|
|
I believe if Aaron Hicks stays healthy for the year (admittedly a pretty big caveat considering his injury history) he is going to have a monster 2019 season.
Talent. He was a first round draft pick for a reason, the talent has always been there, and we have seen flashes for sure, but not for long enough stretches. I think that changes this season.
Opportunity. He is going to be the leadoff off hitter, have great protection behind him in Judge, et al. In other words, he is going to see good pitches to hammer all season long.
Desire. This is his walk year. Assuming no in season extension, he is going to hit free agency as the best center fielder on the market and no real competition for that mantle in sight. A great year by him and I can see him getting a 5 year deal of 100 million or even north of that. Can't imagine the thought of a 100M payday NOT being a pretty significant motivator of desire.
Put all of that together (talent, opportunity, desire) and I see him having a season where he goes from a good supporting player, to a star player, makes the all star team, and, finishes in top 15 in MVP voting.
Pretty bold predications there I know, but I am sold on him having a great season for the Yankees and looking forward to watching the show!
|
|
|
Hope so ... if he puts it all together and stays healthy he could be a poor man's Bernie Williams. I'm thinking Something like this ... .275 avg / .380 obp / .480 slg / .860 ops 28 HRs 90 RBI 100 R) ... if he is leading off RBIs will be lower ~75
|
|
|
Can he stay off the DL? He seems to pull muscles and miss weeks at a time...
|
|
|
Hope so ... if he puts it all together and stays healthy he could be a poor man's Bernie Williams.
I'm thinking Something like this ...
.275 avg / .380 obp / .480 slg / .860 ops
28 HRs 90 RBI 100 R) ... if he is leading off RBIs will be lower ~75
I know you dont believe in WAR, but Bernie Williams age 29 season may be a pretty realistic comp for Hicks age 29 season this year. At 29, Bernie put up 5.3 WAR. Last season Hicks was at 4.7 and obvously I think he will improve on that, hence the thread. What is really facinating to me is that nearly 20 years ago at age 29 Bernie was getting paid 8.3 million and then went up to 10M and 12 M the following 2 years. Hicks this year is going to make 6 mlllion. That seems like an INCREDIBLE bargain!
|
|
|
Hope so ... if he puts it all together and stays healthy he could be a poor man's Bernie Williams. I'm thinking Something like this ... .275 avg / .380 obp / .480 slg / .860 ops 28 HRs 90 RBI 100 R) ... if he is leading off RBIs will be lower ~75
I know you dont believe in WAR, but Bernie Williams age 29 season may be a pretty realistic comp for Hicks age 29 season this year. At 29, Bernie put up 5.3 WAR. Last season Hicks was at 4.7 and obvously I think he will improve on that, hence the thread.
What is really facinating to me is that nearly 20 years ago at age 29 Bernie was getting paid 8.3 million and then went up to 10M and 12 M the following 2 years. Hicks this year is going to make 6 mlllion. That seems like an INCREDIBLE bargain!
That's exactly why I dont believe in WAR At 29 Bernie Williams was in his prime and had an incredible offensive season .339 .422 .575 .997, Won a GG, AS and 7th in MVP voting. I know Bernie did not have a great arm but otherwise I thought he was a very good CFer ... He was graceful and made it look easy going back on balls. Hicks has a much better arm but other than that I dont think they are much different in the field ... I think Bernie judged balls much better. I certainly dont see how Hicks could be that much better in the field that his 2018 season that .248 .366 .467 .833 could compare at all to Bernies 1998 season. Bernie from 28 to 33 (7 Years) put up Hall of Fame numbers 4 GG's, 5 x AS, SS, Batting Title, .323 avg .408 OBP and .946 OPS ...If Hicks was the greatest densive CFer that ever lived (and he's not even close to that) it would not offset Bernies offensive advantage But Hicks has been a very solid player over the past 2 seasons. I was wrong about him after his horrific first season with the Yankees I thought he had no chance
|
|
|
Glad to see Hicks getting some love. He has been underrated for a couple of years, and if we can lock him up for a team friendly 5 year contract this year (the rumour is that the Yankees are at least in talks), he could then become an above average left fielder when the time comes, but that won't be for another 3 or 4 years.
|
|
|
Glad to see Hicks getting some love. He has been underrated for a couple of years, and if we can lock him up for a team friendly 5 year contract this year (the rumour is that the Yankees are at least in talks), he could then become an above average left fielder when the time comes, but that won't be for another 3 or 4 years.
5 Year ? NO !!! 3 years OK
|
|
|
Hope so ... if he puts it all together and stays healthy he could be a poor man's Bernie Williams. I'm thinking Something like this ... .275 avg / .380 obp / .480 slg / .860 ops 28 HRs 90 RBI 100 R) ... if he is leading off RBIs will be lower ~75
I know you dont believe in WAR, but Bernie Williams age 29 season may be a pretty realistic comp for Hicks age 29 season this year. At 29, Bernie put up 5.3 WAR. Last season Hicks was at 4.7 and obvously I think he will improve on that, hence the thread.
What is really facinating to me is that nearly 20 years ago at age 29 Bernie was getting paid 8.3 million and then went up to 10M and 12 M the following 2 years. Hicks this year is going to make 6 mlllion. That seems like an INCREDIBLE bargain!
That's exactly why I dont believe in WAR
At 29 Bernie Williams was in his prime and had an incredible offensive season .339 .422 .575 .997, Won a GG, AS and 7th in MVP voting. I know Bernie did not have a great arm but otherwise I thought he was a very good CFer ... He was graceful and made it look easy going back on balls.
Hicks has a much better arm but other than that I dont think they are much different in the field ... I think Bernie judged balls much better. I certainly dont see how Hicks could be that much better in the field that his 2018 season that .248 .366 .467 .833 could compare at all to Bernies 1998 season.
Bernie from 28 to 33 (7 Years) put up Hall of Fame numbers 4 GG's, 5 x AS, SS, Batting Title, .323 avg .408 OBP and .946 OPS ...If Hicks was the greatest densive CFer that ever lived (and he's not even close to that) it would not offset Bernies offensive advantage
But Hicks has been a very solid player over the past 2 seasons. I was wrong about him after his horrific first season with the Yankees I thought he had no chance
I feel like Hicks has a better feel for CF and gets better reads/jumps on balls than Bernie used to. Bernie was so athletic and so fast that he could outrun a lot of his mistakes and slow jumps. Hicks' arm is light years better then Bernie's. Is that enough to make me say they're equal as players though because their WAR is close? Nope, Bernie was a much, much better hitter that I would want up in the clutch over Hicks every single time. Hicks is a nice player though and they should try to extend him, something in the Pollock range would be fine with me. They need to extend Dellin as well, and keep Levine out of the process.
|
|
|
Hope so. He just signed a 7 year extension.
_______________________________________________
Please note: I'm arguing against your post, not against you as a person. I respect your right to have a different opinion even if I completely disagree with every word you wrote.
|
|
|
$10 million a year for 7 years. That was a great deal for the Yankees with the player he developed into. Now get extensions done for Gregorius and Betances.
|
