Markakis speaks out

[BRobinsonfan]

Maybe he is being thrown a lot of strikes? You cannot walk if they throw strikes more than balls! Corey Patterson also has the same number of homers as Markakis, it doesn't make him more of a power hitter though does it?

Well according to Fangraphs he's seeing 46.4% strikes (the lowest of his career) with a 2.9% walk rate so far this year. In 2008 he saw 52.7% strikes and had a 4.5% walk rate and in 2006 he saw 54.4% strikes and had a 6.7% walk rate so obviously that can't be the problem.

He's never been a high OBP guy - but this year he's particularly awful.

[Old#5fan]

Well according to Fangraphs he's seeing 46.4% strikes (the lowest of his career) with a 2.9% walk rate so far this year. In 2008 he saw 52.7% strikes and had a 4.5% walk rate and in 2006 he saw 54.4% strikes and had a 6.7% walk rate so obviously that can't be the problem.

He's never been a high OBP guy - but this year he's particularly awful.

You're 100% right and I was just messing with you. Anybody watching Jones this season knows his problem hasn't been swinging at strikes it is swinging at way, WAY too many pitchers pitches that are outside the strike zone. He does it virtually every AB.

[waroriole]

I know he has, I was just trying to yank his chain the way he often yanks mine, but he didn't faill for it YOU DID!

Gotcha, it was the second one, looking for attention.

[LookitsPuck]

By the way, "see ball hit ball" is word for word exactly what Aubrey Huff said his own approach to hitting was a couple years ago. I don't have the article but I believe it was in reference to Luke Scott's obsessive note-taking on opposing pitchers and his ABs.

That really went a long way for Aubrey in 2009, didn't it?

[SteveA]

This is a bit shocking. Sounds just a tad frustrated..

I am not so certain this is a positive. It is one thing to blast teammates behind closed doors, its another to do it outside the clubhouse.

Of course it's frustration talking, but how can you not like it? You want these guys to just keep giving credit to the opposition pitcher each night and saying the right thing and meekly losing? It's about time someone in a uniform showed some legitimate emotion and anger at the godawful play of this team. So maybe there will be some walking on eggshells in the clubhouse now or some schisms. Who the hell cares? At least there is one player that is fed up with the crappy way this team is playing and isn't afraid to say somethinga bout it. Would you rather tehy all get along nicely and win 44 games? I don't care if someone's ego gets bruised. They SHOULD get bruised.

[Rex Thunder]

Basically everyone except himself, Tejada and Wigginton?

II actually thought Tejada WAS guy he was indicating Guys who seem to swing at the 1st pitch every chance they get- regardless of all of their experience. Some days it works out- but more times than not (baseball percentages), it doesn't.

I guess I haven't been watching as closely the past few weeks. Has Wieters looked THAT bad? That's pretty depressing if so.

I'm ecstatic to hear Nick speaking out though. He is one guy who can certainly get away with it in that clubhouse.

The darkest hour hour is always just before the dawn. Is that when a leader steps up?

[Rex Thunder]

I think Jones has got to be one he's talking about. If Adam is as obstinate about taking advice at the plate as he is reported to be about fielding then there's definitely a problem there since he's got a .285 OBP - and that's after he's started to hit better!

I mean, 8 walks in 263 at bats is freaking ridiculous! Even Corey Patterson has 9 walks in 115 at bats.

Yeah you know what- how could it not be? Suddenly all that talk of Jones being "talked to" about shifting a bit deeper in the outfield- and him saying he'll "think about it" but probably not change anything- makes a lot more sense.

He also seems to swing for the fences most at bats.

[PBR Street Gang]

Just to jump into the middle with both feet, I love Nick Markakis. He's the only guy who has consistently gone up to the plate with a plan. Day in day out.

If he isn't our All-Star this year Girardi's getting egged the next time I see him.

[RShack]

Hey Shack, he wasn't offering #1 as a reasonable choice.

I'm sure you're right, given who said it... but given some of the ridiculous things people are saying around here, you can't be too careful ;-)

[waroriole]

Just to jump into the middle with both feet, I love Nick Markakis. He's the only guy who has consistently gone up to the plate with a plan. Day in day out.

If he isn't our All-Star this year Girardi's getting egged the next time I see him.

Does that mean your TV is going to be covered with eggs?

[eddie83]

Zrebiec is on WBAL right now talking about the story.

[PBR Street Gang]

Does that mean your TV is going to be covered with eggs?

Yeah with that DirecTV commercial with POSada. I'd do that for general purposes.

[eddie83]

Zrebiec is on WBAL right now talking about the story.

He has talked about the culture of losing, how it will be the new managers biggest challenge. The teams accepts losing, those type ideas. He has also discussed the terrible approach at the plate, not having good AB's, swinging at the first pitch etc. He thinks Nick had enough. He is getting ready to come back on after a commercial break.

[Mark Carver]

In effect he is saying our hitters are stupid since they are "busting their butts" but don't have a plan. If you compare some of their "stupid" ABs to other teams its is easily observed as he said. I was watching the Tigers and Nats last night and Detroit routinely advanced runners and hit sac lies as if it was easy. They stood out as being better than the Nats in that regard and won the game handily. It seems good teams do these things as a matter of routine while bad teams struggle to do it.

Nationals = 20 SF (ranks 8th in NL), 18 SH (+13 SH for pitchers)

Detroit = 14 SF (ranks 12th in AL), 17 SH

Baltimore = 10 SF (ranks 13th in AL), 12 SH

Detroit don't lookin' heads n' shoulders against the Orioles. I'm just sayin'...

[eddie83]

Some more from Jeff Zrebiec. No approach, selfish AB's. Stuff being preached not being executed, it speaks to a bigger issue.

Odds 50-50 for a manager by All-Star break. He thinks Andy would like a new manager for the second half. He thinks Andy might be waiting for some of the injured players to come back before a new hire (makes some sense to me) t give the new manager a better chance for success. Samuel isn't embarrasing the franchise.

I really like Zrebiec I hope he doesn't leave the Sun for elsewhere, I think he gets it.

I m happy to hearing this talk about this topic myself. The whole losing culture and how you play the game isn't measured statistically but it is real. Hopefully a vet player like Nick addressing it and a new manager and next year some new players will help change it.