- Thread starter
- #1
Mingo
Well-Known Member
I've enjoyed kicking Mazara around since his acquisition. As soon as he was obtained - everyone was - hey who is he going to platoon with in RF. Now we come down to the realization that the White Sox fully intend to play Mazara everyday in RF.
But - just for a moment - what if we actually believed the following:
1) Here's a kid - still 24 years old playing a game his veteran teammate Encarnacion wasn't good at it until he was 29.
2) 24, but with 4 years of MLB experience.
3) Hit a ball 535 feet for a HR - against the White Sox
4) Mazara when healthy last year did show improvement - at the bat.
5) The Sox have a new batting instructor and a new analytics program - designed to fix problems like Mazara has shown. If the last hitting coach got fired for having a batting champion - the new guy ought to be able to fix this.
6) Nobody expects him to do anything but hit 20 hrs - so where is the pressure in that?
7) No matter where Mazara bats - this Sox lineup will have guys on base for him drive in (ducks on the pond).
8) Mazara is now old enough to do the math - if he puts up good numbers in the next couple of years -he will snag a very nice contract to continue playing the game - and still be younger the EE was when he got good at 29. He, therefore, has every incentive to listen to his coaches and take the instruction seriously.
9) The veteran presence of Arbeu and EE will help a guy like Mazara - put the game in perspective and feel supported.
10) The unexpected happens in baseball all the time - that's why it is so much fun to follow.
We may look back on the acquisition of Mazara later and realize this was the smartest move the Sox made all off season.
But - just for a moment - what if we actually believed the following:
1) Here's a kid - still 24 years old playing a game his veteran teammate Encarnacion wasn't good at it until he was 29.
2) 24, but with 4 years of MLB experience.
3) Hit a ball 535 feet for a HR - against the White Sox
4) Mazara when healthy last year did show improvement - at the bat.
5) The Sox have a new batting instructor and a new analytics program - designed to fix problems like Mazara has shown. If the last hitting coach got fired for having a batting champion - the new guy ought to be able to fix this.
6) Nobody expects him to do anything but hit 20 hrs - so where is the pressure in that?
7) No matter where Mazara bats - this Sox lineup will have guys on base for him drive in (ducks on the pond).
8) Mazara is now old enough to do the math - if he puts up good numbers in the next couple of years -he will snag a very nice contract to continue playing the game - and still be younger the EE was when he got good at 29. He, therefore, has every incentive to listen to his coaches and take the instruction seriously.
9) The veteran presence of Arbeu and EE will help a guy like Mazara - put the game in perspective and feel supported.
10) The unexpected happens in baseball all the time - that's why it is so much fun to follow.
We may look back on the acquisition of Mazara later and realize this was the smartest move the Sox made all off season.