I try to read ESPN’s articles at least a few times a week. I decided to grab insider access, even if it didn’t come with the bathroom reading that is ESPN: The Magazine. To get that dreadful magazine shipped to Canada added something like 40 dollars to the price — no thanks.
Anyways, I was greeted by this tonight:
Nick Markakis, OF, Orioles: He’s 0-for-11 against Dallas Braden. That’s not a sign that he’s about to turn things around from his lousy .207 start to 2010.
followed by this little gem from Rotowire:
Spin:Markakis is off to such a slow start this season that this was his first multi-hit performance of 2010. His single in the third inning snapped an 0-for-10 spell.
I understand that .207 isn’t a pretty number to look at, but Nick Markakis was the league leader in walks up until last night, when he slipped to a tie for second with 10BB.
Markakis’ On-Base Percentage sits at a gorgeous .410. His previous career high? .406.
The problem is obviously Markakis’ 0 Runs Batted In, but is that really a question? Are we to believe that Nick Markakis will continue to see under 40% of his pitches in the zone floating around 50% for his entire career?
The Baltimore Orioles aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders without their spark-plug, Brian Roberts. Tejada leads the team with 7 RBIs and the next best is Luke Scott at 4RBI, with everyone else knocking in 3 or fewer runs.
As for Markakis’ 5 Runs Scored, he leads the team. Obviously that isn’t great for people that drafted Markakis early, but right now, Baltimore is a pretty bad team.
When all is said and done, Baltimore will probably perform exactly how you expected them to perform. A huge break-out season’s in store for Wieters and Adam Jones will do what he does.
Some may point to Markakis’ drastic rise in K’s, but I think you have to view that through the lens of BB:K rather than straight K-Rate.
I’ll end with:
6 for 29 is .207
7 for 29 is .241
8 for 29 is .276
I didn’t think Markakis would continue to develop as some expected, but it’s not time to panic.
