One upon a time I thought Saunders could be a version of a Joe Pepitone or Franklin Stubbs at the bat. LH, 20+ HR's, hit .250, OBP .310. Hurt some righties, especially junk ballers.
Pepitone wasn't a bad OF glove when he came up either.
I suppose that is still his absolute upside. But Eventually I determined that no matter how athletic he looked in the field (not bad) he just didn't look like that at the plate.
Not many decent hitters look completely out of sorts at the plate. I didn't see the game last night, but during hi last go around, Saunders, when he triggered his swing and as he swung looked like the antithesis of a hitter.
Hitting a baseball in the major leagues may be the most natural athletic gift in sports. Look how it humbled terrific athletes like Michael Jordan or Danny Ainge. Saunders, I think, just doesn't have that gift.
Add new comment
1