steve, aww nuts. I realized you asked, but didn’t realize you got the answer.

Between 2000-2005, out of all outfielders, there were 15 different players with 40+ HR seasons, and an additional 30 with 30+ HR seasons. That’s a far stretch from every good team having power-hitters starting corner to corner in the OF.

Good post Steve. I find the Melky dissing strange. And Mike (now on a diet) Francessa has much the same criticism as far as power from a corner OF. Can we see 500 AB’s?

Jete, see: http://www.waswatching.com/archives/2006/06/the_meaning_of.html

Incidentally, Peter Abraham said in one of his comment sections, that he asked Melky about his name, and Melky replied that it is not short for anything, and it is not a nickname, his name is Melky.

With all due respect to Mr. Callis (and Mr. Sickels), it’s a good thing that they do this prospect evaluation thing for weblogs and special interest publications, because if, like the GMs and executives who actually have to get this right for a living, their livelihood depended on correct as opposed to snarky, desultory predictions…they’d have to learn a real trade, like roofing. Or designing the first Death Gel.

Great points, DFLNJ.

Where does it say that every corner outfielder has to hit 40 homeruns and strike out 100+ times? If he has a strong on-base percentage and works pitchers, who cares if he only hits 15 homeruns? Criticisms of Melky’s power strike me as shortsighted (as they say in Moneyball, good hitters develop power)and close-minded (“he doesn’t conform to MY definition of what a corner outfielder looks like!”).

I like that comparison. Hopefully the power comes with a bit more seasoning and age. Even if it doesn’t, I think there’s still a place in the game for the Milk-man.

Steve:
I liken Melky, if comparisons have to be made, to Alex Rios of the Blue Jays. Rios is a little taller, but is having to learn to hit for power, and just this year, after 3 years in the bigs, is beginning to hit for power. It may take Melky 3 years to learn, but he appears capable of learning to do it.