2017 BREAKOUT ALERT.. Kevin Pillar

[Spanky99]

He's has shown the ability to get on base his whole life until he got to the show. He never made the necessary adjustments to combat the superior pitching, but he's seems committed in doing that now.

 

Gruber... you're not looking at his walk rate, only once was it any decent and that was in A ball 5 years ago. The only positive is he doesn't strike out much, but he's a hacker. It isn't going to change, I hope you're right. Maybe he can have another 2015... but I doubt it, and he didn't come close to those numbers you predicted, just his batting average was close to .285

[Angrioter]

Kevin Pillar .285/.330/.440 >>>> Adam Lind top-5 1B

[Sammy225]

He's has shown the ability to get on base his whole life until he got to the show. He never made the necessary adjustments to combat the superior pitching, but he's seems committed in doing that now.

 

Well if he is committed then.... I don't know why more players don't become more committed to being better ball players if it is that easy.

 

He has not cracked a 5% walk rate since 2013 and thats assuming that 7.5BB% is average in the MLB. I don't know how someone can be so convinced that just because he wants to be a top of the lineup hitter and raise is walk rate 3% its a skill he simply does not have.

[Boxcar]

Being short and quick will allow a bit longer to recognize before committing, his OBP will go up. Kevin Pillar is committed in being a top of the order type bat. I believe he has the talent to do it, but we'll see.

 

I'd love to know the thought process that would lead you to believe he has the inherent talent.

 

I believe #1 is: he is a blue jay. If Pillar was a Yankee or something, he probably doesn't have the talent to improve.

[Boxcar]

Ryan Goins says hey.

 

Ryan Goins, the guy who can't stick in MLB?

[Stangstag]

Being short and quick will allow a bit longer to recognize before committing, his OBP will go up. Kevin Pillar is committed in being a top of the order type bat. I believe he has the talent to do it, but we'll see.

 

Thats not how this works lol. You either have a good eye/plate vision or you don't. Your OBP doesn't magically increase by shortening your stride.

[Stangstag]

Ryan Goins, the guy who can't stick in MLB?

 

Buffalo Bisons starting shortstop Ryan Goins

[Sammy225]

Ryan Goins, the guy who can't stick in MLB?

 

Ryan Goins...... Is that not Darwin Barneys understudy

[Jonn]

You guy's aren't scared that Goins has a legit shot at making this roster if Travis isn't ready. Watch him platoon with Barney.

[Spanky99]

You guy's aren't scared that Goins has a legit shot at making this roster if Travis isn't ready. Watch him platoon with Barney.

 

Not yet, it's March 2nd.

[gruber92]

Ryan Goins, the guy who can't stick in MLB?

 

Wrong.. I guess the past three years don't count.

[KingKat]

You guy's aren't scared that Goins has a legit shot at making this roster if Travis isn't ready. Watch him platoon with Barney.

 

What would that prove exactly? That Ryan Goins can be useful in a pinch? No one has ever argued otherwise.

[gruber92]

Well if he is committed then.... I don't know why more players don't become more committed to being better ball players if it is that easy.

 

He has not cracked a 5% walk rate since 2013 and thats assuming that 7.5BB% is average in the MLB. I don't know how someone can be so convinced that just because he wants to be a top of the lineup hitter and raise is walk rate 3% its a skill he simply does not have.

 

More players don't do it because they refuse to sacrifice power in the process. Like Ichiro once said that he could hit 30 HR a year if he wanted to, but didn't want to sacrifice his on base numbers. He felt he was more valuable being on base more, not that I'm comparing Pillar to Ichiro. Pillar is seemingly headed towards that type of commitment.

[gruber92]

Thats not how this works lol. You either have a good eye/plate vision or you don't. Your OBP doesn't magically increase by shortening your stride.

 

Yeah, that's how it does basically work. Results will obviously vary depending on the mental make up of the player, only if you're willing to sacrifice power.

[Spanky99]

Yeah, that's how it does basically work. Results will obviously vary depending on the mental make up of the player, only if you're willing to sacrifice power.

 

So where do you see the .440 Slg come from?

[Boxcar]

Wrong.. I guess the past three years don't count.

 

He's only ever on the team when Travis gets injured. When Travis is healthy, he's in AAA. That's not my definition of sticking.

[Boxcar]

More players don't do it because they refuse to sacrifice power in the process. Like Ichiro once said that he could hit 30 HR a year if he wanted to, but didn't want to sacrifice his on base numbers. He felt he was more valuable being on base more, not that I'm comparing Pillar to Ichiro. Pillar is seemingly headed towards that type of commitment.

 

LOL what is this? Please keep posting.

 

So Pillar doesn't walk because he doesn't want to sacrifice his non-existant power? Wut?

[Sammy225]

Yeah, that's how it does basically work. Results will obviously vary depending on the mental make up of the player, only if you're willing to sacrifice power.

 

If thats him selling out on power that is hilarious

[Orgfiller]

LOL what is this? Please keep posting.

 

So Pillar doesn't walk because he doesn't want to sacrifice his non-existant power? Wut?

 

I don't know man, makes plenty of sense to me. I think anyone here would prefer opposite field groundball slap singles as opposed to boring homers where he can't even utilize his speed.

[gruber92]

LOL what is this? Please keep posting.

 

So Pillar doesn't walk because he doesn't want to sacrifice his non-existant power? Wut?

 

Actual results vs what you're trying to achieve are two different things. To simplify, his swing was too long for his natural ability to hit MLB pitching with the same consistency as he did in the minors. Nobody said he had raw power.

[wamco]

I don't think he will ever get better at taking walks, but I wanna see the 25 sb again. He was a very efficient base stealer

[Orgfiller]

I don't think he will ever get better at taking walks, but I wanna see the 25 sb again. He was a very efficient base stealer

 

Need to get on base first if he wants to steal!

[John_Havok]

Because Smoak's only offensive value comes from power, which he would never sacrifice. He's probably just too dumb to make any necessary adjustments anyway. Pillar plays the position and possesses the natural ability to go short.

 

So where does Pillar's offensive value come from then? His nonexistent strike zone awareness? Below average power?

 

His contact ability is only a benefit if he learns strike zone awareness, because watching him make contact on balls 2 feet outside the zone that he has no business swinging at isn't really a plus.

[Laika]

Kevin Pillar continues to look FANTASTIC with his new approach. Casually takes Alex Cobb to RCF on a line, like he's Derek Jeter.

[jays4life19]

Mr. Gruber there's still time to accept my bet!

[Laika]

LOCKED. IN.

 

wow

 

Destroys an opposite field double to the gap off elite prospect Jake Faria like it's nothing.

[gruber92]

Watch and learn folks.

[wamco]

Need to get on base first if he wants to steal!

 

Got 25 with a 314 obp

[Gary]

Looks like Pillar worked on his quads this offseason.

[Gary]

Does Pillar have MVP upside? I think he does.