Saunders actually reminds me a bit of Brad Hawpe at the plate. Hawpe played college ball so it's not a good minor league stat match, especially since at least two of his parks were major hitters' parks, but looking at the others:
Hawpe, age 22: .267/.363/.506/.870, 59BB/113K (.52 EYE) in 450 ABs, 22 2B/ 22 HR
Hawpe, age 24: .277/.338/.503/.841, 31BB/81K (.38 EYE) in 346 ABs, 27 2B/ 17 HR
Hawpe, MLB career on the road: .273/.369/.470/.839, .56 EYE, 3.7 AB:K.
Saunders, age 18-22: .276/.361/.441/.802. Averages per 450 ABs: 57BB/125K (.46 EYE), 3.6 AB:K, 23 2B, 6 3B, 13 HR
But I agree, it may take him too long to put it together for him to still be with us. Hawpe didn't get a full season in the lineup until age 27. Raul took til 29. Saunders kinda needs to do it now if he's gonna do it with us. Fully healthy to start the Spring, in LF from day one, with his expected platoon partner now likely being cut, Saunders should get a GOOD number of at-bats this season.
Putting together a 100-110 OPS+ season right about now would be a good thing, or we're gonna be looking for another LFer soon, I think. And then sometime in 2013 some other team is gonna get a "surprise" contribution from Mr. Saunders.
In a perfect world, Saunders and Chavez both light it up and we get extra assets. It's the offseason, so I still get to hope for a perfect world.
~G
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