Fortune magazine did an interesting piece on the wave of Cuban ballplayers who could come to the States after Castro croaks.
Also, Baseball Prospectus tabs the Lilburn Flash as its No. 1 breakout hitter candidate for this season. The stat mavens forecast a .288, 24 HR, 80 RBI, .330 OBP season for Frenchy. They figure he'll be "a solid .300 BA, 30-HR, 100-RBI man well into his prime years."
We're going to have a solid offense if we stay healthy to any degree. Apparently Frenchy's been trying to hit opposite field under the tutelage of TP. Dale Murphy was always at his most effective when he was lacing the ball the opposite way. Cox compared him to Murf the other day. I at least hope he can look better striking out than Murphy did. Ech, what an ugly flailing swing at the outside curve ball he made again and again and again throughout the 80s. Even when he was at his best he would look inept against breaking balls.
Posted by: rankin' rob | March 31, 2007 at 05:04 PM
I suppose it's based on big jumps in batting average and on base percentage.
Posted by: CD | March 30, 2007 at 05:10 PM
How do they figure that he'll be a "breakout hitter" with fewer home runs and RBI than last season?
I figure he'll do .274, 32 HR and 117 RBI.
Posted by: Erik | March 30, 2007 at 04:08 PM