Sizzlers and Fizzlers OF
=== Mike Wilson, Sizzlin' OF ===
Very rare to see a guy with a true football frame, who has legit baseball-fast hands.
Reminds of a young Sammy Sosa, though the swing (very loose and confident, short path to the ball, low hands, long followthrough, weight goes to the ball wherever it is) reminds of Andre Dawson, Dave Winfield, Vlad Guerrero.
Freakish natural strength by the standards of baseball players; the man is legitimately powerful enough to be a "thumper" linebacker in major college football. Yet, as mentioned, he has the snake-tongue hands that you won't find on Lofa Tatupu, and exudes a natural talent in getting to the pitch as well.
Not developing especially *quickly,* as you know. But there are guys (Raul Ibanez, Geronimo Berroa, Brian Jordan, Jeff Conine) who are absolutely nowhere at 27, 28, and then become impact hitters.
Getting a look at Wilson on TV, you can sympathize with the M's for staying with Mike Wilson. It's easy to visualize the breakout.
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=== Franklin Gutierrez, Sizzlin' OF ===
Studying his pitch reaction as carefully as we could .... we've got to say, Franklin looks like he's more "bat glued to his shoulder" patient, than he is pitch-recognition patient. In other words, some guys on 1-1 are thinking, "if he gives me exactly what I want, I'll rip it; else I'll see a couple more pitches." F-Gut hits me that way.
It's one thing for a guy to average 4.2 pitches an AB, because he sees the pitch breaking outside the zone and holds up .... and when it doesn't spin tightly, he is ready for the non-break and nails it. It's a different thing when the guy doesn't flinch on 0-0, and then on 1-1, also lets a real good pitch go by without flinching. That's deciding ahead of time not to swing.
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That said, Gutierrez does have enough torque in those long arms to scare pitchers. And that, in combination with his patience, makes him a chore for pitchers, and could make him a factor at the plate when it all boils down.
It's amusing the way F-Gut reminds of the young Cammy at the plate as well as on defense. Similar ready position, very poised and relaxed and unhurried, similar torque. I like F-Gut's swing more than Cammy's, though; he changes his level much more fluidly (he sinks and raises his weight to the plane of the ball more quickly).
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I thought he ran better. He's just not Cameron-fast. And that makes me highly dubious about the idea that he's some sort of Richie Ashburn out there.
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That said too :- ) Dr. D has *nothing* against the idea of wanting the great mitt in CF, even if a guy isn't going to hit. That's a totally legit choice for the franchise to make.
I'll also withhold judgment as to whether Gutierrez is better than all the other excellent ML center fielders; that's a high bar. But if the M's feel that he is, that's their call to make, no complaint. Identify the guy you believe in, and commit to him. Don't blame the M's a bit for casting their lot with F-Gut.
I certainly don't agree with the extremist idea that F-Gut/Ichiro RF is preferable to Ichiro CF/Manny (just for example), but do *respect* the decision to go defense in the Safeco outfield.
Having spent an evening pondering F-Gut's movements, I'm encouraged rather than discouraged. He could feasibly turn out to be Mike Cameron. Not that Mike Cameron is the end of the rainbow, but am gingerly sliding my chips over to bet that F-Gut will turn out to be a starting center fielder in the big leagues.
Cheers,
Dr D