Tyler Colvin finished off an 11-for-11 run!

The 23-year-old outfielder tied a Southern League record by going a perfect 11-for-11 -- a streak that came to an end with a pair of line-drive outs -- to lead the Tennessee Smokies to three straight wins, including Sunday's 11-1 victory over Carolina.

"It is pretty amazing," Colvin admitted. "You go up there and you hit balls hard and you hope they fall. To do it 11 times and they all found holes, that's pretty fun."

Comment: hmmm, with Bradley's performance along with Fox's emergence we could see Colvin competing for the RF spot as soon as next spring. He'll be turning 24 this September.

over 2 years ago Ivy Walls 10 comments 0 recs |

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Not unless Hendry finds an insane GM to take Bradley off his hands

Colvin has been up and down. I like to see the recent upswing, but, he needs more than a really good week to make the big club next year. His path is blocked by big contracts at all three spots. Another year and maybe. We can’ get out of the Bradley deal relatively cheaply after next year.

by Nibbles on Aug 4, 2009 9:53 PM CDT reply actions

Mark my words...

Bradley will end up being a good signing. He has the best eye on the team, even compared to Dome. He just isn’t pounding the ball from the left side when it’s in the zone. But he has proven he has been a good hitter in the majors. Maybe this year he doesn’t fill all our expectations, but he will figure out his struggles. Hell at least he is giving us good defense, great OBP, and good RH hitting.

I hope Colvin continues his hitting, but Bradley will still be our RF next year.

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Aug 5, 2009 1:03 AM CDT reply actions

I agree...

I don’t think Bradley will be the left-handed masher that Piniella has so openly pined for the last three years. That’s never really been his game. He’s always been a better hitter from the right side and he’s typically been a 15-20 HR type of hitter, not a slugger. But I think he’ll be a fine hitter when healthy. Despite the obvious struggles this year, he’s still been an above average hitter for us. If he gets the bat going, he’ll be a great offensive weapon again.

by SouthernCub on Aug 5, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Piniella just wanted a middle of the order LH to break up the RHs,

we interpreted that to be a masher. You’re right that he has never been a HR hitter. But when he figures out how to drive the ball in the zone, and with his great batting eye, he will be a great addition to the middle of order.

We do agree, I just think we read into things too much sometimes.

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Aug 5, 2009 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, Piniella has actually said he's still looking for that lefty power bat...

So I do think he was expecting a power bat (that’s what I meant by masher).

Bradley was never that. In fact, he was only a slightly above average hitter from left side for his career. This year has been much much worse, but even on his career norms he was a sub-800 OPS guy from the left side.

by SouthernCub on Aug 5, 2009 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Colvin is still probably a year away (at least)

He’s had a really nice hot streak this past week, but he had a sub-.600 OPS in July. I’m not ready to say he’ll be ready to challenge for the RF job next spring.

Aside from that, the team has a pretty crowded OF already. The guys in front of him have much more distinguished minor league resumes (and some of them have more distinguished. There’s no reason to assume that Colvin will be able to challenge for a job.

Now, 2011 is another matter. If he continues to hit in AA and hits well in AAA next year, maybe he’s a September 2010 call-up and can compete for a spot in 2011.

by SouthernCub on Aug 5, 2009 8:53 AM CDT reply actions

my editing skills stink...

“much more distinguished minor league resumes (and some of them have much more distinguished MLB resumes).”

by SouthernCub on Aug 5, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I like Colvin

as a person, but penciling him in as our RF next season because of a fluke 11 for 11 streak is a recipe for disaster. Even after that streak, his OBP in AA is still .316.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 5, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

Southern cub could be right

I think he’s probably a year away. I’m giving Colvin the benefit of the doubt, because I dont believe he’s been healthy swing the bat for almost two years. Like Fleita said, he doenst have his complete strength back from the Tommy John surgery and he had six different episodes with that arm in the last 3 years where he had to shut down for awhile and this last off season he didnt get to train like most everyday players in this last off season because of the surgery, He’s been a little streaky but probably is rebuilding strength in that arm which probably has affected his swing to some degree and Colvin has never complained about it or used it as an excuse, I think we’ll see a much different Colvin who will probably play in Iowa, I would guess.

by Slamdog on Aug 5, 2009 2:23 PM CDT reply actions