I mean Taylor right now is Bernadina at Bernadina's best.
Oh, gotcha. I can see that. He's more of an Elijah Dukes at his best for me. Power, speed, except he's a better defender than Dukes though Dukes probably had a stronger arm. He's also not absolutely insane.
a better defender than Dukes though Dukes probably had a stronger arm.
Taylor has a pretty strong arm, and as I recall, Dukes had a strong arm but not very accurate. Taylor probably has a more accurate arm.
I think he's shown a ton in the last two weeks though. Hopefully he can keep it up, and Shark is his floor, not ceiling.
It's insulting to even compare him to shark at this point - he's already a better player and he's a rookie.
I'm not quite sure what the limit is for Michael Taylor. I think we're getting to the point where it's probably fine for us to substitute him for Span next year. He has put up 1 WAR in 209 PA, after having fewer than 500 PA above high-A. He's keeping his head above water when he could easily be sinking, and that's to his credit and a good sign for the long-term I think.
He might be basically a CF Espinosa, offensively and defensively?
Haha. I meant 2011/2012/2015 Espi. I don't know how much more you can expect from a guy that probably will never strike out less than 25% of the time?
Espinosa never had an absurd BB rate. He always got hit by a ton of pitches that forced his OBP up. He's never walked 10% of the time, for example.
So, as a player, he's jumped The Shark? Or maybe not . . .
Sign Denard Span for two more years. Span is aong the best CF's in baseball right now...he hits .300 at leadoff and he knows how to rin the bases. Taylor is a fine fourth OF, and with the Nats that is a starting regular position. Harper is often hurts; so is Werth and Werth will be about 37 next year. Taylor will have CF in a couple of years, but he still mis-reads OF plays. Taylor's hitting is improving, and he might be a better choice than Werth by August.
I'm not ready to write off Werth as a productive bat after his last two seasons.
I do think Taylor could see a significant amount of time next season as a 4th out fielder if Span returns.
Span has been an amazing leadoff hitter this season and last. Everything Nats could hope for. Even a major dropoff could see him still a productive leadoff hitter and good glove in center.
Taylor(made) makes good Woods as well.
I think the club views Michael as Denard's successor but that .360 OBP versus .298 for Taylor isn't an attractive lineup swap. Denard is a catalyst for our runs scored. When he's going good it seems to work for us. Can Taylor get to .340 ever?
I'm not writing off Werth...or Zimmerman. I expect Werth to slow down and Taylor to improve, but Span is more valuable now and for the next couple of seasons.
2 walks tonight. He's developing nicely.
I think he'll be Drew Stubbs back when Drew Stubbs was good early in his career with the Reds.
Denard should be able to find a 4 year deal pretty easily from other ballclubs. 2 years would be interesting, though I think it could stunt Taylor's growth, but I think Span will have plenty of suitors willing to go 3+ years. Enjoy him while he's here, we love him and he's a Rizzo guy but I just can't see them signing him to a 4 year deal unless Denard is feeling extra generous, and they find another place for Taylor to play...because I think Taylor is a Rizzo guy too.
There's no reason that Taylor has to lead off.
No, but we still need OBP atop the lineup.
I still think Werth will be a productive bat once he gets back. His last two seasons have been pretty darn good. I could see him as the leadoff hitter next season. Good OBP, takes pitches, pretty solid on the basepaths. Hate to waste Rendon's pop at leadoff. Maybe even Escobar?
The Nats don't need a star leadoff guy to be successful. Span is really darn good to have, but the Nats 2012 lineup put up a lot of runs with Steve Lombardozzi at the top of the lineup for long stretches.
If Danny keeps this up he's leading off next year.
I believe in Werth too but he is too slow now. Turner has the potential to become an elite leadoff hitter. Espinosa has the speed and the bat now. He doesn't take a lot of walks, but starting off games with doubles is just as good as a walk and a SB.