Starling Marte

[thecrow124]

Will be in the lineup tomorrow in Houston. Not sure what this means about the search for a bat in trade, but I would imagine they are still looking. Hey may plug one hole, but we still have a few more.

 

[sychmd]

where did you see that!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Illinest]

it was reported by multiple sources including Dejan at the trib.

 

[stillmatic32]

Yep, he's on the way.

Pirates promote Starling Marte, expected to become starting LF; RHP Meek sent down - The Washington Post

 

[magnumo]

Interesting timing.

Hope Marte provides a spark, but I don't like the idea of him leading off.

Assuming Marte does well, that makes the ideal NEXT acquisition a good-fielding SS with a high OBP to bat leadoff. Doesn't seem likely.

 

[thecrow124]

I love the idea of Marte hitting leadoff ahead of Walker. No one else, just Walker in the 2 hole. If the try to hit Presley there i will not feel so good about Marte leading off.

 

[pixburgher66]

Marte has some protection batting first with Walker and Cutch following him. They're gonna have to throw strikes.

 

[sychmd]

I love the idea of Marte hitting leadoff ahead of Walker. No one else, just Walker in the 2 hole. If the try to hit Presley there i will not feel so good about Marte leading off.

great point,
hopefully marte reads this thread also so he isnt flailing when they try to get the new guy to swing at junk.
the other opponent is the ump, as they seem to expand the zone for the new guys, making a tough transition even tougher and learning bad habits.

the pitcher will come in with some strikes, because of the 2 and 3 hitters, but as an ex pitcher, i wouldnt the first couple pitches as he doesnt have a good history of pate discipline.
now if it is a power pitcher, he might just come after him with heat and say welcome to the bigs and see if you can catch up to that.

 

[steelparrot]

I'm not sure how many bats are really out there.

IF we stick to our 6/6+(who knows how the pirates rate some of our low level prospects) prospects on the no trade list, the bat isnt going to be a huge boost, but depth is important.

 

[element1286]

Unreal first ab, kid has a good looking swing, I saw him a few years ago and it wasn't that smooth.

I'm not sure if it was intentional, but they went right at him.

 

[steelparrot]

That was a great sign!, looks like we gonna rock this guy.

 

[steelparrot]

Barajas walk Barmes hr as I hit reply, the rout is on now :P

 

[thedddd]

He looked good in that 1st AB what a way to start a career...

 

[thedddd]

I was curious and it says the last Pirate to do this was Don Leppert in '61.

I swear someone did it in the 80's for the Pirates but I guess not.

 

[evolver115]

Who had that happening? Can't believe he smacks the first pitch he faces out of the park. That's as memorable as it gets.

 

[sychmd]

and they didnt give him the cold shoulder like the first career HR usually gets. that was nice to see him get some love.

 

[Etrius24]

As badly as this team needs an offensive spark( that does not come from Cutch)... No wonder they showed him the love... We will take the win!

Great start for the kid..

Interesting he is leading off.. Usually you put the kid down in the lineup and make him earn his way to the top.. I guess there is something to the protecting him by having the red hot Walker and the potential MVP McCutchen hit right after him... He is going to get strikes... no question!

 

[element1286]

Two game scouting report:

Marte can hit left handed pitching, he doesn't chase, and seems like he sees the ball very well, evidenced by his two hits against lefties, and the long sac fly tonight. I haven't seen a lefty throw a changeup to him yet, at least not one that I can remember, but he has no trouble laying off a good curveball.

Marte is a work in progress, IMO, vs right handed pitching. I don't know if he doesn't see the ball well, but so far he has let a lot of hittable pitches against righties go by, and swung at some bad pitches out of the zone, which leads me to believe he doesn't have a plan on how to hit right handers. But his bat speed is so good, he should be able to get by on that alone until he learns how to approach ab's better.

 

[magnumo]

Nice analysis, element. Looks like Marte had a 50+ point platoon split at Indy before being promoted.

Anyone know a good place to find previous season platoon splits for minor leaguers? I'd like to know what kind of platoon split Marte had while winning the Eastern League batting title in 2011.

 

[element1286]

Nice analysis, element. Looks like Marte had a 50+ point platoon split at Indy before being promoted.

Anyone know a good place to find previous season platoon splits for minor leaguers? I'd like to know what kind of platoon split Marte had while winning the Eastern League batting title in 2011.

I do not know if anywhere, Mags, I wish minorleaguesplits.com was still around.