To tell you the truth, Doc, my astonishment was more that we weren't willing to discuss trading LoMo. I've accepted the fact that there is something Z sees in Smoak...or is addicted to. I've always said that Smoaky had that one "Kotchman" year in him (not the BA, mind you)....and I think Z assumes that, too. That's the "gelling" that Doc mentions. But the issue has always been; Just how many blah years do you wait for that one Yes! year to show up. There isn't much indication (besides velocity numbers, which haven't translted to BABIP very well in Smoak's case) that his "Kotch" year is imminent. Smoak's 1st-half of '13 was the type of Yes! we're talking about: .272-.373-.431, although trading some of those walks for a few more doubles would be nifty. His 2nd-half '13 was more of the Smoak we've come to know and cringe at: 203-.294-.392. His '331 BABIP (unsustainable considering his career .261) fell to an ugly .220.
All in all, he's been terrible...as 1B-men go. And he's Brendan Ryan at the plate vs LHP, to boot.
However, he's ours and we love him. That said, I would like to know just what Milwaukee was willing to offer up for he or Morrison. I also consider it likely that in any given year you could get "Smoaky" levels of performance from Romero and Choi or Tenbrink? Romero couldn't have gone .202-.294-.392 for 3 months?
Smoak will have his 50-game run this year....smothered by a 80-game disappearance. Well......most likely.
Z is holding on, just in case this year is it.
Lay 'yer money down.
moe
Edit: Doc, if you're saying that Smoak has a 50% chance of gelling THIS year, well I'll take that bet.
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