Nick's a magician with the bat

[Frobby]

I swear that swing was something Rod Carew would have done. Doink! There's your game winner!

[MDK02]

I swear that swing was something Rod Carew would have done. Doink! There's your game winner!

Nick is so fun to watch at the plate, he is turning into a heckuva hitter.

[OriolesFaithful]

Him, McLouth and Reimold have beautiful approaches

[Moose Milligan]

Had such a good feeling when he came to the plate. All he had to do is just punch it somewhere, that's all he did.

What a great hitter. I'd love nothing more than to see him have some ridiculous years and end up in the HoF. He seems like he's behind on that chase but he'll still go down as a beloved Oriole no matter what.

[Moose Milligan]

Had such a good feeling when he came to the plate. All he had to do is just punch it somewhere, that's all he did.

What a great hitter. I'd love nothing more than to see him have some ridiculous years and end up in the HoF. He seems like he's behind on that chase but he'll still go down as a beloved Oriole no matter what.

[eddie83]

That was just flat out pretty. Nice win to get before facing Dickey.

[The Wedge]

I was just lamenting him taking the first two pitches (well, the second, I understood the first), and griping about giving up the out on the sac bunt, and he golf slashes that sucker. I love this game.

[Magic At The Yard]

Yeah I was yelling at Nick after he let the second strike go by because he was in the hole 0-2! But lo and behold, he fouled off a couple of pitches, choked up on the bat and plunked it in left field!

www.magicattheyard.wordpress.com

[sfosfan]

I swear that swing was something Rod Carew would have done. Doink! There's your game winner!

Good analogy, but to me he's more like Pete Rose (from only the left side that is). Rod used his wrists much more in his swing. Ugly, but sure worked for him.

[25 Nuggets]

Nick Markakis is now tied for 688th all time in rWAR for position players. Bill Mueller, he's gunning for you! :laughlol:

[Il BuonO]

I know some people are disappointed that Markakis never really developed into a power hitter, but I like how his game has evolved. He chokes up on the bat a little bit and just smacks the ball to wherever he sees a hole. I don't think you could ask for a better leadoff hitter than Markakis.

Not unless I asked for Rickey Henderson in his prime. No comparison. Nick is good but let's not get crazy.

He probably meant right now, but I take your point. However, I wish some of my HS guys could have heard him after the game. He talked about his approach with two strikes and how difficult Loup was to hit. He takes that into account when he swings at that last pitch for the hit down the line.

"Not trying to do too much," he said. And he wasn't. Great approach.

[Il BuonO]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I totally thought Markakis was better than Henderson in his prime. Gold Glover, durable, good OBP, decent power and decent base runner (probably a future HOFer if he can stay healthy). I'll take it.

As RZ said, don't get carried away.

[MrOrange82]

What's funny to me about this thread is that there's virtually no difference between the Markakis that people've been complaining about for years and the Markakis we have now. Only real difference is that the talent level has risen around him, and he seems to be filling an appropriate role within an improved lineup (i.e., he doesn't have to be a .300/30/120 guy).

If Nick's current stats were extended over the course of a full season:

.316/.372/.418 (.790 OPS) with 17 HR and 60 RBI.

Basically a modestly improved 2010 version (very slight drop in power, but better average/more hits and a decrease in strikeouts).

EDIT: I should add that, to my knowledge, Frobby was NOT one of the posters who complained about what Nick "is" versus what he "should be." Just saying the sentiment (strongly supported by others) struck me as semi-amusing.

EDIT v.2: I should also add that I was one of the people who, at one point (can't remember if it was last year or the year before) commented on how I had no confidence in Nick when he stepped to the plate.

[jofalfa]

Awesome hit by Markakis. It reminded me a lot of the Roberts double off of Rodney in the second game of the season. Both guys have a great approach at the plate. They rarely swing at garbage unless they have to and more often than not they make something out of it. Rooting for Nick to have a great year and B-Rob to come back and do some damage in the 9 spot.

[sfosfan]

Not unless I asked for Rickey Henderson in his prime. No comparison. Nick is good but let's not get crazy.

That's never going to happen anyways. There is only ONE Rickey. Just ask him.