The Pros and Cons of a White Bear
I've been faced with a lot of harsh criticism, and even ridicule, lately about me supposedly being too lenient on the real people's champion, Evan Gattis. Well, to counter this, I decided to devote today's Earth Day post to weighing the pros and cons that El Oso Blanco brings to any lineup or club house, in an attempt to show folks out there that I can offer criticism, even of those I hold in the highest of regards.
I will now look at certain areas of the game, and stamp said areas with PRO or CON as it relates to Gattis. Brace yourselves, readers. Here we go:
1. Power Hitting
PRO or CON?: PRO
This is something we have seen from the Big White Bear ever since he got back into the game. Posting a career OPS (On Base Plus Slugging) percentage of .768, which puts him well above the above average level of .750 and average level of .710 bodes fairly well for him. From the minors of the Braves farm system to serving as DH for the Astros, Gattis has always shown his pop at even the most oddly thrown pitches. Even some at chin-high levels. (Reference: The 372 ft bomb off of Trevor Bauer in Cleveland last spring.)
2. Contact Hitting
PRO or CON?: CON
Before anyone gets too upset with this, allow me to explain. This is an area for Evan that he has actually improved on in recent seasons. However, a lot of work still needs to be done here, as the bear has still been known to ground into too many outs. If he can master hitting bloop base hits just over the heads of the infielders, he will be in much better shape. I believe this to quickly turn into a PRO after not too long.
3. Driving in Runs
PRO or CON: PRO
Last season, Gattis lead the team in HR and RBI. While he may not be on the best pace this season with the hernia surgery, getting him back behind the plate to get some defensive time between innings may just help to clear his mind of previous at-bats and aide in ticking his overall average up.
4. Extra base hits
PRO or CON?: PRO
Some call it a freak accident. I call it astounding. Legging out 11 triples to place 3rd overall in MLB in 2015 with said stat is no easy feat for anyone, and especially not for a big man like Gattis with his equally big bat. But it only further proves that this guy can get them across under almost any given circumstance, along with some surprising ones as well. The only concern in this area is that is XBH (Extra Base Hits) percentage to plate appearances is at a somewhat ugly 10% level. However, this will be another area that will come along with some time following the recent surgery.
5. On Base Numbers
PRO or CON?: CON
This is an area that I have stated many times that Gattis could still use work on. While in most cases you can forgive a natural power hitter for not getting on base a lot, this leash would actually need to be tightened on someone like Evan. Why? Accumulating more solid on base numbers to pair with power numbers will increase his overall value. Not to say that he isn't pretty valuable already, but to get to that elite status like Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, this area will need a tune up. I believe firmly that Evan can get there. It's just all a matter of when he gets to that point. Doing this would also help boost his overall average up from the decent league average number of .250 to possibly even somewhere in the .270s or .280s, which would help Evan get to the elite All-Star status we all know him to be more than capable of.
6. Plate Disipline
PRO or CON?: CON
I won't sugar coat it, folks. This is probably the biggest of all cons for Evan Gattis right now. (The few that there are overall.) His early jump on pitches out of the strike zone along with swings on first pitches have caused him to have a career P/PA (Pitches per plate appearance) of a mere 3.49. This would also explain why he has a gasping 305 strikeouts over his career in 1310 at-bats. (Strikeout ratio would then come to around slightly over 23%, i.e. not very good, though still about average for a power hitter.) Case in point, Gattis does need to work on seeing pitches a little better, and working pitch counts to draw walks when necessary. This would not only improve his plate discipline, but increase the on base numbers as well.
7. Surprise Plays
PRO or CON?: PRO
Chin high home runs, double digit triples, and making contact with balls deemed to be "unfit to hit" are just a few plays that Gattis has made over his short career so far that make fans everywhere drop jaws and raise eyebrows. Critics tend to do this in the negative way to make him into a circus spectacle. I, on the other hand, see this as one of many reasons why Gattis is so valuable to have around. Even at pushing 30, this guy can still surprise you. I even coined to some of my other sport fan friends that he is Major League Baseball's most notorious outlaw, in that he doesn't have to play by the rules in order to still make a good play. This notion can still be a 50-50 over time, in that Gattis still does have areas to improve upon. But ultimately, a surprise player is an extremely valuable one to have.
8. Leadership and Attitude
PRO or CON?: DOUBLE PRO (X2)
This is an area that I am, now and always, giving Gattis two pros to his credit on this one. From the leadership and team player attitude he brings in the dugout and clubhouse, to the wonderful things spoken of him from teammates and coaches alike, and of course, the big-hearted, kind and generous treatment of him towards the fans is precisely why a player like Gattis needs to be kept around, and not used as an every other season trade bait sacrificial lamb. Houston Astros organization, please take note of what I say to you here today: KEEP GATTIS AROUND BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!!
Final tally: CONS 3, PROS 6
See that, readers? Whatever few cons El Oso Blanco may have in his playing style, he more than makes up for it by giving you double the amount of pros. And Hinch needs to put him behind the plate....AND SOON! Hopefully, during this next series against the Red Sox. So yes, even I recognize that Evan Gattis is a human being that will stumble and fall every now and again. He's not a messiah or anything like that. But with so many pros outweighing the cons, it gives me all the more reason to stand in this man's corner through the good and the bad, no matter what. I'll let it be your call, readers, but I hope you all will join me in such a venture in standing behind The Big White Bear. This planet is truly a lot better having a guy and player like him around, that much is certain!
Photo Credit: Bob Levey of Getty Images
While he has some things to work on, you definitely have more pros than cons having THIS GUY/BEAR on your team!!!!
I will now look at certain areas of the game, and stamp said areas with PRO or CON as it relates to Gattis. Brace yourselves, readers. Here we go:
1. Power Hitting
PRO or CON?: PRO
This is something we have seen from the Big White Bear ever since he got back into the game. Posting a career OPS (On Base Plus Slugging) percentage of .768, which puts him well above the above average level of .750 and average level of .710 bodes fairly well for him. From the minors of the Braves farm system to serving as DH for the Astros, Gattis has always shown his pop at even the most oddly thrown pitches. Even some at chin-high levels. (Reference: The 372 ft bomb off of Trevor Bauer in Cleveland last spring.)
2. Contact Hitting
PRO or CON?: CON
Before anyone gets too upset with this, allow me to explain. This is an area for Evan that he has actually improved on in recent seasons. However, a lot of work still needs to be done here, as the bear has still been known to ground into too many outs. If he can master hitting bloop base hits just over the heads of the infielders, he will be in much better shape. I believe this to quickly turn into a PRO after not too long.
3. Driving in Runs
PRO or CON: PRO
Last season, Gattis lead the team in HR and RBI. While he may not be on the best pace this season with the hernia surgery, getting him back behind the plate to get some defensive time between innings may just help to clear his mind of previous at-bats and aide in ticking his overall average up.
4. Extra base hits
PRO or CON?: PRO
Some call it a freak accident. I call it astounding. Legging out 11 triples to place 3rd overall in MLB in 2015 with said stat is no easy feat for anyone, and especially not for a big man like Gattis with his equally big bat. But it only further proves that this guy can get them across under almost any given circumstance, along with some surprising ones as well. The only concern in this area is that is XBH (Extra Base Hits) percentage to plate appearances is at a somewhat ugly 10% level. However, this will be another area that will come along with some time following the recent surgery.
5. On Base Numbers
PRO or CON?: CON
This is an area that I have stated many times that Gattis could still use work on. While in most cases you can forgive a natural power hitter for not getting on base a lot, this leash would actually need to be tightened on someone like Evan. Why? Accumulating more solid on base numbers to pair with power numbers will increase his overall value. Not to say that he isn't pretty valuable already, but to get to that elite status like Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, this area will need a tune up. I believe firmly that Evan can get there. It's just all a matter of when he gets to that point. Doing this would also help boost his overall average up from the decent league average number of .250 to possibly even somewhere in the .270s or .280s, which would help Evan get to the elite All-Star status we all know him to be more than capable of.
6. Plate Disipline
PRO or CON?: CON
I won't sugar coat it, folks. This is probably the biggest of all cons for Evan Gattis right now. (The few that there are overall.) His early jump on pitches out of the strike zone along with swings on first pitches have caused him to have a career P/PA (Pitches per plate appearance) of a mere 3.49. This would also explain why he has a gasping 305 strikeouts over his career in 1310 at-bats. (Strikeout ratio would then come to around slightly over 23%, i.e. not very good, though still about average for a power hitter.) Case in point, Gattis does need to work on seeing pitches a little better, and working pitch counts to draw walks when necessary. This would not only improve his plate discipline, but increase the on base numbers as well.
7. Surprise Plays
PRO or CON?: PRO
Chin high home runs, double digit triples, and making contact with balls deemed to be "unfit to hit" are just a few plays that Gattis has made over his short career so far that make fans everywhere drop jaws and raise eyebrows. Critics tend to do this in the negative way to make him into a circus spectacle. I, on the other hand, see this as one of many reasons why Gattis is so valuable to have around. Even at pushing 30, this guy can still surprise you. I even coined to some of my other sport fan friends that he is Major League Baseball's most notorious outlaw, in that he doesn't have to play by the rules in order to still make a good play. This notion can still be a 50-50 over time, in that Gattis still does have areas to improve upon. But ultimately, a surprise player is an extremely valuable one to have.
8. Leadership and Attitude
PRO or CON?: DOUBLE PRO (X2)
This is an area that I am, now and always, giving Gattis two pros to his credit on this one. From the leadership and team player attitude he brings in the dugout and clubhouse, to the wonderful things spoken of him from teammates and coaches alike, and of course, the big-hearted, kind and generous treatment of him towards the fans is precisely why a player like Gattis needs to be kept around, and not used as an every other season trade bait sacrificial lamb. Houston Astros organization, please take note of what I say to you here today: KEEP GATTIS AROUND BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!!
Final tally: CONS 3, PROS 6
See that, readers? Whatever few cons El Oso Blanco may have in his playing style, he more than makes up for it by giving you double the amount of pros. And Hinch needs to put him behind the plate....AND SOON! Hopefully, during this next series against the Red Sox. So yes, even I recognize that Evan Gattis is a human being that will stumble and fall every now and again. He's not a messiah or anything like that. But with so many pros outweighing the cons, it gives me all the more reason to stand in this man's corner through the good and the bad, no matter what. I'll let it be your call, readers, but I hope you all will join me in such a venture in standing behind The Big White Bear. This planet is truly a lot better having a guy and player like him around, that much is certain!
Photo Credit: Bob Levey of Getty Images
While he has some things to work on, you definitely have more pros than cons having THIS GUY/BEAR on your team!!!!
Comments
Post a Comment