For me, a defining characteristic of both Ackley and Carp would be "adaptive intelligence". For me, both are examples of players with the willingness AND ability to alter their approaches. This creates in both an ability to not only improve, but to dial between skills until they find an optimal combination.
Attempting to "familiarize?" Ackley and Carp based on their tiny MLB samples is questionable at best. Better to concentrate on the large samples from the minors and then try and adjust for the reality in the majors (IMHO).
Ackley has a horrid K rate *ONLY* if one looks exclusively at his 376 MLB PAs. His 162 game pace is 142 Ks. But, he only had 117 Ks in 918 minor league PAs. Yes, the competition may be tougher - but even as limited as his minor league lines are, Ackley showed this change just from his first 52 games in 2010 and his 66 games in 2011 - both in Tacoma: BB/K = 20/38 in 2010 ... BB/K = 55/38 in 2011.
In his UNC Bio it notes "modeled his game after Pete Rose". As a Freshman in 2007, he his .402 with 10-HR and 30-BB in about 330 PAs. He fanned only 21 times. In 2009, .417 with 22-HR and 50 BB but his whiffs increased to 34. Consider that college ratio - 22-HR to 34-SO.
The true difficulty in "familiarizing" guys like Ackley and Carp ... with histories showing major swings in "skill" rates ... is that it is very reasonable to believe that eventually they will maximize the combination. Ackley could (based on history) drop his K-rate drastically if he wanted to surrender some power. His 2011 MLB numbers (and his vicious swing) suggest he was attempting to maximize his power. (His swing in 2010 with West Tenn was not what I would call vicious).
My call on Carp was based not on skill - but on evidence of skill 'change'. I classify Ackley in that camp ... and after examining his college numbers, I'm higher on Seager than I was previously was, too in regards to adaptability.
I agree that if you're going to stick Carp in a family the 'latest' stats are better than using an aggregate. But, at the same time, this largely ignores adaptability as an actual skill. Attempting to discern 'random' fluctuation from skill change via intent is a formidable undertaking. But, exactly what is the proper way to resolve Ackley's minor league 130/117 BB/K ratio with his 40/79 Majors line? His first 237 PAs in AAA showed a similar 1:2 ratio - but his next 300 PAs in AAA he was back at 55:38 (3:2).
As for comps for Ackley ... how about J.D. Drew. All his injuries screw up his profile ... but a 6'1" 200 pound lefty with some speed doesn't sound far off.
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