The Trouble with High-Average, Low-Power Hitters in the Minors and Other Bullets

chesny young pelicansSuper Bowl Sunday is here, and I land here with increasingly mixed feelings about the sport. I’ll still watch and enjoy the spectacle, no doubt, but as we discussed earlier in the context of Antwaan Randle El’s admission that he wishes he’d signed to play baseball (after being drafted by the Cubs) rather than play football, I feel a little guilty. Here’s a guy who was a Super Bowl hero saying he wishes he could undo all of that because of how negatively his life has been impacted by this sport that I’ll sit safely on my couch and watch.

Ratings will be huge for the game again this year, but I doubt I’m alone in starting to feel a little uneasy about the whole thing.

  • Carrie Muskat’s latest inbox includes a variety of things, including thoughts from Farm Director Jaron Madison on utility prospect Chesny Young. Madison mentions that the jump to AA – which Young should face this year – is one of the toughest in the minor leagues, and a big questions for Young is if he can at least hit for doubles power (he’s not going to be a big home run hitter). If the power comes along a bit, Madison says Young has the potential to be an everyday player. I’d add that his extreme versatility could make him all the more valuable as a regular, even if he’s not a force offensively.
  • [adinserter block=”1″]

  • HOWEVA, I’d like to speak for a moment, in general, about the issue you often see with high-contact, high batting average guys in the lower minors. Guys you see with a good batting average, a great walk rate and a great strikeout rate. Guys you figure put together great at bats, put the ball in play, and are destined for future success. The problem is that, as those types of hitters move up the ladder, a few things happen: the strikeout rate goes up slightly because the pitchers are better and they’re in the zone more, the batting average goes down a good bit because the defenses are better and are positioned more closely to cut down singles (and because of the strikeouts), and the walk rate goes down substantially because pitchers are not worried about making mistakes in the zone against a slap hitter. When you combine all of those things, a guy’s nice .320/.400/.400 line in the lower minors can quickly become .290/.330/.330 as he moves up. A lack of power is damaging in a lot of ways that aren’t simply about how many homers a guy hits or even what his SLG is.
  • As for Young, specifically, he does have versatility and speed going for him, and he has fantastic contact ability. That will all help him, and it keeps him on the radar as a legitimate prospect. But if the ability to drive the ball doesn’t come along more (.058 ISO in the minors, and he’s already 23), he could flame out soon, and folks who weren’t paying close enough attention are going to wonder how it’s possible that a guy who hit .320 in the minors never made an impact in the big leagues.
  • Paul Sullivan writes about the close of the Cubs’ offseason in the context of what has come before, as well as what comes next.
  • [adinserter block=”2″]

  • A fun read from Jeff Sullivan on how hard it is to hit a homer to dead center at Minute Maid Park. Surprisingly, based on results in the last 10 years at least, Wrigley Field has a tougher dead center, too. At 400 feet, which is about average for center, I’d’ve thought it would be closer to average, but I’m guessing the higher wall (even with the basket) and the peculiarities of the wind (seems like it’s blown in more than out in recent years) are what drag it down.
  • If you missed it late last night, sometimes I toss up a random look-back, and it was Jon Lester getting charged by an umpire. Did you remember that happened?
  • Over at Baseball Is Fun: that is not a slide, Jean Segura.
  • Pearl Jam ticket details:
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    Latest News

    Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

    Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

    How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

    In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

    How to Watch Padres vs. Giants: Live Stream or on TV

    Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (2-1) host Jorge Soler and the San Francisco Giants (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch...

    Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The St. Louis Cardinals (0-1), led by Paul Goldschmidt, visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Los Angeles play St. Louis...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Houston Astros (0-1), with Cristian Javier on the mound, will host the New York Yankees (1-0), who will send out Carlos Rodon, at 8:10 PM ET on Friday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and...

    Rays vs. Blue Jays: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., visit Yandy Diaz and the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.Find out how to watch the Tampa Bay-Toronto matchup below.When is Rays vs. Blue Jays and...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    more cubs news