Aoki vs. Ichiro

[orioles119]

Which would you rather have for a leadoff hitter? There's pros and cons for each...

Ichiro...

PRO - historical productivity, motivation to reach 3000 hits in the MLB, still an excellent fielder.

CON - obviously has slowed down, his age, potential chemistry issue?

Aoki...

PRO - Good OBP, will take a walk, doesn't K much, just 32 (compared to Ichiro).

CON - poor fielder, power all but gone (KC affect?), decline in counting stats since rookie season three years ago.

What's the thought? These two are the only ones on the market that you can consider a leadoff hitter.

[Can_of_corn]

I would not categorize Ichiro as an excellent fielder.

[Dark Helmet]

Ugh. It's like comparing how you'd rather die. Either way the outcome stinks.

[mdbdotcom]

I'm pretty sure Reimold could outplay either one of them, even if his head falls off his neck in May.

[Dark Helmet]

David Lough will be the leadoff guy in 2015. Just get used to it.

[TheDirtyBird]

E. None of the above

[ShaneDawg85]

Option C, neither. Ichiro has little to offer at this point in his career and he's over 40. Aoki really is a glorified 4th outfield/fringe starter whose best suited coming off the bench. He has no power, has good range but is very fundamentally unsound defensively, and has decent but not great OBP skills. If it's between the two of them and nobody else I'd just as soon stick Pearce in right and hope he comes even remotely close to matching last season.

[ShaneDawg85]

David Lough will be the leadoff guy in 2015. Just get used to it.

People have continued to mention this from the time he came over, but very little about his game outside of speed screams leadoff hitter. He simply doesn't get on base enough, and even if he does, his speed isn't an asset on the base paths because he's not a good base stealer. I'd rather give Pearce a chance.

[weams]

Jimmy Paredes, Alex Hassan, Quintin Berry.

[CTFan]

I'm pretty sure Reimold could outplay either one of them, even if his head falls off his neck in May.

We have a winner. That was awesome.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I'm pretty sure Reimold could outplay either one of them, even if his head falls off his neck in May.

Better to schedule Nolan Reimold bobble head night in April then.

[El Gordo]

Jimmy Paredes, Alex Hassan, Quintin Berry.

How well do any of these guys get on base. And where are you playing them? Aoki can get on base and run them better than any option in house we currently have. And his defense isn't that bad if you look at the numbers instead of his blooper reels.

[BohKnowsBmore]

How well do any of these guys get on base. And where are you playing them? Aoki can get on base and run them better than any option in house we currently have. And his defense isn't that bad if you look at the numbers instead of his blooper reels.

Yea. I wouldn't mind aoki if it comes down to it.

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[Frobby]

Ichiro has a .662 OPS the last four seasons. He's done. I don't want Aoki either, but please forget Ichiro.

[DrungoHazewood]

I don't quite get the extreme dislike here for Aoki. He's not a star, but he's a useful player. Average hitter, average-ish defender, has a bit of speed, and an above-average OBP. He's not much added value on a team that already has De Aza and Lough, but he's similar to those guys and he might be a touch better. I'm hoping weams was being hyperbolic when comparing him to Berry, Paredes, and Hassan.

Ichiro I like, he's a cool player. But he's 41 and is pretty clearly 4th on a list of De Aza, Lough, Aoki, and Ichiro.