Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Big Choi or Bok Choi?
Sample size.
Prior to tonight's game, Hee Seop Choi's OBP was .294 with a SLG of .311, which is downright abysmal for a 1B. In a move that showed Tracy's waning confidence last night, Choi was pulled in favor of Saenz against a RHP.
So far in tonights game, Choi is 4 for 4 with a HR. His OPS is now up to .775. That puts him about mid-pack amongst starting 1Bs, with a paycheck near the league minimum.
Choi's swing has improved since last year, when his hips would rotate way before his hands and be halfway to the visitors' dugout when he made contact, if at all. His current motion is still a bit long with the arms, and he still has a slight tendency to pull off to first base a la Ichiro. No matter, if Choi can ever improve to a point when he can consistently make contact, he would make a fine power bat with good plate discipline.
Who knows whether Choi is the next Paul Konerko or Billy Ashley, but at his salary and service time, the upside worth the gamble. Choi has had only 49 ABs this year. Give him a chance to figure it out.
Prior to tonight's game, Hee Seop Choi's OBP was .294 with a SLG of .311, which is downright abysmal for a 1B. In a move that showed Tracy's waning confidence last night, Choi was pulled in favor of Saenz against a RHP.
So far in tonights game, Choi is 4 for 4 with a HR. His OPS is now up to .775. That puts him about mid-pack amongst starting 1Bs, with a paycheck near the league minimum.
Choi's swing has improved since last year, when his hips would rotate way before his hands and be halfway to the visitors' dugout when he made contact, if at all. His current motion is still a bit long with the arms, and he still has a slight tendency to pull off to first base a la Ichiro. No matter, if Choi can ever improve to a point when he can consistently make contact, he would make a fine power bat with good plate discipline.
Who knows whether Choi is the next Paul Konerko or Billy Ashley, but at his salary and service time, the upside worth the gamble. Choi has had only 49 ABs this year. Give him a chance to figure it out.
