Cut him some slack

by amettrick on Apr 6, 2006 2:53 PM EDT

I've been reading a lot of comments by posters who are already calling Encarnacion a "bust" because of his 1 for 9 start at the plate. That kind of talk is awfully premature. I know a lot of people were upset by his signing and are ready to point out every time he fails. I wasn't exactly excited by the signing either, but I also know that we could have done a lot worse. We could have Jaque Jones patrolling RF instead and he has started out 0 for 6. Beyond that, Manny Ramirez has started this season at 1 for 9. I can't imagine anyone is ready to call his season a bust yet. Paul Konerko is an even worse 1 for 13 but I doubt anyone is writing him off yet either. All I am saying is that maybe you guys should give Encarnacion a little bit more time to prove himself before you jump all over him. Is it possible that he will be a bust? Absolutely, but he could also have a good season. Give him a couple weeks before you pass judgment.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

For me

it wasn't just the 1 for 9 it was the way he was swinging at bad pitches and seemed a little impatient. With Pujols behind him he should be seeing better pitches and more fastballs...instead I watched him break his bat on offspeed stuff. 9 LOB is awfully hard to ignore.

He may just not be suited well for the 2 slot.

by azruavatar on Apr 6, 2006 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

agreed

I agree that it is early and I am trying to give Encarnacion more than 3 games before getting all over him... not doing really well at it, but I'm trying.

Regardless of that, I didn't like the signing and I REALLY don't like him in the #2 spot.

by TheFranchise9 on Apr 6, 2006 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

He'd probably be better off...

...in the 6th spot, there is no denying that. There is also no denying that he has left a lot of guys out there on the basepaths. I just get annoyed by all the Juan'acion bashing so quickly. It's awfully hard for someone to succeed if the fans have already written them off as a failure.

by amettrick on Apr 7, 2006 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Doubled Off....

I dislike his lacadasical baserunning. when he does get on base he will get doubled off first because he doesn't hussle to the bag. I hate seeing lazy baserunning.... especially from a Cardinal

by Schnake on Apr 12, 2006 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Searching for the silver lining

I'm trying hard not to pass judgment so early, but 14 LOB over 2 games and generally horrible at bats demand some attention. If BA was the only reason, we'd be piling on Jed.

by cyclone on Apr 7, 2006 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

well...

He's hit a few balls hard; one of his chances with the bases loaded on Wednesday was only a foot or two from scooting past the second baseman, who made a good play.

OK, so maybe like our new RFer, I'm reaching a little bit. But I'm with the group who says it's way too early to judge. Give him a few weeks hitting in front of Al before we give him the Tino treatment, I say.

by m16t on Apr 7, 2006 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

knee-jerk reactions

are stock in trade for a lot of cardinals fans. quite frankly, i get tired of it, so i either bite my tongue(internet-wise) or just don't visit certain sites for a while when(not if) it gets out of hand.

by cardsrul on Apr 7, 2006 4:24 PM EDT reply actions

From now on,

I will be referring to our new RFer as Lemoncion.

Until he proves otherwise.

He hasn't earned Tino treatment just yet, but he HAS earned this nickname for now.

by TheFranchise9 on Apr 8, 2006 12:33 AM EDT reply actions

What I'm stunned by is how much love Miles gets,

While Encarnacion, who is very obviously the better player, gets strung up. Outside of opening day, Miles has looked worse at the plate, and unlike the 2B situation Encarnacion isn't blocking a better player.

by DanUpBaby on Apr 9, 2006 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

who

is that better player? just wondering.

Albert Pujols is god with a lowercase "g". Let's go Redbirds, World Series '06 here we come!

by stlsportsfan on Apr 9, 2006 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions

That Junior Spivey guy

Who's hitting the ball pretty hard at AAA? He was better than Miles last year, despite playing hurt all year and struggling and looking bad. And once people realize that his Spring Training was a slump, and that it's stupid to think he's suddenly lost his ability over an off-season, he'll get called up over the actually-is-done Spiezio or the never-got-started Miles and he'll be a decent second baseman, which will be a nice change of pace.

by DanUpBaby on Apr 10, 2006 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Spivey

I agree about Spivey. The guy was a solid acquisition and was just pressing in Spring Training. It seems that he's getting it back on track in AAA and I look forward to seeing him in STL very soon.

This does a couple of things. First, and hopefully, it fills the #2 slot in the order. Second it allows Juancion to move to an RBI slot like 6 or 7 and finally, it frees Miles to play a utility role, ala John Mabry - the all hit, mediocre glove bench guy.

by TheFranchise9 on Apr 11, 2006 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

My issue with Juan

Is his apparent lack of effort. A glaring example is when he popped into the DP on Sunday, yeah he's out, but come on, WALKING three steps towards first and then just STANDING there? Would it hurt you just to at least MAKE it to first base?

by stevenucla on Apr 11, 2006 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Yost Knowst

Ned Yost said, "Not everybody is cut out to be a Cardinal. There's a certain standard, a certain type of player you have to be if you're going to play on that team. That's a tradition with the team that goes way back--of being fundamentally sound, of knowing the game, how to play the game and play the game right."

That comment captures why Cardinal fans were so elated over the acquisition of Larry Walker and so unexcited upon the signing of Lemon Head. The poor start to the season and apparent lack of all out effort since putting on the Cardinals uniform just emphasizes the fact Encarnacion is not what most long time view as that "certain type of player" that long time fans expect the team to field.

Baily

by Baily on Apr 12, 2006 2:08 PM EDT reply actions