OnlyBucs

0B0C203721420 wrote: Typically my wants or predictions don't come to fruition so quickly -- if at all.  When I left the Indians game Wednesday afternoon, Kevin Newman was hitting .248 with an OPS of .586.  I thought if he played well he might be able to elevate his average to the  .280s by the end of the season.  I never imagined he would be hitting  .309 by the end of the week!



In his last four games he has gone 2-4, 3-5, 4-4, and 3-5 ... including hitting his 1st homer.  While he can't maintain that pace, with his artisan approach, hopefully he can keep pounding out the hits.


clearly he reads obn and thought to himself, "If INbuc thinks I can hit, I know I can hit."

415C787A74110 wrote: This morning I had to go to Louisville.  With the Indians in town I arranged to see their game against the Bats. For anyone interested here is my report.



I was hoping to see Osuna today, but he is now in Pitt, and to my great disappointment, Luplow, Meadows, Kramer, and even Stallings had the day off.  I got the Sunday lineup on steroids.  The Bats may not have had their regulars in either.  When I saw the numbers next to their starting lineup, they looked more like bowling averages than batting averages.



On the upside, today's starting pitcher was Kingham.  In 6 innings he walked 3, gave up 6 singles, and 3 runs.  Though he wasn't hit hard, the Bats fared much better vs Kingham than the Cards did 10 days ago.  He was mostly throwing 91 and topped out at 93.   Rather blah outing today, but we know what he can do.



Alex McRae pitched the last 2 innings and gave up a run in the 7th to take the 4-3 loss.  He hit 95, but wasn't so impressive.



Pablo Reyes got Indy off to a good start with a 400ft HR to center in the first.  He is a free-swinger, with a little speed and some pop.  I could see him as a future utility guy with the Bucs. 



In the 6th inning, 3 Indians hit doubles off the wall just to the right of dead center.  While Kevin Newman, and Eric Wood hit theirs near the base of the wall, Chris Bostick hit his about 15 feet off the ground at a spot where the wall rises up about 20 feet...like the Clemente wall in PNC.  Cheated out of a homer.  Bostick hit the ball hard all day, and will probably be back in Pitt at some point.  I was surprised to see Wood in RF, but he made a couple nice plays out there. 



Jerrick Suiter started in left.  He is linebacker big.  He hasn't hit any HR yet, but not that he didn't try.  He has a powerful swing with a big uppercut.  Eric Weiss played 1B, and went 1-4.  He hit the ball well each time.  Don't really see a path for those guys though.



Kevin Newman.  This guy began the day with a .248 avg, .269 OBP, and .586 OPS.  In about 115 plate appearances he has 2 WALKS.  Sounds pretty feeble, but I think this guy can play.  He has great plate presence and no wasted motion in his swing.  He hit 2 line-drive outs, before he gapped one 400 feet off the wall.  He finished with another hard lineout to left.



His stats allowed me to disregard him, but there is more to him than his current numbers.     He  probably doesn't draw many walks because without much power, pitchers come right after him.  And when he does swing, he puts the ball in play.  In the age of power, Newman's future is hazy even if he regularly gets to .300.  But don't write him off yet...this guy is in the right profession even if he doesn't become a regular.



Meadows, who is slumping, pinch-hit and grounded out.  Kramer struck out to end the game.  Luplow finished the game on-deck.  Like me, one of the scouts sitting behind me wanted to see him hit. 



That's all.  Game finished and I went bourbon shopping.






No report on the bourbon shopping???



Thanks for that report.  I think we have a lot riding on Newman.  It would be bad for a number one pick to never really make it.


I used to live in Lexington. I can give you the rundown on that.