Baseball Prospectus' Marc Normandin has a great write-up on what to expect from Mark Ellis and Daric Barton for 2009. Correctly estimating what these two might do in 2009 is essential to determining what the A's need to do to increase their offensive output this season. While the A's are committed to Ellis (which is fine because of his excellent defense), they may need to consider finding ways to increase their offense at other positions if they presume Ellis won't be productive at the plate.
Daric Barton
28 November 2008
20 November 2008
ot count on Suzuki to provide appreciably more offense than he did last season.
First Base
2008 Daric Barton 523 PAs .226 .327 .348
The only thing he was able to do last season at the plate was to walk. He still struck out almost 100 times, which indicates that he was overmatched. There was always a question about his power, and whether his lack of power would prevent him from being a successful big league hitter (See Sean Borroughs). He only slugged over .500 once in the minors, albeit as an 18 year old in the Midwest League, a league dominated by pitchers parks. His slugging percentages ranged in the mid.400s in A - AAA ball, all of which were in hitter friendly parks and leagues. What does this mean for his future? Well, the A's don't really have any other options for first base and he's shown enough promise in the past that the A's will have to play him and hope last year was a fluke. He can't be this bad and has to be better, right? The biggest question marki s how much better. If he lives up to his potential this season, it'd be a bonus, but because there's a real chance that he just doesn't have enough power to be a big league first baseman, the A's can't count on production from him and will need to look for reliable offense elsewhere.
Posted by Zack Adams | No comments yet
