Tswift, whoever thought Nunez was the next coming was probably concentrating a bit too much on his "tools." If you look at his minor league career, he never really did anything to warrant that much excitement.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/N/a...m-nunez-1.shtml

 

 

And I get flashes of Hanley Ramirez. :confused

Tswift, whoever thought Nunez was the next coming was probably concentrating a bit too much on his "tools." If you look at his minor league career, he never really did anything to warrant that much excitement.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/N/a...m-nunez-1.shtml

 

 

And I get flashes of Hanley Ramirez. :confused

 

Except Hanley isn't 2 years older than everyone thinks he is.

 

Hopefully.

Tswift, whoever thought Nunez was the next coming was probably concentrating a bit too much on his "tools." If you look at his minor league career, he never really did anything to warrant that much excitement.

 

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/N/a...m-nunez-1.shtml

 

 

And I get flashes of Hanley Ramirez. :confused

 

Well, not yet. Hanley has hit .300 or higher every year except 2003 and 2005 and he was also a 21 year old more than holding his own in AA. If he's still hitting .270 in AA in 2006 and 2007 then we'll have problems. He could probably use another year in the minors, but we'll see how he performs in spring training. He's got the tools... he was just adjusting to a higher level of competition last year at a very young age.

he was just adjusting to a higher level of competition last year at a very young age.

 

 

Eh, I'd buy the "he got bored" argument more considering he played at AA last year and in 2004, and he did better in his 2004 season (albeit in a smaller number of AB's).

he was just adjusting to a higher level of competition last year at a very young age.

 

 

Eh, I'd buy the "he got bored" argument more considering he played at AA last year and in 2004, and he did better in his 2004 season (albeit in a smaller number of AB's).

 

That's quite possible. Hope you're right, because then that might mean he's ready for the big leagues. :thumbup

First of all it's good to be talking baseball again.

 

And to really light a fire in the hot stove, having watched almost every one of Jacobs at bats (yeah, I threw down a few bucks to MLB.com to watch the condensed versions of 2005 Mets games) I'm willing to suggest by the end of September it's not inconceivable that Jacobs will lead Hermida in HRS and RBIs, and possibly SLG.

 

What Jacobs is accomplished at is hitting all manner of pitches from guys as good as John Smoltz. While Swift finds what he did in September as middling, I'd take exception with that. Randolph refused to move him up in the lineup, never hitting him higher than sixth, and more times than not seventh, where he had little if any protection.

 

He can hit curveballs, sliders, his timing is impeccable. He hits to opposite field with power. For those of you who are interested there is about a half dozen multimedia clips freely available on mlb to watch and make up your own minds.

 

If he and Hermida are sandwiched around Cabrera (left-right-left as three-four-five) there's a good chance Hermida does what he does best, which is get on base and Cabrera and Jacobs will have a field day moving him along.

 

BTW, I see alot of similarities in Jacobs' and Hermida's swings. What I don't see is any similarity to Abe Nunez which is a subtle put-down of this player's skills. Nunez was always a streaky hitter. He'd bat .455 for three weeks and then cruise for a month. Jacobs was consistent throughout 2003 and 2005. Had the Mets not called him up when they did, he was on a pace to become the most productive hitter ever in Mets minor league system and could have won his league's triple crown.

 

Those kind of numbers don't happen by accident.

 

I can't and won't say I know definitively how well Jacobs or any others will fare this season, but having seen maybe 80 at bats, I'm completely sold on him and his ability to hit major league pitching. The guy had over 500 ABs last season, hitting .325 and 25HRs in the minors (433 ABs) and then hitting .310 with 11 Hrs in the bigs (100 ABs). To me that says he can endure the physical rigors of a full season in the MLs, something I can't say about several of our other acquisitions.

 

Will I be proven wrong? Time will tell, but as of today I'm convinced bringing Petit and Jacobs may turn out to be the best trade in the Beinfest era.

Thank you, 2003!!! I watched a ton of Jacobs's at bats from this past season because I am a mlb.tv subscriber and I am honestly extremely impressed. The kid can flat out hit!!!!! Go Jakey!!! ROY!

Well 2003, you've inspired me, I've gone back and watched all of Jacobs big games in the mlb.tv highlight package (he tore up Arizona).

 

I'll be honest, his power stroke reminds me a lot of Floyd a lot. Loves the ball down, swooping upper-cut, very much of a "bad ball" hitter, and an almost unnatural degree of torque so he just pulls everything.

 

I will say this: I'm a little worried that detailed scouting reports will now no doubt emphasize that he is a low ball hitter and (as with most lefties) struggles with balls up. Should be interesting to see how 'pitchable' he becomes this year, especially with the knack of not being a patient hitter.

Well 2003, you've inspired me, I've gone back and watched all of Jacobs big games in the mlb.tv highlight package (he tore up Arizona).

 

I'll be honest, his power stroke reminds me a lot of Floyd a lot. Loves the ball down, swooping upper-cut, very much of a "bad ball" hitter, and an almost unnatural degree of torque so he just pulls everything.

 

I will say this: I'm a little worried that detailed scouting reports will now no doubt emphasize that he is a low ball hitter and (as with most lefties) struggles with balls up. Should be interesting to see how 'pitchable' he becomes this year, especially with the knack of not being a patient hitter.

 

Thanks.

 

If you go watch Hermida's highlights and then Jacobs' I defy anyone to suggest they don't don't have near identical swings. You may be right that he has trouble with the ball "up" but he hit his share of them for extra bases last season.I'm hoping that if Willingham bats sixth (fillintheblank, Uggla, Hermida, Cabrera, Jacobs, Willingham...) Jacobs gets enough protection that opposing pitchers will have to pitch to him.

i hope we dont waste Hammer in the 6 hole

OK, I'm going to disagree, I don't think they have identical swings (because I literally just did this since I was curious).

 

Hermida's is shorter, more level and he's a doubles hitter who occasionally hits a homer (the Oct. 1 shot against the Braves excluded) he has many balls that you'd say "ah, that's a wall ball double" and they just keep carrying.

 

Jacobs has a big inside out uppercut swing that generates more power (but due to its length, more K's). When he hits a ball in the air, more times than not, you know if it's gone or catchable.

 

As for the "trouble up" comment, that was meant more as a commentary on what I saw him hit well (and thusly not hit well) and simply concluded that he, like many lefty power hitters, was more of a middle of the plate low ball type of hitter.

 

For a quick reference, I recommend the two games against Arizona that Jacobs had (Aug. 23rd and 24th) and Hermida's homerun against Washington (Sept. 28th).

 

That's not to say either have 'bad' swings, but slightly different swings.

I guess what I see is their extension and their footwork. Perhaps identical was too strong a word but I see more in common than dissimilar.

I agree with 2003. Very similar swings. Their respective stances are different, but the swings themselves are quite similar.

 

Jacobs is going to tear it up this coming season. I am standing by my prediction of .285 25 HR 85-95 RBI (if he stays healthy and plays 140+ games).

 

i hope we dont waste Hammer in the 6 hole

 

 

I don't think we will. I see him hitting in the two hole. That's a pretty good spot for him in this lineup, don't you think? OBP machines at 2 and 3. Here's hoping that we can pick up someone to lead off or someone else surprises.

i hope we dont waste Hammer in the 6 hole

 

 

I don't think we will. I see him hitting in the two hole. That's a pretty good spot for him in this lineup, don't you think? OBP machines at 2 and 3. Here's hoping that we can pick up someone to lead off or someone else surprises.

 

If Reed doesn't have a strong spring, I'd bat Willingham leadoff...why not?

 

Oh, and long-term, I think Hanley has to be the 2-hole answer.

i hope we dont waste Hammer in the 6 hole

 

 

I don't think we will. I see him hitting in the two hole. That's a pretty good spot for him in this lineup, don't you think? OBP machines at 2 and 3. Here's hoping that we can pick up someone to lead off or someone else surprises.

 

If Reed doesn't have a strong spring, I'd bat Willingham leadoff...why not?

 

Oh, and long-term, I think Hanley has to be the 2-hole answer.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to that, depending on our options. Willy knows how to get on base.

His swing is a quicker version of Adam LaRoche's swing from the 3-4 clips I've been able to see on MLB.com.

The problem with batting Josh in the two hole is he's had a grand total of 11 stolen bases over two full seasons and 600 ABs. That was why I batted Uggla second and Willingham sixth. Others, even you Ramps are encouraged to disagree.

 

A little speed at the top of the lineup will ultimately help determine who hits where.

stolen bases, shmolen bases

 

Hammer can run the bases and score from 1st on a double

stolen bases, shmolen bases

 

Hammer can run the bases and score from 1st on a double

 

Can he leap tall buildings in a single bound too?????

It's not that I'm not sold on Ramirez, because who can really have an opinion on a guy you really haven't seen play with any regularity (although I did see him against the Fisher Cats last summer) but my main concern is his stamina.

 

In 2004 he played in under 100 games and 2005 about 120 +/-. It's a big leap to expect him to withstand the South Florida heat and a 162 game season. I'm hoping he can but it wouldn't disappoint me to pick up another guy (besides Reese) who has the skillset and experience to play the position everyday in the bigs.

 

I was pretty impressed with his size (bigger than he looked when I saw him last season) and his conditioning. Physically the guy looked ready for anything. Here's hoping... :thumbup