Will Machado hit for power?

[Lucky Jim]

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

In terms of sheer batting speed, Pujols swung his preferred 31.5-ounce bat at a speed of 86.99 miles per hour.

http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/7535.aspx

Like I said, you have no idea what you're looking at.

[Fired-Up]

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?

Because the best players are power hitters.

[wingman123]

I'm guessing Adam Dunn must be good then.

[Fired-Up]

http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/7535.aspx

Like I said, you have no idea what you're looking at.

Whatever. Pujols was still huge. Power comes from being big, or bat speed.

[CA-ORIOLE]

It's times like these that I miss Sports Guy.

[Flash- bd]

It's times like these that I miss Sports Guy.

I'm really surprised people are indulging this. Basic child psychology, folks: extinction is the best policy.

[Lucky Jim]

Whatever. Pujols was still huge. Power comes from being big, or bat speed.

Hilarious.

[Orioles4Life21]

I'm guessing Adam Dunn must be good then.

Adam Dunn has 31 homers and despite his awful average he still has a .341 OBP. He leads the league in walks so I think I would actually consider him to be "good" at this point. At least offensively.

[Lucky Jim]

I'm really surprised people are indulging this. Basic child psychology, folks: extinction is the best policy.

This is a good point. On ignore from here on out.

[cmurter]

Quote of the night: "According to science"

That is all

[Fired-Up]

Why is it such a horrible question? Will Machado be a power hitter? It doesn't look like he will. He's not that big. His bat speed doesn't seem that great. He didn't hit many homers in the minors.

[furryburres]

Because the best players are power hitters.

No, the best players are RUN-CREATORS. How they do it should make no difference.

If he gets on base 37% of the time, for a .370 clip, how is he not more valuable than the guy who'll hit homeruns 8-9% of the time?

Also, I'd like to point out why your argument has no basis in what happened his first game. He showed power tonight! As a 20 year old he hit a triple. He showed gap power, which is exactly what scouts look for when evaluating the power prospects of anyone who's not a Chris Davis (i.e. an 80 on the power scale). So unless you'd like him to be an 80 on the power scale, which no shortstop is (and very few members of other positions are), then stop worrying. Tonight was a VERY good night for anyone concerned about his power.

[Icterus galbula]

Power comes from being big, or bat speed.

Fine. Show us one report that says Machado doesn't have at least plus bat speed. Alternatively, do your eyes and expertise outweigh every report and analysis of his game that are out there, after watching one game?

[Lucky Jim]

Fine. Show us one report that says Machado doesn't have at least plus bat speed. Alternatively, do your eyes and expertise outweigh every report and analysis of his game that are out there after watching one game?

Well, he has eviscerated both WAR and the pythag in the last week. He's the Jacques Derrida of baseball analysis.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I'm really surprised people are indulging this. Basic child psychology, folks: extinction is the best policy.

It's too hard to resist I guess. I got my first violation from this guy. After round after round of similar mind numbingly dumb posts such as this, I couldn't take it any more. He is quite relentless and disciplined. .

In the old world order SG would have made quick work of him. I suppose that's the price of democracy.