is not going to be the best catcher in the history of the game.

Don't bury Machado with unfair ARod expectations. Just don't.

[Flash- bd]

It's official. You're trolling.

Don't confuse incompetence with ill-intent, LJ.

He's much more spam than troll.

[Lucky Jim]

If 35 homers is your definition of power, I hate to break it to you, but there were only 8 power hitters in all of baseball last year.

If Johnny Bench was your expectation for Wieters, I hate to break it to you, but Wieters is not going to be the best catcher in the history of the game.

Don't bury Machado with unfair ARod expectations. Just don't.

You're giving him too much credit. Analyze his take:

1. Machado doesn't have good bat speed. He may not have power.

2. Mark Reynolds hit 44 HRs. He clearly has good bat speed.

It's not worth responding to - he has no scouting acumen, no sample size, and no idea what he's talking about.

[Icterus galbula]

You're giving him too much credit. Analyze his take:

1. Machado doesn't have good bat speed. He may not have power.

2. Mark Reynolds hit 44 HRs. He clearly has good bat speed.

It's not worth responding to - he has no scouting acumen, no sample size, and no idea what he's talking about.

You are right. He is not worth the characters on my screen. I'm going to get another glass of wine.

[Malike]

You're giving him too much credit. Analyze his take:

1. Machado doesn't have good bat speed. He may not have power.

2. Mark Reynolds hit 44 HRs. He clearly has good bat speed.

It's not worth responding to - he has no scouting acumen, no sample size, and no idea what he's talking about.

[Fired-Up]

You're giving him too much credit. Analyze his take:

1. Machado doesn't have good bat speed. He may not have power.

2. Mark Reynolds hit 44 HRs. He clearly has good bat speed.

It's not worth responding to - he has no scouting acumen, no sample size, and no idea what he's talking about.

Hitters tend to generate power in two ways. It's either the Curtis Granderson way, a little guy who has a lightning quick bat. Or it's either a huge massive guy like Cabrera who uses his brute strength.

[Lucky Jim]

Hitters tend to generate power in two ways. It's either the Curtis Granderson way, a little guy who has a lightning quick bat. Or it's either a huge massive guy like Cabrera who uses his brute strength.

Does Albert Pujols have great bat speed?

Better, did Albert Pujols in his prime have great bat speed?

[Fired-Up]

Does Albert Pujols have great bat speed?

Better, did Albert Pujols in his prime have great bat speed?

Yes he was big and strong. He also had a quick bat.

[bdlj0887]

Yes he was big and strong. He also had a quick bat.

He was about Machado's size at age 20.

[Lucky Jim]

Yes he was big and strong. He also had a quick bat.

It's pretty widely known that - even in his prime - Pujols had average bat speed.

[furryburres]

If 35 homers is your definition of power, I hate to break it to you, but there were only 8 power hitters in all of baseball last year.

If Johnny Bench was your expectation for Wieters, I hate to break it to you, but Wieters is not going to be the best catcher in the history of the game.

Don't bury Machado with unfair ARod expectations. Just don't.

Agreed. Hitting 15 to 20 less homers doesn't make you a low-quality ballplayer. If he gets on base and moves runners forward at a consistent rate, is that not valuable? Why does every next big name have to put up 35 homers also?

[Fired-Up]

According to science men stop growing anywhere from age 21 to 25. The reason players get better is more due to experience rather than physical development. Machado isn't going to morph into Bo Jackson in the coming years.