Why Chris Dickerson should not replace Corey Patterson.

by phantomo88 on Jul 23, 2008 2:16 PM EDT

Ok, so I have seen people say that Chris Dickerson should be promoted to replace Corey Patterson, so, as a Louisville Bats fan, I thought I would share my thoughts and analysis of Dickerson.

Defense: Dickerson is defensively ready for the majors. Last night he ended the game with an amazing catch, and two nights before that, he finished the 1st inning with two consecutive amazing catches.

Offense: If batting average was all that counted, Dickerson would be ready. After a bad start to the year, Dickerson has hit .310 since the start of June. However, with the current outfield, the batting average is not all that counts. Dickerson would be primarily used as a defensive replacement and pinch hitter. Dickerson's downfall is the strike out, which is exactly what you <em>don't</em> want in a pinch hitter. Let's compare Dickerson's batting average and strikeout average:

April: .241 BAVG, .313 SOAVG, 83 AB
May: .234 BAVG, .250 SOAVG, 64 AB
June: .301 BAVG, .273 SOAVG, 73 AB
July: .319 BAVG, .319 SOAVG, 69 AB so far

By looking at that, it seems that while he has been working on his hitting, he has been striking out more and more since May. But how much more? Lets see what percent of his outs are strikeouts:

April: .412
May: .326
June: .392
July: .468

Looking at these numbers makes me think that his batting average increase is caused not by improving his swing, and his eye for the ball, but by swinging a lot more. Of course, he has been walking a lot more, which might contradict this, but I think that he needs to develop a better eye for the ball while at the plate, before he can succeed at the MLB level.

As a final comment, compare Dickerson's and Patterson's SO/OUT avg for this year:

Dickerson: .290, 289 AB

Patterson: .154, 200 AB

The point: Patterson may not be able to hit the ball, but would Dickerson do any better against Major League pitching? At least Patterson does not strike out as much, which means more runners are advanced.

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Comments

wrong

strike outs do not matter. his OBP is up around .375, which is something Corey Patterson probably hasnt done since high school. Patterson makes tons of outs, Dickerson makes less. and that’s basically it.

please dont shit on my dreams. i dont want shit on my dreams.

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jul 23, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

Patterson has advanced 4 of the 31 base runners he's had on in front of him since June 1st

I’ll take the guy that makes fewer outs.

It's a lousy night to be an atheist!

by Slyde on Jul 23, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

this all makes sense

in a world where a K costs your team 1.5 outs.

by jacob brumfield on Jul 23, 2008 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

What the hell is strikeout average?

I don’t really see how strikeouts are a more damaging way to make outs than, say, groundouts. At least there’s no GIDP involved.

What’s more important is that his OBP is not too shabby. And the fact that it’s nowhere near his weight certainly differentiates him from Patterson. Sure, it might not directly translate to MLB success, but any rational person would give him a shot over Patterson.

I'm not having even a mediocre year.

by Gray on Jul 23, 2008 4:51 PM EDT reply actions

I have always found some poetic beauty...

In the 4-3 groundout. The way the ball leaves the bat at just the right speed to be fielded cleanly, yet not turn into an infield single…

The way it makes games shorter, since Corey is swinging at the second pitch anyway…

The way 4 comes after 3…

Poetry in motion.

Much, much better than a strikeout.

Hey Dusty...Are you sure you're OK? You might need an MRI.

by Paul Householder on Jul 23, 2008 5:12 PM EDT reply actions

Of course

Dickerson is still a left handed batter, which is kind of frustrating.

I'm not having even a mediocre year.

by Gray on Jul 23, 2008 5:44 PM EDT reply actions

Rosales is heating up lately

he was one of the last cuts…he may be a good utility guy. He’s not on the 40-man, thoguh, and definetly can’t play CF. But that’s another option. If you have Hairston to play CF, you can use Rosales (Righty!) for 3b, LF, ss, 2b, 1b, Rf(?).

...because there's already someone posing as Jacob Brumfield

by Cy Schourek on Jul 23, 2008 5:51 PM EDT reply actions