I have gone to a couple of spring training games and I have taken notice to Juan Encarnacion. His swing is more fluent and his throwing arm is so much smoother. I believe he could bat .280 with 20-25 HR and 80-90 RBI and possibly be No. 6 Batter in our lineup.

I, too, have been pleased watching Encarnacion (though I wouldn't call his bat swing "fluent.")

From my "0ff-the-wall-department," I would like to see Enc try some base-stealing.

That could be icing on the cake. Wonder if the coaches are making an effort there.

Once upon a time, Enc had the speed. And, by now, he should have the savvy.

At least enough to distract the pitcher.

And that would give him a leg-up (pardon the pun) on my hero Conine.

Enc is going to get a lot of attention this spring. I'm in the camp that believes he will have a strong 2005 campaign.

He just has never lived up to his potenital. The thing I like about him is his defense. I think he could have decent power numbers but don't expect a batting average over .270.

That's good news to hear about Enc. It's very unlikely we could find a suitor to take him off our hands so it's in our best interest for him to have a great year.

I expect a .260-270 BA, 20-25HR, 70-80 RBI's and everybody here would take that in a heartbeat :thumbup

Even Randall Simon takes a few pitches in spring training!

 

 

Enc's got all the promise in the world, but excuse me if I'm going to believe this is the year he'll breakout. Enc has had 7 years to develop those excellent tools into skills. In only one or two of those years was he anything close to a starting major league outfielder. And just because he's coming back from injury or I'm drunk on spring training fever isn't going to convince me he's anything but a hindrance.

He better. This year, everybody in the lineup is going to need to pull their weight if this team even wants to think about taking the Division crown from the Braves.

He better. This year, everybody in the lineup is going to need to pull their weight if this team even wants to think about taking the Division crown from the Braves.

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yeah I haven't seen a whole lot out of our hitting yet (yes I know its very early) but we are going to need these guys to string some hits together and work on hitting with RISP.

I think Encarnacion will have a good year this year. I predict .270-2.85, 20-25hr, and 90-100 RBI. The RBI numbers will be high because he'll get a lot of chances. And his defense is always outstanding.

I think Encarnacion will have a good year this year.? I predict .270-2.85, 20-25hr, and 90-100 RBI.? The RBI numbers will be high because he'll get a lot of chances.? And his defense is always outstanding.

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Except when he gave up last season..

He'll do well because it's a contract year. I doubt he's committed to much more than putting up a good contract year and just turd it up after this year.

like John Schuerholtz once said "Gimme a team with 9 players in contract years, I give you a winner"

 

 

if the man wants to make some serious loot, he better break out...

 

to think, he was the Tigers#1 prospect and rated #15 in baseballamerica back in 1998.

 

what wasted potential

i belive that Juan still has a chance to have a great career,he's still young has power and a cannon for an arm,he just needs to find a home and start putting up some numbers.

Encarnacion's defense is a little overrated, IMO. He doesn't judge balls well off the bat. He makes up for it with his other defensive skills, but it all averages out to an average--or slightly above average--fielder. IMO.

 

Anyway, the "Encarnacion is going to have a breakout season" talk has become an annual tradition down here right along the lines of "We're going to get Rob Konrad the ball more". I think sometimes things are the way they are for a reason. Encarnacion's potential isn't as high as some would suggest, and Konrad can't catch the ball for s***.

 

Edit: One more thing, though, in this Post-Roids Era, .270 and 20 HR might look pretty good.

I guess if RBIs are you indicator of success he'll be OK, but if you're an evolved baseball fan I wouldn't expect anything but the bottom 5 in OPS for RF.

My hope is that he does well in spring and when the season starts so that if conine shows us that he can stay healthy, enc may have some trade value and we can start conine. IMO the conine/enc platoon cannot continue all year, b/c conine is too good to be on the bench and enc is too much of a whiner to be on the bench

Encarnacion's defense is a little overrated, IMO. He doesn't judge balls well off the bat. He makes up for it with his other defensive skills, but it all averages out to an average--or slightly above average--fielder. IMO.

 

Anyway, the "Encarnacion is going to have a breakout season" talk has become an annual tradition down here right along the lines of "We're going to get Rob Konrad the ball more". I think sometimes things are the way they are for a reason. Encarnacion's potential isn't as high as some would suggest, and Konrad can't catch the ball for s***.

 

Edit: One more thing, though, in this Post-Roids Era, .270 and 20 HR might look pretty good.

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I have to strongly disagree with you, Juan defense is not overrated.

Not enough to argue your case?

The real question is would you pay someone to take him off your hands to free up the slot?

 

Yes.

''Nobody's going to produce when they're hurt,'' he said. ``It's like driving a car with a flat tire. It's not comfortable

 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sport...ll/11087694.htm

I don't mean to be a pessimist, but I see little reason why Encarnacion would breakout. He is not prospect-young anymore and has shown the extent of his skills. I think everyone is overrating his "5 tools." I, and no one else, has ever seen these five tools. When has he hit for average? and real power for that matter? Hitting 20 hrs in the juiced ball era with 600 abs is not impressive. Until he has the capability of judging the strikezone and getting around on major league fastballs, Encarnacion will continue to dissapoint. We made a smart move in getting rid of him last year and a huge mistake taking him back. I know everyone is optimistic about this season, and everyone wants the best for our players. But let's at least be slightly realistic. Encarnacion is and will continue to be one of the worst everyday right fielders in baseball, and we need to replace him (or not play him).

you arent being a pessimist, just a realist

isnt enc like 35

isnt enc like 35

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:lol :lol