I've posted in a few different threads some questions looking to have some of the more insightful posters here comment on but either people don't like me (who can blame them?) or they just get lost in the mix....
I was pretty intrigued by Bloom picking up Arroyo from the Indians on waivers last season and while he showed some promise, his plate discipline was pretty lacking and he didn't excite any other posters here. He comes with a pretty good pedigree (first round pick) and Bloom has spent some time with him before (Tampa) so those two facts makes me think he saw more promise than his prior seasons stat lines lead us to believe what he is.
So far this season, he's really been great. I don't really know how to read the defensive statistics and am beyond skeptical of any stats that have Xander as both a very good shortstop and one of the worst in the league... but so far to my eye test (I've only watched 6 games and highlights) he's been at least above average.
His bat, at this point, has to be putting the doubters at least to start being believers. Last I checked, however, his BABiP was at .400. Normalizing that to .300 and his total OPS still comes in close to a SLG heavy .775 which I would take in a heartbeat from a 2B.
Would appreciate some others take on him... I'm really starting to wonder if Bloom's secret power is to see BABiP as something a hitter may have a little more control over than common wisdom....
I was pretty intrigued by Bloom picking up Arroyo from the Indians on waivers last season and while he showed some promise, his plate discipline was pretty lacking and he didn't excite any other posters here. He comes with a pretty good pedigree (first round pick) and Bloom has spent some time with him before (Tampa) so those two facts makes me think he saw more promise than his prior seasons stat lines lead us to believe what he is.
So far this season, he's really been great. I don't really know how to read the defensive statistics and am beyond skeptical of any stats that have Xander as both a very good shortstop and one of the worst in the league... but so far to my eye test (I've only watched 6 games and highlights) he's been at least above average.
His bat, at this point, has to be putting the doubters at least to start being believers. Last I checked, however, his BABiP was at .400. Normalizing that to .300 and his total OPS still comes in close to a SLG heavy .775 which I would take in a heartbeat from a 2B.
Would appreciate some others take on him... I'm really starting to wonder if Bloom's secret power is to see BABiP as something a hitter may have a little more control over than common wisdom....