Michael Taylor superstar

[whytev]

I want to believe!

[Slateman]

Upping that trade value

[aspenbubba]

A little premature doncha think? Lets not anoint him the next C/F for the decade until the end of July . Though it would be nice if he succeeds as it would make the off season easy for Rizzo to re-up Harper and renegotiate Murphs contract with an extension. 

[Mathguy]

Does anyone know if MAT has won over Mitlen yet ?

[mitlen]

Does anyone know if MAT has won over Mitlen yet ?

He's turned the corner.

[NatsAllThe Way]

He's turned the corner.

0-4 with 3 Ks today.

[varoadking]

0-4 with 3 Ks today.

Very Espinosa-like today...

..should have kept him in the 8 hole...

[awbb]

0-4 with 3 Ks today.

I thought he got some very hittable pitches yesterday as well. 1 of the K's I thought he did OK on, but the other two were disappointing efforts. Presumably back to 8 tonight.

[dshawg77]

I am very happy for Mr. Taylor and I hope he keeps it up!

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

MAT certainly is the silver lining with that terrible Eaton injury.  I don't think he ever would've got going and gained confidence in DC continuing as a 4th OF, so playing everyday has been a blessing for him.  He can slump for a few weeks and know we have nobody to replace him with. 

Should MAT finish this season playing around this same level, then we simply slide Eaton to LF and have Werth's replacement without going out and spending money on a FA or trading away anybody.  I think coming off this injury that regardless of what MAT does, Eaton needs to move to a corner spot.  Our overall OF would be greatly improved for sure as Eaton would be a plus defender in left, and much faster than a 38 year old Werth. 

[Smithian]

MAT certainly is the silver lining with that terrible Eaton injury.  I don't think he ever would've got going and gained confidence in DC continuing as a 4th OF, so playing everyday has been a blessing for him.  He can slump for a few weeks and know we have nobody to replace him with. 

Should MAT finish this season playing around this same level, then we simply slide Eaton to LF and have Werth's replacement without going out and spending money on a FA or trading away anybody.  I think coming off this injury that regardless of what MAT does, Eaton needs to move to a corner spot.  Our overall OF would be greatly improved for sure as Eaton would be a plus defender in left, and much faster than a 38 year old Werth. 

After a 1 for 21 start to the season, his OPS is his .733. The MLB average is .732.

Michael Taylor, currently, has an above average OPS for MLB center fielders.

If Taylor finishes this season north of .700, then you have your center fielder next season.

[vernon337]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/camermi01.shtml

Let's just say it is within the realm of possibility.  A month or two from now, it may not feel like that, but for right now ...

[NJ Ave]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/camermi01.shtml

Let's just say it is within the realm of possibility.  A month or two from now, it may not feel like that, but for right now ...

Unfortunately, I can't think of a single player who has had sustained success in the major leagues with his batting profile. Which is unfortunate, because I want to like Michael A. Taylor...

He should legitimately be hitting no better than last season, except his BABIP is 68 points higher. He is swinging at 10% more pitches out of the zone, while making 20% less contact.

I do not look forward to his eventual cratering, although I fully expect it

[vernon337]

Unfortunately, I can't think of a single player who has had sustained success in the major leagues with his batting profile. Which is unfortunate, because I want to like Michael A. Taylor...

He should legitimately be hitting no better than last season, except his BABIP is 68 points higher. He is swinging at 10% more pitches out of the zone, while making 20% less contact.

I do not look forward to his eventual cratering, although I fully expect it

I guess I'm just a glass-a-third-full kind of guy.  I don't know what kind of "barreling up" stats he's got, but he is making a lot of solid contact since taking over center field.  Every time he has one of those multi-strikeout, no-hits games, I wonder if it's all coming to an end, but then he bounces back with a couple of hits or a home run. 

Cameron seems to me to be the most optimistic comparable.  He was a high strikeout guy for his era, though he averaged one every four ABs, vs. Taylor's one every three.  And he seemed to figure it out at the same age Taylor's at now.  But as for BABIP or swing inside and outside the zone, I don't know. (Though I will say not taking that first strike does seem to be working for him, even if it causes him to swing at more borderline pitches.)

[bluestreak]

I may be stupid, but aren't  the three things that explain a higher BABIP than BA 1) Luck 2) hitting ball hard 3) speed?

It seems MAT has all three of these. So why are we attributing all to #1. I accept I may not understand statistic.

[whytev]

I may be stupid, but aren't  the three things that explain a higher BABIP than BA 1) Luck 2) hitting ball hard 3) speed?

It seems MAT has all three of these. So why are we attributing all to #1. I accept I may not understand statistic.

3 would only be a thing if he has beaten out IF hits. I can't think of any this year.

[bluestreak]

3 would only be a thing if he has beaten out IF hits. I can't think of any this year.

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=11489&position=OF

10.8% infield hit percentage. For comparison Turner is 14.9, Zimmerman is 6.3

Also GB/FB is down and hard hit percentage is up. Line Drive percentage is down however. The BABIP has come down to .330 as well, which is more consistent with where he is.

[Smithian]

Let's say Michael Taylor earns starting job next season.

Opening day

C: Wieters
1B: Zim
2B: Murph
3B: Rendon
LF: Harp
CF: Taylor
RF: Eaton

Let's say Lobaton leaves and is replaced by Severino. Is it that out of the realm of possibility at some point next year we're playing an afternoon game with Wieters taking day off, Eaton/Murph on DL, and other taking a regular day off? And that same game being pitched by Stras, Roark, or a young guy who premiered in our organization?

C: Severino
1B: Zim
2B: Difo
SS: Turner
3B: Rendon
LF: Harp
CF: Taylor
RF: Goodwin
P: Stras/Roark/Ross

That is a starting 9 of home grown players who made their major league debut as Nationals. That's impressive. Heck, we may see that this year if Wieters or Lobaton is dinged and Severino gets a cup of coffee.

[bluestreak]

I think there is very little chance Wieters is on the Nats next year. But otherwise I agree.

[varoadking]

Let's say Michael Taylor earns starting job next season.

Opening day

C: Wieters
1B: Zim
2B: Murph
3B: Rendon
LF: Harp
CF: Taylor
RF: Eaton

So you have Danny coming back to play short next year?

[Natsinpwc]

Let's say Michael Taylor earns starting job next season.

Opening day

C: Wieters
1B: Zim
2B: Murph
3B: Rendon
LF: Harp
CF: Taylor
RF: Eaton

Let's say Lobaton leaves and is replaced by Severino. Is it that out of the realm of possibility at some point next year we're playing an afternoon game with Wieters taking day off, Eaton/Murph on DL, and other taking a regular day off? And that same game being pitched by Stras, Roark, or a young guy who premiered in our organization?

C: Severino
1B: Zim
2B: Difo
SS: Turner
3B: Rendon
LF: Harp
CF: Taylor
RF: Goodwin
P: Stras/Roark/Ross

That is a starting 9 of home grown players who made their major league debut as Nationals. That's impressive. Heck, we may see that this year if Wieters or Lobaton is dinged and Severino gets a cup of coffee.

Severino is hitting about .200 this year. He has some work to do.

[DPMOmaha]

you think Harper's gonna move to LF?

[sph274]

you think Harper's gonna move to LF?

why wouldnt he?

[DPMOmaha]

why wouldnt he?

Because you don't move superstars unnecessarily.

[varoadking]

you think Harper's gonna move to LF?

Eventually...the Yankees already have a right fielder...