I don't think Mike Jacobs is going to become Jim Thome or anything, but does the fact that he was a rookie count for anything?

 

Yes I know he wasn't a 22 year-old rookie... it was still his first full season in the bigs.

 

People sure are down on him...

 

Hey I'd be just fine dealing him if it's part of a larger package (or series of trades) that markedly improves the team. However if we're just moving Hammer to 1st, signing a "maybe" center fielder, then plugging in Ross/Borchard/whomever in left....

 

Dunno.... doesn't work for me.

Completely agree

 

Derrek Lee, age 25: 561 AB, .282/.820 OPS, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 37 2B

Mike Jacobs, age 25: 469 AB, .262/.798 OPS, 20 HR, 77 RBI, 37 2B

 

And that was DLee's 4th season in the majors. Cut Jacobs some slack.. it was his rookie year and he had a bum foot the whole season. I think it would be a mistake to let go of him for a guy who, according to this thread, is going to be 27 on opening day, strikes out a lot, has a bad arm, doesn't take many walks and hits for no power. Am I missing something?

I don't think Mike Jacobs is going to become Jim Thome or anything, but does the fact that he was a rookie count for anything?

 

Yes I know he wasn't a 22 year-old rookie... it was still his first full season in the bigs.

 

People sure are down on him...

 

Hey I'd be just fine dealing him if it's part of a larger package (or series of trades) that markedly improves the team. However if we're just moving Hammer to 1st, signing a "maybe" center fielder, then plugging in Ross/Borchard/whomever in left....

 

Dunno.... doesn't work for me.

Completely agree

 

Derrek Lee, age 25: 561 AB, .282/.820 OPS, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 37 2B

Mike Jacobs, age 25: 469 AB, .262/.798 OPS, 20 HR, 77 RBI, 37 2B

 

And that was DLee's 4th season in the majors. Cut Jacobs some slack.. it was his rookie year and he had a bum foot the whole season. I think it would be a mistake to let go of him for a guy who, according to this thread, is going to be 27 on opening day, strikes out a lot, has a bad arm, doesn't take many walks and hits for no power. Am I missing something?

Derrek was also a very good baserunner and a vaccuum over at 1b. That being said I wouldn't want Duffy either.

I don't think Mike Jacobs is going to become Jim Thome or anything, but does the fact that he was a rookie count for anything?

 

Yes I know he wasn't a 22 year-old rookie... it was still his first full season in the bigs.

 

People sure are down on him...

 

Hey I'd be just fine dealing him if it's part of a larger package (or series of trades) that markedly improves the team. However if we're just moving Hammer to 1st, signing a "maybe" center fielder, then plugging in Ross/Borchard/whomever in left....

 

Dunno.... doesn't work for me.

Completely agree

 

Derrek Lee, age 25: 561 AB, .282/.820 OPS, 21 HR, 75 RBI, 37 2B

Mike Jacobs, age 25: 469 AB, .262/.798 OPS, 20 HR, 77 RBI, 37 2B

 

And that was DLee's 4th season in the majors. Cut Jacobs some slack.. it was his rookie year and he had a bum foot the whole season. I think it would be a mistake to let go of him for a guy who, according to this thread, is going to be 27 on opening day, strikes out a lot, has a bad arm, doesn't take many walks and hits for no power. Am I missing something?

Are you really comparing Derek Lee to Mike Jacobs? Because I mean, wow. Talk about a huge difference in hype and projections. Also, and this is using Lee's worst season since 2000 which is the one you cite,

 

Lee vs LHP .954 OPS. vs RHP .784 (the next year, Lee has identical .871-.872 splits, career .900/.850ish)

Jacobs vs LHP .529, vs RHP .860

 

Lee's a complete ballplayer. Like Ramp said, there is defense and speed as well. Jacobs is probably never going to become "average" defensively or hit lefties. He's best suited in the AL in a 1B/DH platoon. And what I find really strange is, and this isn't a comment to you or Hotcorner specifically, no one wants a platoon in LF with the idea of moving Hammer to 1B, but keeping Jacobs on this team is a platoon at 1B? Let's try for some consistency people.

 

The one thing I do agree with you is, Jacobs is probably best moved in a multi player package because we won't get decent 1-1 value from him. Chris Duffy is to little, Mike Gonzalez is to much. There has to be more players involved to really move him.

I happen to think so differ from all of you. I see a HUGE future in Mike Jacobs. I can't explain it now, but I have a feeling I won't have to explain myself later.

Are you really comparing Derek Lee to Mike Jacobs? Because I mean, wow. Talk about a huge difference in hype and projections. Also, and this is using Lee's worst season since 2000 which is the one you cite,

I didnt really want to compare him to DLee... was just trying to reiterate the fact that he this was only his rookie year. I'm just in the camp that would like to see what he could do with another year under his belt...

 

Let me preface this one by saying I'm not comparing him to Ryan Howard.. but Howard hit .148 against LHP in his rookie year.. that was in limited ABs. When he got his chance to play full time against LHP, well, obviously he turned it around. I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year.

Are you really comparing Derek Lee to Mike Jacobs? Because I mean, wow. Talk about a huge difference in hype and projections. Also, and this is using Lee's worst season since 2000 which is the one you cite,

I didnt really want to compare him to DLee... was just trying to reiterate the fact that he this was only his rookie year. I'm just in the camp that would like to see what he could do with another year under his belt...

 

Let me preface this one by saying I'm not comparing him to Ryan Howard.. but Howard hit .148 against LHP in his rookie year.. that was in limited ABs. When he got his chance to play full time against LHP, well, obviously he turned it around. I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year.

 

Statistically speaking, he was the worst full time first baseman in baseball last year. No one, except him, was bottom third in both fielding percentage and OPS (where he ranked dead last).

 

If some team thinks he has value, you have to make the move.

I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year.

 

I agree, I'm pro Jacobs for '07.

 

I think were going to see some parts to our BP and our CFer come from the rule V.

I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year.

 

I agree, I'm pro Jacobs for '07.

 

I think were going to see some parts to our BP and our CFer come from the rule V.

 

Then we're going to be in for a long season.

Keep Jacobs, nough said!

It seems to be a popular sport these days to find reason to demean and villify Mike Jacobs as if he is what ails the Florida Marlins or is single-handedly keeping us from winning it all next year. Some here call his play terrible. Some revel in his .798 OPS as an indicator of his future performance.

 

Well, if you're one of them you are about to be in for a rude awakening.

 

There seem to be few among us who remember how many years Derrek Lee toiled in the minors before making it to the big leagues, only to fall flat on his face and not only lose his starting job after his first full season in the majors but be banished back to the minors. If he isn't the poster child for the belief that not all players mature at the same rate or that a player's first season in the majors is not always indicative of how their career will play out, I don't know who is.

 

In fact, in researching this post, the number of "experts" back in the day wrote off Lee is almost funny, over and over suggesting he'd never amount to anything and was destined to be a bust. Sound familiar?

 

While a healthy Lee was younger than Jacobs when he made it in 1998 than Jacobs was in 2005, what's lost here is that Lee started playing professional ball at age seventeen (1993) and it took him until 1998 (after a taste in *'97* ala Jacobs in '05) to make it onto a MLB roster, where he stunk up the joint batting .234 with a .318 OBP, .414 SLG and .732 OPS with 17 homeruns and 120 strikeouts in 454 at bats.

 

So bad was his play as I alluded to above, the next season he lost his first base job and in 1999 spent more than half the season in Calgary, the Marlins AAA franchise at the time.

 

Jacobs on the otherhand started his professional career in 1999 and made it to the bigs (as a taste in 2005) as a starter in 2006. He started in the minors as a catcher, but after losing almost an entire season after a shoulder injury, he was moved to first base where he played for one season.

 

Nonetheless, in his first MLB year, hobbled by a stress fracture to his right ankle for the entire season, his rookie line was an improvement on Lee's in every single category.

 

In 469 at bats, Jacobs hit 20 homeruns, batted .262 with an OBP of .325 and .473 SLG and .798 OPS. Not only that but Jacobs struckout less (105 times) as well.

 

Am I equating the two? No.

 

Is Mike Jacobs ever going to be the defensive star Derrek Lee has matured into? I doubt it very much and if I was a betting man I'd say no there as well.

 

Will he ever become the hitter Derrek Lee has become? I'd probably say no but schools out on that one. Comparing rookie season to rookie season, with virtually the same number of years and at bats in the minors for each player entering their rookie MLB season, Mike Jacobs outperformed Derrek Lee in every offensive category including doubles (37 vs 29 for Lee). Not bad for a guy who could barely run the bases and who so many here are ready to throw under the bus.

 

Only time will tell.

 

The mind plays tricks with all of us. We remember Derrek Lee at his best and we're remembering an injured Mike Jacobs at what may turn out to be his worst. Even if he turns into a baby Carlos Delgado defensively and starts hitting 30+ homeruns year in and year out, that's not a guy I would be so quick to trade away for some spare part.

 

All the numbers I've quoted are available at thebaseballcube.com. Here are the links:

 

http://thebaseballcube.com/players/L/Derrek-Lee.shtml

 

http://thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Mike-Jacobs-1.shtml

I am 100% for Trading Jacobs if it get us a CFer and a RP in the deal in some way but to argue about Jacobs' fielding percentage is kind of funny. He had a .993 Fielding Percentage. What's the best .998? Not much of a difference. You are basically arguing for like 2 errors thats just funny.

 

And well everyone who is for Jacobs has a point about the fielding range. When you are playing with an injured ankle you are going to suffer in your range. BUT is there anyone else on this team that has value that you would trade over Jacobs?

 

In order to get a good player you have to give up a good player and not all clubs are interested in trading MLB ready players for prospects. Most want someone who is going to produce for them now.

 

To me its not about the fact that Jacobs is the worst 1b in baseball playing with socks high after the 3rd inning in the rain but the fact that he is one of the only players on the team that has value that we could trade and it wouldnt draw as back whatsoever.

 

It is also a lot easier to find a 1b that can hit rather than finding a good hitting CFer who has range. If we can work out a deal for someone like that we have to pull the trigger.

I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year.

 

I agree, I'm pro Jacobs for '07.

 

I think were going to see some parts to our BP and our CFer come from the rule V.

 

Then we're going to be in for a long season.

 

Are you really comparing Derek Lee to Mike Jacobs? Because I mean, wow. Talk about a huge difference in hype and projections. Also, and this is using Lee's worst season since 2000 which is the one you cite,

I didnt really want to compare him to DLee... was just trying to reiterate the fact that he this was only his rookie year. I'm just in the camp that would like to see what he could do with another year under his belt...

 

Let me preface this one by saying I'm not comparing him to Ryan Howard.. but Howard hit .148 against LHP in his rookie year.. that was in limited ABs. When he got his chance to play full time against LHP, well, obviously he turned it around. I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year.

Adam LaRoche is probably a better comparable vs LHP, and offensively, that's what I see Jacobs doing in a 100% best case scenario on a career path. I doubt he does it, but maybe he improves. He needs to break a .750 OPS vs lefties to be considered a starter to me. Agree completely with what I bolded.

It seems to be a popular sport these days to find reason to demean and villify Mike Jacobs as if he is what ails the Florida Marlins or is single-handedly keeping us from winning it all next year. Some here call his play terrible. Some revel in his .798 OPS as an indicator of his future performance.

 

Well, if you're one of them you are about to be in for a rude awakening.

 

There seem to be few among us who remember how many years Derrek Lee toiled in the minors before making it to the big leagues, only to fall flat on his face and not only lose his starting job after his first full season in the majors but be banished back to the minors. If he isn't the poster child for the belief that not all players mature at the same rate or that a player's first season in the majors is not always indicative of how their career will play out, I don't know who is.

 

In fact, in researching this post, the number of "experts" back in the day wrote off Lee is almost funny, over and over suggesting he'd never amount to anything and was destined to be a bust. Sound familiar?

 

While a healthy Lee was younger than Jacobs when he made it in 1998 than Jacobs was in 2005, what's lost here is that Lee started playing professional ball at age seventeen (1993) and it took him until 1998 (after a taste in *'97* ala Jacobs in '05) to make it onto a MLB roster, where he stunk up the joint batting .234 with a .318 OBP, .414 SLG and .732 OPS with 17 homeruns and 120 strikeouts in 454 at bats.

 

So bad was his play as I alluded to above, the next season he lost his first base job and in 1999 spent more than half the season in Calgary, the Marlins AAA franchise at the time.

 

Jacobs on the otherhand started his professional career in 1999 and made it to the bigs (as a taste in 2005) as a starter in 2006. He started in the minors as a catcher, but after losing almost an entire season after a shoulder injury, he was moved to first base where he played for one season.

 

Nonetheless, in his first MLB year, hobbled by a stress fracture to his right ankle for the entire season, his rookie line was an improvement on Lee's in every single category.

 

In 469 at bats, Jacobs hit 20 homeruns, batted .262 with an OBP of .325 and .473 SLG and .798 OPS. Not only that but Jacobs struckout less (105 times) as well.

 

Am I equating the two? No.

 

Is Mike Jacobs ever going to be the defensive star Derrek Lee has matured into? I doubt it very much and if I was a betting man I'd say no there as well.

 

Will he ever become the hitter Derrek Lee has become? I'd probably say no but schools out on that one. Comparing rookie season to rookie season, with virtually the same number of years and at bats in the minors for each player entering their rookie MLB season, Mike Jacobs outperformed Derrek Lee in every offensive category including doubles (37 vs 29 for Lee). Not bad for a guy who could barely run the bases and who so many here are ready to throw under the bus.

 

Only time will tell.

 

The mind plays tricks with all of us. We remember Derrek Lee at his best and we're remembering an injured Mike Jacobs at what may turn out to be his worst. Even if he turns into a baby Carlos Delgado defensively and starts hitting 30+ homeruns year in and year out, that's not a guy I would be so quick to trade away for some spare part.

 

All the numbers I've quoted are available at thebaseballcube.com. Here are the links:

 

http://thebaseballcube.com/players/L/Derrek-Lee.shtml

 

http://thebaseballcube.com/players/J/Mike-Jacobs-1.shtml

I don't get it...you're not equating their rookie season, but then you are? Which is it. It's a terrible comparison seeing as how DLee was a full 3yrs younger than Jacobs. Beyond the silly DLee comparison (where did that come from?), I agree that he shouldn't be dumped for someone like Chris Duffy.

I don't get it...you're not equating their rookie season, but then you are? Which is it. It's a terrible comparison seeing as how DLee was a full 3yrs younger than Jacobs. Beyond the silly DLee comparison (where did that come from?), I agree that he shouldn't be dumped for someone like Chris Duffy.

 

Gee Sham, unless I confused some numbers and inwhich case mea culpa, I was comparing rookie season to rookie season.

 

My contention is that the age differential was irrelevant ( it's nothing more than a straw man argument) when considered in the light of both having seven years minor league experience, both having about the same minor league at bats, etc.

 

It isn't like DLee was some kid fresh off the farm and was thrust on the major league stage. He had plenty of years of professional experience before he got his shot.

 

To call my post and the comparison to DLee, which is all over this thread, silly, is plain insulting. But like I said most people remember the 2003 DLee and the 2005 Mike Jacobs and somehow compare the two when comparing their rookie years is the right analysis in every category from at bats to OPS. They had almost identical chances to succeed.

 

You may not like the results, but they are what they are.

I don't get it...you're not equating their rookie season, but then you are? Which is it. It's a terrible comparison seeing as how DLee was a full 3yrs younger than Jacobs. Beyond the silly DLee comparison (where did that come from?), I agree that he shouldn't be dumped for someone like Chris Duffy.

 

Gee Sham, unless I confused some numbers and inwhich case mea culpa, I was comparing rookie season to rookie season.

 

My contention is that the age differential was irrelevant ( it's nothing more than a straw man argument) when considered in the light of both having seven years minor league experience, both having about the same minor league at bats, etc.

 

It isn't like DLee was some kid fresh off the farm and was thrust on the major league stage. He had plenty of years of professional experience before he got his shot.

 

To call my post and the comparison to DLee, which is all over this thread, silly, is plain insulting. But like I said most people remember the 2003 DLee and the 2005 Mike Jacobs and somehow compare the two when comparing their rookie years is the right analysis in every category from at bats to OPS. They had almost identical chances to succeed.

 

You may not like the results, but they are what they are.

 

3 additional years of professional baseball, at any level, is a tremendous difference.

 

A 25 year old Derrek Lee posted an OPS above .800, that's a far more relevant number if you wish to compare the players, which is foolish to begin with.

3 additional years of professional baseball, at any level, is a tremendous difference.

 

A 25 year old Derrek Lee posted an OPS above .800, that's a far more relevant number if you wish to compare the players, which is foolish to begin with.

 

Just as I said, a straw man argument.

 

BTW, what three years are you referring to? Jacobs went back to A and into AA to learn a new position after missing virtually all of the 2004 season with his shoulder injury. Am I wrong to assume you know that? According to TBC they both are listed as having the same number of minor league service years.

 

The fact is Lee was a total flop his rookie season and yet turned his career around and became the great player he is today. While I'm not suggesting Jacobs will do as well, comparatively speaking, Jacobs outplayed Lee in their rookie years.

 

BTW NOTE : I stand corrected, while their at bats etc were very close in minor league play, one year counted against Lee is actually rehab time from the cubs but it was only one game/four at bats. So Lee had six years in the minors, Jacobs seven. One of Jacobs though was on the DL.

The fact is Lee was a total flop his rookie season and yet turned his career around and became the great player he is today. While I'm not suggesting Jacobs will do as well, comparatively speaking, Jacobs outplayed Lee in their rookie years.

..and they had very similiar numbers at the same age, when DLee had already been in the league a few years and Jacobs was just a rookie.

 

If some team thinks he has value, you have to make the move.

Yes, because I'd love to move a 1B with 30 HR potential for a very poor mans Juan Pierre.

3 additional years of professional baseball, at any level, is a tremendous difference.

 

A 25 year old Derrek Lee posted an OPS above .800, that's a far more relevant number if you wish to compare the players, which is foolish to begin with.

 

Just as I said, a straw man argument.

 

BTW, what three years are you referring to? Jacobs went back to A and into AA to learn a new position after missing virtually all of the 2004 season with his shoulder injury. Am I wrong to assume you know that? According to TBC they both are listed as having the same number of minor league service years.

 

The fact is Lee was a total flop his rookie season and yet turned his career around and became the great player he is today. While I'm not suggesting Jacobs will do as well, comparatively speaking, Jacobs outplayed Lee in their rookie years.

 

Just like you'd hope a 25 year old would be able to out perform a 22 year old.

 

If you have a player thought highly enough of to be thrust into the majors at 22, odds are, good things are expected in the future even if there are immediate struggles.

 

Lastly, why continue this inane comparison of Lee and Jacobs? It's a laughable juxtaposition, if anything, it should be Lee and Hermida.

3 additional years of professional baseball, at any level, is a tremendous difference.

 

A 25 year old Derrek Lee posted an OPS above .800, that's a far more relevant number if you wish to compare the players, which is foolish to begin with.

 

Just as I said, a straw man argument.

 

BTW, what three years are you referring to? Jacobs went back to A and into AA to learn a new position after missing virtually all of the 2004 season with his shoulder injury. Am I wrong to assume you know that? According to TBC they both are listed as having the same number of minor league service years.

 

The fact is Lee was a total flop his rookie season and yet turned his career around and became the great player he is today. While I'm not suggesting Jacobs will do as well, comparatively speaking, Jacobs outplayed Lee in their rookie years.

 

Just like you'd hope a 25 year old would be able to out perform a 22 year old.

 

If you have a player thought highly enough of to be thrust into the majors at 22, odds are, good things are expected in the future even if there are immediate struggles.

 

Lastly, why continue this inane comparison of Lee and Jacobs? It's a laughable juxtaposition, if anything, it should be Lee and Hermida.

 

 

You mean it's inane because it proves you wrong

 

We're comparing first basemen in their rookie years who played for the Florida Marlins, each in rebuilding years after a major talent sell-off. I guess there's not enough there in common for you.

 

I can understand why from your point of view you need to compare a first baseman to the a rightfielder. Because that's the only one that's works for you.

3 additional years of professional baseball, at any level, is a tremendous difference.

 

A 25 year old Derrek Lee posted an OPS above .800, that's a far more relevant number if you wish to compare the players, which is foolish to begin with.

 

Just as I said, a straw man argument.

 

BTW, what three years are you referring to? Jacobs went back to A and into AA to learn a new position after missing virtually all of the 2004 season with his shoulder injury. Am I wrong to assume you know that? According to TBC they both are listed as having the same number of minor league service years.

 

The fact is Lee was a total flop his rookie season and yet turned his career around and became the great player he is today. While I'm not suggesting Jacobs will do as well, comparatively speaking, Jacobs outplayed Lee in their rookie years.

 

BTW NOTE : I stand corrected, while their at bats etc were very close in minor league play, one year counted against Lee is actually rehab time from the cubs but it was only one game/four at bats. So Lee had six years in the minors, Jacobs seven. One of Jacobs though was on the DL.

uhh...age

You mean it's inane because it proves you wrong

We're comparing first basemen in their rookie years who played for the Florida Marlins, each in rebuilding years after a major talent sell-off. I guess there's not enough there in common for you.

... but who cares? So Jacobs had a better rookie year then Lee's 22 year old 1998, and had a similar age 25 year. The point you seem to be making is ignoring huge issues. This is all about projecting future performance and the fact is, no one was shocked Derek turned into one of the better 1B in baseball over the next few seasons. Everyone will be shocked if Jacobs turns into a solid regular because he has severe deficiencies that were not apparent in Lee's game at the same point of their career, despite similar levels of performance which you seem to be clinging to. Major LHP issues, defense, and I guess we can throw out the 'tool' of speed as well.

 

You can blame Mike's problems on changing positions and a bad ankle all you want, but I'm going to go with he's just not a natural athlete which is why he was never kept at the same place in the minors. I can accept his defense and speed because even neutral presence's - Morneau, etc. - can still be extremely productive from 1B, but he needs a 200+ OPS jump versus left handers and a good 50+ versus RHP to be a viable bat. That's a lot to ask for. Plus, we have to get Hammer out of LF eventually. If it doesn't happen in 07, it will happen in 08. Defensively I'm not worried about him, and offensively all Hammer needs to do is bump his OPS 50+ points versus RHP (.269/.334/.451), and keep mashing lefties with extreme prejudice (1.030 OPS). He's a much better option at 1B then Jacobs right now and for the future.

 

Basically, unless you think Jacobs outperforms Willingham for the next 4 seasons, he should be traded. I don't hate Jacobs like some here, but I'm going to take Hammer in that debate everytime. We'd be much better served now and for the future to get a longterm CF or stud RP, maybe even a young C or LF, for Jacobs right now.

What I didn't say Lou was that Jacobs would eventually be as good as Lee.

 

I think I was very clear on that.

 

My point was that, and it seems to be lost here, is that rookie seasons are not in and of themselves a universal barometer for future success or failure. If they were Hermida would be riding a bench in the Mexican League.

 

Considering Jacobs was injured the entire season there is no logical conclusions that can be drawn either offensively or defensively about his future. I don't see why Jacobs and Willingham can't be on the same team. Willingham improved incrementally as an outfielder as the season went on and may turn into the next incarnation of Jeff Conine before it's over. If Jacobs comes back healthy and without any lingering effects from running around on a broken ankle for six months he may contribute the way he was expected to.

 

Outside of some rumor mongering there is no indication that the FO intends to move Willingham to first. Some there may want to, some may have discussed it, but until it happens or Beinfest says something even remotely indicating it, it's nothing more than supposition.

 

You could always ask him at the season ticketholder Christmas party in a few weeks. I'd ask him but I have another question.

You mean it's inane because it proves you wrong

We're comparing first basemen in their rookie years who played for the Florida Marlins, each in rebuilding years after a major talent sell-off. I guess there's not enough there in common for you.

 

I can understand why from your point of view you need to compare a first baseman to the a rightfielder. Because that's the only one that's works for you.

 

Hardly.

 

When one's 25, one's 22, there's hardly enough in common to draw anything but a moronic comparison. Since you've completely disregarded the defensive side of the game, it's even more idiotic to suggest that Lee's offensive struggles early on were given a carte blanche pass.

 

There is absolutely zero in common between Jacobs and Lee's rookie seasons that a reasonable person can draw similarities to, other than they were both rookie firstbaseman. Every other single aspect of their games/history/development are light years apart.

 

As for the Hermida comparison, perhaps it was too simplistic, both Lee and Hermida had pedigrees and struggled in their first year. Since defense has not entered into your thought process at all, it is not unreasonable to say to people worrying about Hermida "hey, it's OK, look at Lee, he struggled at 22 and he's an elite player now."

According to http://www.baseball-reference.com:

 

Mike Jacobs at age 25 = Josh Phelps/Rico Brogna

 

Derrek Lee at age 25 = John Mayberry/Kent Hrbek

 

Seems pretty accurate to me.

 

 

Other comparisons at their current age(purely stats-wise)

 

Hanley - Jimmy Rollins

Cabrera - Hank Aaron

Sanchez - Ben McDonald

Johnson - Matt Morris

Olsen - Melido Perez

Willis - Steve Avery

Nolasco - Danny Haren