Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
May 07, 2006
Need a Day Off?

When does a slump become a sign of the end of a player's career? Juan Pierre went 0 for 4 in the Cubs 6-3 loss to the Padres this afternoon. That lowers his batting average to .240 and more importantly his OBA to .287. He's coming off the lowest OBA of his career, and his slide continues into 2006. He's only 28, so he should be near the top of his game. Can something be done to correct the slide?

Pierre hasn't missed a game since 2002. At six feet, 180, he's not exactly a big guy. Maybe the strain of playing every day has taken its toll on the centerfielder. He's in a huge slump, he's not helping the team offensively. Maybe it's time to give Juan a couple of days off.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:08 PM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Maybe it's a bad year for people named Juan? Juan Encarnacion is struggling for the Cardinals as well. He's improved somewhat lately, but still has a sub .250 OBP

Posted by: JeremyR at May 7, 2006 08:52 PM

Don't forget Juan Uribe. He's batting .165 with a .204 OBP in 91 AB's.

Posted by: the other josh at May 7, 2006 10:15 PM

What!? Juan Uribe is struggling! My god, stop the presses!
Seriously, though, Pierre is the type of player that doesn't age particularly well - a singles hitting speed guy without great OBP - think Vince Coleman or Quilvio Veras or, to a lesser extent, Dave Roberts. These guys lose a step and they're done, and I think Pierre is done. If his OBP is under 350 and he's not stealing bases he has no use to a team. Of course, the Cubs only have to pay him for this year, while they have to pay the clearly-washed-up Jacque Jones for the next 3 years.

Posted by: david at May 8, 2006 12:13 AM

Weird thing about Pierre...even though his average and OBP are both way down, he's still among the leaders in stolen bases. Going into Sunday he had a 10/1 SB/CS and the only two players with more steals were Reyes and Lopez at 11 each. It's actually sort of remarkable, stealing 10 bases while only having stopped at first 29 times (22 singles and 7 walks).

Looking at Pierre's career numbers, he used to strike out once every 15.89 ab's...this year he's struck out once every 10.63. So if he is done, it seems to me that it has more to do with his bat speed or eye at the plate then his ability to run...though I'm pretty sure the prognosis is bad either way.

Posted by: the other josh at May 8, 2006 03:00 AM

what does his size have to do with anything?

look at biggio - he's even smaller. he only missed games the year he tore his knee

Posted by: lisa gray at May 8, 2006 09:28 AM
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