Time to Start Worrying About Villar?

[Schmi755uwm.edu]

The Brewers top of the lineup (Villar, Thames and Braun) could be deadly if Villar can return to his 2016 form. Read into what some of the reasons are for Villar's slump below.

 

Read Full Story Here ------>

http://www.armchairallamericans.com/time-start-worrying-jonathan-villar/

[hart attack 2006]

It sure seems that Villar isn't seeing the ball well, but I'd suggest that some of it simply has to do with getting behind in the count. Fangraphs has him receiving a first pitch strike 73% of the time this season (it seems that ~ 60% is average). Maybe getting a few more favorable counts will help?

[Schmi755uwm.edu]

I've been noticing that too. I wish that he would be a little more disciplined, and get more favorable counts. His free swinging tendencies are concerning as well. It looks like he's getting back on track in the past two games though, which is good.

[logan82]

The Brewers top of the lineup (Villar, Thames and Braun) could be deadly if Villar can return to his 2016 form. Read into what some of the reasons are for Villar's slump below.

 

Read Full Story Here ------>

http://www.armchairallamericans.com/time-start-worrying-jonathan-villar/

Nope. No clicks for you.

[adambr2]

The Brewers top of the lineup (Villar, Thames and Braun) could be deadly if Villar can return to his 2016 form. Read into what some of the reasons are for Villar's slump below.

 

Read Full Story Here ------>

http://www.armchairallamericans.com/time-start-worrying-jonathan-villar/

Nope. No clicks for you.

 

Why? I read the article along with the Buy or Sell one and thought both were pretty well written and insightful, it's relevant to this board and he contributed to the conversation when replied to here as well, so it's not like he just plugged and baied.

 

Obviously no one likes spam and there's a fine line between advertising and spamming that you need to avoid crossing, especially here. But I don't see how this does. Just a young guy who loves Wisconsin sports trying to get his work out there a little bit.

[Ennder]

You don't worry about baseball players in April. Mid May is the earliest.

[nate82]

I've been noticing that too. I wish that he would be a little more disciplined, and get more favorable counts. His free swinging tendencies are concerning as well. It looks like he's getting back on track in the past two games though, which is good.

 

Except he has been disciplined at the plate he has an OOZ% below league average. His problem is the same as Broxton's he is letting to many first pitch strikes go by. I wish batting coaches would stop telling leadoff hitters to take the first pitch.

 

Weeks had this problem and now Villar and Broxton have this problem. If you are consistently letting the pitcher get ahead by throwing over a strike you are playing from behind as a hitters. Average, OBP and Slugging all go down after the pitcher gets ahead of a batter. Once at two strikes it is in the pitchers favor and a hitter normally will be an out at about 80% of the time.

[superfly]

R-E-L-A-X.

[JohnBriggs12]

The guy he displaced currently has a .937 OPS and 10 RBI. Just sayin.

[JohnBriggs12]

You don't worry about baseball players in April. Mid May is the earliest.

 

He's leading the league in two categories: AB and strikeouts and after drawing 79 walks last year, he has one more (5) than Hernan Perez (4) right now. 78 AB's is enough to be concerned even in April. But I'll go another 40 AB's and see if his recent slightly better stretch here continues. By the way, he still hasn't gotten a hit as a RH batter (0 for 20). Most damning is that of the 18 games he's started, he's fanned multiple times in 12 of them. I don't think even Chris Carter fanned 2 times or more in 2/3 of his games last year.

[Ennder]

You don't worry about baseball players in April. Mid May is the earliest.

 

He's leading the league in two categories: AB and strikeouts and after drawing 79 walks last year, he has one more (5) than Hernan Perez (4) right now. 78 AB's is enough to be concerned even in April. But I'll go another 40 AB's and see if his recent slightly better stretch here continues. By the way, he still hasn't gotten a hit as a RH batter (0 for 20). Most damning is that of the 18 games he's started, he's fanned multiple times in 12 of them. I don't think even Chris Carter fanned 2 times or more in 2/3 of his games last year.

 

It doesn't matter. Don't worry about April. Go look at last years april leaders in futility and all of the established guys turned it around. This is just what April is, guys struggle. Don't make more of it than it is.

 

Last year in April Russel Martin hit .150 with 31 K in 67 PA. The next 4 months the Ks went back to normal and he hit .230, .262, .292 and .286 before slumping again in September. April is just a weird month for stats.

[endaround]

83 PAs is enough to worry about a 37.3% K rate. His OOZ rate is up and his contact rate is down. He is taking more 1st pitch strikes. He should at least be moved down in the order so maybe the "having to take a pitch as the leadoff hitter" thing stops.

[JohnBriggs12]

You don't worry about baseball players in April. Mid May is the earliest.

 

He's leading the league in two categories: AB and strikeouts and after drawing 79 walks last year, he has one more (5) than Hernan Perez (4) right now. 78 AB's is enough to be concerned even in April. But I'll go another 40 AB's and see if his recent slightly better stretch here continues. By the way, he still hasn't gotten a hit as a RH batter (0 for 20). Most damning is that of the 18 games he's started, he's fanned multiple times in 12 of them. I don't think even Chris Carter fanned 2 times or more in 2/3 of his games last year.

 

It doesn't matter. Don't worry about April. Go look at last years april leaders in futility and all of the established guys turned it around. This is just what April is, guys struggle. Don't make more of it than it is.

 

Last year in April Russel Martin hit .150 with 31 K in 67 PA. The next 4 months the Ks went back to normal and he hit .230, .262, .292 and .286 before slumping again in September. April is just a weird month for stats.

 

Villar doesn't fall into the category of "established" off one full season as a regular. Comparing him to Russell Martin who's been essentially a number 1 catcher since 2006 with a proven track record over time is a mistake. For that very reason, we should be concerned about Broxton and Santana, neither of whom is established either but who are getting regular AB's in the middle of the order and not hitting a lick while striking out at alarming rates.

[pacopete4]

Being concerned is one thing. Overreacting is another. There's just no reason to mess with Villar at this point. If we are mid May, headed into June and he still stinks, maybe start reacting.

[Ennder]

Villar has 1420 PA as a major league player, he is established. His career OBP is .329 so that is probably the floor of what to expect given it was better each of the last 2 years. He is starting the year in a slump, this is normal April stuff happening all over the league.

[jerichoholicninja]

The only thing to really worry about it that in a year plus, he's still a stupid baserunner. But I guess if Carlos Gomez taught us anything, it's that you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[nate82]

83 PAs is enough to worry about a 37.3% K rate. His OOZ rate is up and his contact rate is down. He is taking more 1st pitch strikes. He should at least be moved down in the order so maybe the "having to take a pitch as the leadoff hitter" thing stops.

 

Agree but his OOZ rate isn't that far off from his career rate. What is concerning is his z-contact% which is below league average and below his career rates. Maybe moving down in the order and not taking the first pitch helps him get started.

[adambr2]

The guy he displaced currently has a .937 OPS and 10 RBI. Just sayin.

 

That same guy had a .948 OPS last year after as many plate appearances as he's had this year and still managed to finish the year as a AAA replacement level player. Just sayin.

[danzig6767]

I've been noticing that too. I wish that he would be a little more disciplined, and get more favorable counts. His free swinging tendencies are concerning as well. It looks like he's getting back on track in the past two games though, which is good.

 

Except he has been disciplined at the plate he has an OOZ% below league average. His problem is the same as Broxton's he is letting to many first pitch strikes go by. I wish batting coaches would stop telling leadoff hitters to take the first pitch.

 

Weeks had this problem and now Villar and Broxton have this problem. If you are consistently letting the pitcher get ahead by throwing over a strike you are playing from behind as a hitters. Average, OBP and Slugging all go down after the pitcher gets ahead of a batter. Once at two strikes it is in the pitchers favor and a hitter normally will be an out at about 80% of the time.

Yea Broxton drives me nuts with how many times he looks at pitches right down the middle and then ends up in two strike counts.

[homer]

He seems to be seeing the ball a bit better this series. Two walks so far today is a good sign.

[nate82]

I've been noticing that too. I wish that he would be a little more disciplined, and get more favorable counts. His free swinging tendencies are concerning as well. It looks like he's getting back on track in the past two games though, which is good.

 

Except he has been disciplined at the plate he has an OOZ% below league average. His problem is the same as Broxton's he is letting to many first pitch strikes go by. I wish batting coaches would stop telling leadoff hitters to take the first pitch.

 

Weeks had this problem and now Villar and Broxton have this problem. If you are consistently letting the pitcher get ahead by throwing over a strike you are playing from behind as a hitters. Average, OBP and Slugging all go down after the pitcher gets ahead of a batter. Once at two strikes it is in the pitchers favor and a hitter normally will be an out at about 80% of the time.

Yea Broxton drives me nuts with how many times he looks at pitches right down the middle and then ends up in two strike counts.

 

I wish we could get Dale Sveum back as the hitting coach. He would have the Brewers swinging at the first pitch and being aggressive. The Brewers need to be aggressive at the plate right now with the first pitch especially Broxton and Villar. They need to stop falling behind as they are not good enough as hitters to be falling behind and even some of the greatest hitters who get to two strikes don't hit all that well being behind.

[3and2Fastball]

To answer the question posted in the thread title, the time to start worrying about Villar would be after about 200 at bats, emphasis on the word "start"

[pacopete4]

I actually have thought he's played pretty good as of late. Base running, defense, and bat is starting to get better.

[JohnBriggs12]

I actually have thought he's played pretty good as of late. Base running, defense, and bat is starting to get better.

 

He's got a long way to go still.

[MrTPlush]

I actually have thought he's played pretty good as of late. Base running, defense, and bat is starting to get better.

 

He's got a long way to go still.

 

Not really. Continues what he has done the last week and he is perfectly fine.