Comments on: Garrett Atkins and Position Splits

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:02:07 +0000

It is also possible that the FO will entertain the idea of giving Stewart a chance at the full time 2B job, replacing Baker/Barmes. In that scanario, I’d envision the lineup being the same, but Smith would slide to 8th….

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:08:46 +0000

I’m a fan of Atkins and I believe he is in for a rebound and could bat somewhere close to .300, 25hrs, 110 RBI. However, I’m staying away from him because I’m convinced he’ll get traded during the season.

By: Brian Joura

Brian Joura — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:19:48 +0000

Thanks Andrew!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:13:19 +0000

The lineup position is very much a mystery. Todd Helton is should not be hitting 3rd or 4th with his injury problems and lack of power. I would expect with the current players that the lineup would look something like this:

1) Spilborghs CF
2) Helton 1B
3) Atkins 3B
4) Hawpe RF
5) Iannetta C
6) Smith/Stewart LF
7) Tulowitzki SS
8) Barmes/Baker 2B

Hawpe is the better cleanup hitter for sure (although Hurdle tends to drop him in the lineup vs LHP). Atkins doesn’t deserve to be hitting third, but for the first time since…well…ever, the Rockies don’t have an obvious 3-hole hitter, and he has the most experience of anyone capable of putting together a .300+ avg season with power.

By: Brian Joura

Brian Joura — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:59:21 +0000

Kris – In any league where he’s played in more than 50 games, Cantu has topped the .290 mark in average twice. He did it in 2004 in Triple-A (368 AB) and 2000 in A-ball (316 AB). He may have it in him but he sure is scarce about actually doing it.

You’re not going to get Sandoval in the last round of any competitive draft – he’s everyone’s favorite sleeper. Josh Fields is coming off knee surgery, has never played more than 100 games in the majors nor hit for any kind of average. Ian Stewart had a .364 BABIP and hit .259 last year. Ty Wigginton won’t be playing in Houston, where he hit like Barry Bonds, and his road numbers are barely above the Mendoza line. Casey Blake is 35 years old and has a lifetime .264 average. Dallas McPherson has great power and has the best chance to be available in the last few rounds and put up an overall dollar value similar to Atkins, but he has to win a starting job and then keep his BA numbers up.

I’ve made that argument in regards to Jones.

Thanks for chiming in on the Rockies batting order.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:47:41 +0000

Hawpe generally has some pretty crazy splits, but he improved on them last year. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Hawpe took the leading role against righties and Atkins against lefties.

By: Kris

Kris — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:40:47 +0000

Well, it appears Glaus is a reach now that he’s out but Cantu went .277 last year, and was only a point lower than Atkins in OBP. Cantu is a headache, and i’d agree that Atkins is *more* likely to go .290+ but Cantu has it in him.

I’m not saying you could get Sandoval, Josh Fields, Ian Stewart, Ty Wigginton, Casey Blake, Dallas McPherson in the absolute last round of your draft but, i’m pretty sure that at least one of those late-round third basemen will put up numbers around Atkins.

You could make a VERY convincing argument that third base is so deep that Chipper Jones becomes a top 10 player. You add 200 AB from a replacement level fantasy third-basemen and you’ve essentially got David Wright type numbers with, probably a better average.

By: Brian Joura

Brian Joura — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:06:35 +0000

It seems to me that the Rockies have so much uncertainty surrounding who is going to be in their lineup (and where) that it’s hard to figure out who will bat in which position. If forced to guess, I would say Brad Hawpe bats cleanup and Atkins hits 5th.

I would appreciate it if Rockies fans out there would weigh in on the batting order.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:23:21 +0000

Is it reasonable to assume that Atkins will move into the cleanup spot now that holliday is gone and will have more plate appearances with more opportunities to drive in runs?

By: Brian Joura

Brian Joura — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:19:16 +0000

Hi Kris – thanks for the comment!

I agree that 3B is deeper than many think, especially with the guys who qualify by having played 20+ games there last year like Huff and Youkilis.

However, I’m not sure I would put Mora, Cantu or Glaus as likely to reach a .290+ average.

And the amount you lose in other categories does not make up for the strength in HR (Reynolds, Encarnacion) or SB (Figgins) of the next tier that you mention.