Out on a limb with Chris Duncan

[HugeCardfan]

Who did Duncan think he was tonight? Bobby Abreu? Working guys for walks? That's going to determine which direction Duncan goes in. When he starts looking like Encarnacion at the plate, he's doomed.

Huh? Is this tongue in cheek? That at bat against a crafty lefty was an excellent at bat. He's the number two hitter in front of the best hitter in baseball. His job is to get on any way he can.

What does Encarnacion have to do with Duncan?

[GatewaySnayke]

Yes, it was tongue-in-cheek.

[HugeCardfan]

Yes, it was tongue-in-cheek.

[skmsw]

Two notes by way of update:

1) If anything, his defense is worse than I expected.

2) His numbers from 8/11 thru 8/25:

..BA....OBA..Slug%...OPS
.439---.510--.829----1.339

That will buy a lot of looking the other way on fly balls (from me, that is, not him).

Looking good for those who took the over . . . stay tuned

[Fat Strat]

I'm growing more and more disappointed with his defense. Even today with that diving catch, he was very insecure about his route and just can't seem to pick up the ball and make a good read.

That's something that he can learn, but the raw instincts just aren't there.

The good news? I think the raw instincts ARE there for hitting. I really don't have any big complaints with his swing right now. He's sloppy against lefties, but, generally, he can handle offspeed pitches and the strike zone better than I expected.

[HugeCardfan]

I heard the announcers talking about his attempt to play winter ball to get some outfield experience. Seems a couple more outfielders showed up and he was dropped in favor of one of them.

I still say he plays the outfield better than Dunn. It isn't much but I think he'll learn to be more than adequate if he gets a chance in the winter. I just hope he doesn't burn out.

[TheoSqua]

So he's slugging .829 for the month?

Could he go 0-fer-the rest of the month and still be over the said slugging percentage?

[skmsw]

So he's slugging .829 for the month?

Could he go 0-fer-the rest of the month and still be over the said slugging percentage?

Well, it's not the month -- it's the 14 games since the wager -- but yes.

At this point, if Duncan plays every day (say, 90 more AB), hits .220, with 3 doubles and one homer -- probably the least he could possibly manage and still stay in the lineup -- I'll still lose.

It's not over, but it's close. It would take a slump as precipitious as the hot streak has been, and keeping him in the lineup throughout.

I might have to revisit such a bet next year, but at this point, the odds and the math are stacked way against me.

[HeavyD]

I'll take that bet. He's going to see a lot of right handed pitching. He's hitting in front of Pujols. He hits the ball hard, he's shown power to the opposite field, he hasn't yet developed an irrational fear of the #2 slot, and when I've seen him play since the all-star break, he's shown plate discipline beyond his experience.

[JackofDiamonds]

So he's slugging .829 for the month?

Could he go 0-fer-the rest of the month and still be over the said slugging percentage?

Well, it's not the month -- it's the 14 games since the wager -- but yes.

At this point, if Duncan plays every day (say, 90 more AB), hits .220, with 3 doubles and one homer -- probably the least he could possibly manage and still stay in the lineup -- I'll still lose.

It's not over, but it's close. It would take a slump as precipitious as the hot streak has been, and keeping him in the lineup throughout.

I might have to revisit such a bet next year, but at this point, the odds and the math are stacked way against me.

Yeah, but isn't this the best kind of being wrong?