jester1534 wrote:longstrangetrip wrote:If this guy lives up to his potential, it may be an ok deal...but on first glance, I don't like it. His hitting stats are unremarkable, except for his strike outs...he strikes out more than once in every four ABs. Msybe acceptable if he were a power hitter, but he's not...only 4 career HRs in 270 ABs. And even though the article says he threw out 37% of base stealers last year, it was actually 27% (17% the year before). I get that we have a log jam in the OF if Buxton and the Korean pan out, but I don't see this guy as an upgrade over Suzuki. Let's hope he starts playing like a second round pick (although I think it's more likely that Hicks will start playing like the first round pick that he was). I love Terry Ryan, but he must see something in this kid that he hasn't shown in the majors yet.
I agree with yah after thinking it over I hate the trade but I hope the kid proves me wrong. He's supposed to be a really good framer of pitches which we know how bad Kurt is statistically so that's a plus. Hop gully we just got us a Fransico Cervellie 2.0. Just thinks could've traded hicks for cliff lee in that 2009 run :(
I think ai have made it clear I have been a Hicks supporter I thought he had a few signs along the way of still having a chance to break though. Having said that it seems like there is some homer overvaluing of Hicks while dismissing Murphy that I don't understand. Why?
LST talked about Murphy's lack of power. Hicks has 56 total extra base hits in 819 career MLB ABs. In 262 career MLB ABs Murphy has 19. That's just one example.
Hicks has been handed CF job on a platter in one way or another and has had a hard one beating out 5th outfielder types. Let's remind outer selves season ago he was a mess looked lost at the plate gave up switch hitting had mental issues in the field and was called out for not preparing. He had a nice enough season this last year but it wasn't exactly magical.
Contrast that to Murphy who has been blocked by plenty of catching depth and the Yankees have another guy coming up. Gary Tuck a guy that seems to know a thing or 2 about catchers raved about him less than a year ago.
http://riveraveblues.com/2015/01/upcoming-apprenticeship-john-ryan-murphy-112707/
Let's call this what it is one organization dealing from a position of strength in depth to another. Maybe Murphy doesn't turn out to be any good but it's far from a sure thing Hicks will be something significant either. I would much rather take a shot at a young catcher with some legit promise than hold onto a young OFer that may not be needed a few months from now.
