Sickels on Snyder

[Fan4Life]

I'm not convinced he's the long term solution at 1b either. But hey, I thought Reimold wasn't going to make it either. If Brandon can surprise like Reimold did, then all is well.

[Mackus]

The Orioles are playing in the American League East. You don't put a so-so hitter on first, hoping to make up for that lack of production elsewhere. You put a stud on first!

Hahaha what a Treaian response. Just lazy logic here, really.

[Frobby]

Sickels was on a golf trip, obviously.

Whatever else anyone thinks of Sickels, I wouldn't say this. The guy drives all the way from his home (which is somewhere in the Midwest) to Arizona and back every year just so he can catch a handful of AFL games (he said he went to four). The guy's obviously on a shoestring budget unlike the guys who work for BA and BP, but I really enjoy his commentaries.

The report that Snyder whacks outside pitches but has a little trouble with inside stuff kind of reinforces my feeling that Snyder is developing into a RH Nick Markakis. Lots of doubles, not an overwhelming number of HR's but decent power, and developing plate discipline.

So I'd ask, if we thought Snyder was basically the equal of Markakis as a hitter, or maybe just a tick below, would we feel that is still not enough of a stick for 1B?

[LookinUp]

Whatever else anyone thinks of Sickels, I wouldn't say this. The guy drives all the way from his home (which is somewhere in the Midwest) to Arizona and back every year just so he can catch a handful of AFL games (he said he went to four). The guy's obviously on a shoestring budget unlike the guys who work for BA and BP, but I really enjoy his commentaries.

The report that Snyder whacks outside pitches but has a little trouble with inside stuff kind of reinforces my feeling that Snyder is developing into a RH Nick Markakis. Lots of doubles, not an overwhelming number of HR's but decent power, and developing plate discipline.

So I'd ask, if we thought Snyder was basically the equal of Markakis as a hitter, or maybe just a tick below, would we feel that is still not enough of a stick for 1B?

Every team has a place for a bat like that. He'd certainly be our best 1b right now, so it's all relative. Even if we do separately get a masher at 1b, he fits at DH or as a guy who gets ABs as a utility guy or off the bench.

People focus a lot on his limitations in the power department, but they don't talk about his versatility. I bet, with some work, he could be better than Wiggington at 3b, 2b and 1b. For that matter, he could probably hold his own in the OF for an inning or two as well (just making an assumption here).

[Hooded Viper]

Does anyone else think Snyder can be a Tino Martinez type of 1B despite Snyder being a righty? I would be fine with this type of production from him:

1990 22 SEA AL 24 78 68 4 15 4 0 0 5 0 0 9 9 .221 .308 .279 .587 65 19 0 0 0 1 0 3  1991 23 SEA AL 36 125 112 11 23 2 0 4 9 0 0 11 24 .205 .272 .330 .602 66 37 2 0 0 2 0 3/D  1992 24 SEA AL 136 513 460 53 118 19 2 16 66 2 1 42 77 .257 .316 .411 .727 103 189 24 2 1 8 9 3D  1993 25 SEA AL 109 464 408 48 108 25 1 17 60 0 3 45 56 .265 .343 .456 .799 113 186 7 5 3 3 9 3/D  1994 26 SEA AL 97 366 329 42 86 21 0 20 61 1 2 29 52 .261 .320 .508 .828 108 167 9 1 4 3 2 *3/D  1995 27 SEA AL 141 593 519 92 152 35 3 31 111 0 0 62 91 .293 .369 .551 .920 135 286 10 4 2 6 15 *3/D AS 1996 28 NYY AL 155 671 595 82 174 28 0 25 117 2 1 68 85 .292 .364 .466 .830 108 277 18 2 1 5 4 *3/D  1997 29 NYY AL 158 685 594 96 176 31 2 44 141 3 1 75 75 .296 .371 .577 .948 143 343 15 3 0 13 14 *3/D AS,MVP-2,SS 1998 30 NYY AL 142 608 531 92 149 33 1 28 123 2 1 61 83 .281 .355 .505 .860 124 268 18 6 0 10 3 *3  1999 31 NYY AL 159 665 589 95 155 27 2 28 105 3 4 69 86 .263 .341 .458 .800 104 270 14 3 0 4 7 *3  2000 32 NYY AL 155 632 569 69 147 37 4 16 91 4 1 52 74 .258 .328 .422 .749 89 240 16 8 0 3 9 *3  2001 33 NYY AL 154 635 589 89 165 24 2 34 113 1 2 42 89 .280 .329 .501 .830 113 295 12 2 0 2 2 *3/D MVP-12 2002 34 STL NL 150 576 511 63 134 25 1 21 75 3 2 58 71 .262 .337 .438 .776 105 224 12 2 1 4 9 *3  2003 35 STL NL 138 547 476 66 130 25 2 15 69 1 1 53 71 .273 .352 .429 .781 106 204 14 9 2 7 7 *3/D  2004 36 TBD AL 138 538 458 63 120 20 1 23 76 3 1 66 72 .262 .362 .461 .823 117 211 10 9 0 5 9 *3D  2005 37 NYY AL 131 348 303 43 73 9 0 17 49 2 0 38 54 .241 .328 .439 .767 104 133 10 3 0 4 3 *3 

Bottom line is we don't need some monster playing 1B in order to win. Just someone productive and I think Snyder fits the bell.

[Arthur_Bryant]

Whatever else anyone thinks of Sickels, I wouldn't say this. The guy drives all the way from his home (which is somewhere in the Midwest) to Arizona and back every year just so he can catch a handful of AFL games (he said he went to four).

Sickels and Bill James both live in Lawrence, KS. I'm not sure there is any connection except that they both went to KU and Lawrence is a nice town that people don't want to leave when they finish school.

[DocJJ]

For several reasons.

There's no harder worker in the game.

He can hit to the opposite field extremely well. He hasn't yet learned to pull the inside pitch, but that's a skill that many develop down the line. With his ability to hit the other way, once he turns on the inside pitch there won't be any way to stop him.

He's athletic enough to become an above average first baseman.

His power will develop even more.

I know he has his doubters/detractors, but he will hit and field enough to be the regular first baseman.

[Ruzious]

Whatever else anyone thinks of Sickels, I wouldn't say this. The guy drives all the way from his home (which is somewhere in the Midwest) to Arizona and back every year just so he can catch a handful of AFL games (he said he went to four). The guy's obviously on a shoestring budget unlike the guys who work for BA and BP, but I really enjoy his commentaries.

The report that Snyder whacks outside pitches but has a little trouble with inside stuff kind of reinforces my feeling that Snyder is developing into a RH Nick Markakis. Lots of doubles, not an overwhelming number of HR's but decent power, and developing plate discipline.

So I'd ask, if we thought Snyder was basically the equal of Markakis as a hitter, or maybe just a tick below, would we feel that is still not enough of a stick for 1B?

Exactly. Nick has the same problem with inside pitching. Luckily, at least half the pitchers in the AL have trouble throwing inside. If Snyder is a hair under Nick, he's a decent hitting 1Bman. And that's okay if the O's lineup is solid from top to bottom.

[Arthur_Bryant]

He can hit to the opposite field extremely well. He hasn't yet learned to pull the inside pitch, but that's a skill that many develop down the line. With his ability to hit the other way, once he turns on the inside pitch there won't be any way to stop him.

One thing bothered me in my brief look at Snyder on Saturday night: he seemed late on good fastballs from every pitcher that he faced. This might be because he is letting the pitch get deep in before he commits, but for whatever reason he just wasn't turning on them. It was just one game, and I wouldn't have mentioned it except that I saw that comment from Sickels.

Most hitting coaches at every level teach young players to consciously try to hit the ball up the middle... if anything, going slightly to the opposite field. This keeps you balanced, allows you to hit balls where they are pitched, and gives you a good chance to keep the ball in play even if you're fooled one way or the other.

Thing is, most hitters don't consistently do this in games. As soon as they leave the cage, they start pulling the ball; it just feels better that way. On saturday night, Snyder looked like the rare kid who actually seems to have absorbed the lesson. But I still want to see him turning on inside pitches.

[byrdz]

The Orioles are playing in the American League East. You don't put a so-so hitter on first, hoping to make up for that lack of production elsewhere. You put a stud on first!

Or "premium"...

[RVAbird]

The Orioles are playing in the American League East. You don't put a so-so hitter on first, hoping to make up for that lack of production elsewhere. You put a stud on first!

http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/showthread.php?t=90184

Thanks, Frobby.

[weams]

One thing bothered me in my brief look at Snyder on Saturday night: he seemed late on good fastballs from every pitcher that he faced. This might be because he is letting the pitch get deep in before he commits, but for whatever reason he just wasn't turning on them. It was just one game, and I wouldn't have mentioned it except that I saw that comment from Sickels.

Most hitting coaches at every level teach young players to consciously try to hit the ball up the middle... if anything, going slightly to the opposite field. This keeps you balanced, allows you to hit balls where they are pitched, and gives you a good chance to keep the ball in play even if you're fooled one way or the other.

Thing is, most hitters don't consistently do this in games. As soon as they leave the cage, they start pulling the ball; it just feels better that way. On saturday night, Snyder looked like the rare kid who actually seems to have absorbed the lesson. But I still want to see him turning on inside pitches.

A source I respect says that he, as well other Orioles AFL prospects, is a bit tired after the long double season.

[weams]

If he were left handed... he could become a Palmeiro type power hitter.

From the Majors board.

[Frobby]

A source I respect says that he, as well other Orioles AFL prospects, is a bit tired after the long double season.

Let's not forget this is Snyder's third straight year of Fall Ball -- one year in Hawaii and two in Arizona. I can't blame him at all if he's tired by now. He's been a great Fall hitter, though, all three years, so his time has been invested wisely.

[olehippi]

Sickels was on a golf trip, obviously.

Yeah....and his "opinions" were pretty much the waste of a thread.....