Originally Posted by
membengal
Jacoby Ellsbury at age 22 split his year between A+ and AA:
A+ stats (244 at bats): .299/.379/.418 OPS .797 4 homeruns 7 doubles 5 triples 25 SB with 9 CS
AA stats: (198 at bats): .308/.387/.434 OPS .821 3 homeruns 10 doubles 3 triples 16 SB with 8 CS
For comparison's sake:
Stubbs A+ stats (225 at bats): .258/.378/.396 OPS .774 3 homeruns 14 doubles 4 triples 21 SB with 6 CS
Ellsbury made better contact that year, Stubbs has shown, oddly enough, a better batting eye, in terms of drawing a walk. All that thrown into a blender, and Stubbs is having a season not unlike that of Ellsbury when he was at the same level. The difference? One year of age.
So, serious question: is that one year of age really enough to legitimize the undercurrent of raw hostility and vitriol that has been directed at Stubbs by a bunch of folks on this board?
Again, taking the long view, I see a guy who is progressing as he moves up the ladder. He will need to continue to make improvements if he is going to make an impact at the major league level, but I see no reason why we can't realistically hope that he will. He looks ready for a AA trial to me, and if he washes out there, so be it. But I bet he won't. And I really want his glove one step closer to Cincy. I hope he moves up. Soon.