Milton Bradley, the OBP Artist
by Cubbie-Tim on Apr 11, 2009 12:50 PM CDT
Email
PrintWhy are so many complaining about MIlton Bradley and his low batting average? That is easy, often we all get too caught up in stats, especially the batting average, home run total, and runs batted in of a hitter.
Sure we all want to see him hitting 300, but he is doing what a great hitter with a great eye does, take what is given to him, and be selective. In the process, he is forcing pitchers to throw strikes, and by not chasing pitches he is showing us why he is an on base machine. This also allows the other hitters on the team to see what the pitch selection of the pitcher is, which should help the other hitters, right?
In recent times, we all have complained about:
- Theriot and his inability to walk.
- Fukudome or Lee swinging at pitches that are not strikes trying to force hits (leading to strike outs and double plays too often)
- Soriano swinging at pitches in the first row behind the first base dugout.
- Countless others like Cedeno, Pie or Patterson and how they could not walk
So which is the lesser of two evils here,
- Milton Bradley taking walks, being selective, forcing pitchers to throw strikes
- MIlton Bradley trying to force hits and swinging at everything that is close to the plate, leading to some weak outs or strike outs
Personally, I will take the walks, knowing that as pitchers start to throw strikes the hits will come, and I believe there will be a multitude of hits that will come sooner than later.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
19 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It's four games.
I’m not worried about Bradley’s batting average. He’ll hit. The five walks in four games is what I like seeing.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
thanks and I agree he is NICEYYYY as you put it
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
Kinda hard to get upset at a guy for drawing walks.
When he starts swinging at crap, THEN I will be upset. Loudly.
I left my clever sig line in my other pants.
And if Baylor was managing
we’d get a good idea as to how well Bradley bunts ….
"We gotta circle the bandwagons." - Devin Hester
by Jose's Eyelid on Apr 11, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm okay w/ the walks
and he is very hitterish at the plate.But his glove is even shakier than I realized. He should have had that ball in Houston. Anyone else concerned about his glove?
"We gotta circle the bandwagons." - Devin Hester
Not really...
He’s played fine out there.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Apr 11, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions
He had two nice defensive plays in that same game beforehand.
The ball he dropped was an at least relatively hard play in which Kosuke probably should’ve been in right in the first place.
Bradley
He’s been great at working the count and his ability to work the pitcher has an impact on the rest of the line-up and the starter’s pitch count. Further word will get around the league and pitchers will be forced to pitch to him… unless he continues to swing at bad 3-0, 3-1 pitches.
Milton continues to be a OBP machine and a full count machine
His homer yesterday was a thing of beauty. He is quickly becoming my favorite Cub beside Big Z.
www.talkingchicagobaseball.blogspot.com
BUNTING 101.....
I almost forgot about the bunting…and the blown games …and where I was when I found out he got the axe…..
Nice post
The hits will come, but as long as he keeps walking I’m fine. He’s really a great player.
"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti
by wrigleyrocker12 on Apr 11, 2009 10:32 PM CDT reply actions
I concur entirely
The only question about Bradley is his health. As long as he’s playing regularly the hits will come in great bunches because of his patience at the plate.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
You shouldn't be encouraged by his high OBP because it helps his teammates see pitches
You should be encouraged by it, because OBP has a much higher correlation to runs scored than homers, rbis and batting average.
St. Louis Cardinals... defying win expectancy since 2008
He should have even more walks.
I’ve seen him swing at at least three ‘Ball Four’s’ for outs so far this season. I’m not ungrateful for his OBP; just a little frustrated. He’ll come around. Len and Bob were mentioning on CSN last night that he needs to adjust the timing on his swing a little.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
MLB 12 The Show Marlins Park Trailer, complete with the monstrosity and the fish. Here's the link...
Cubs By The Numbers
Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
Click here to order your copy, available now!
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
