Admittedly, Young has more speed than Kingman, but it seems to be an apt comparison. In Kingman's rookie year (which was actually a typical type of year for him, other than the career high in basestealing), he hit .225 with a .303 on-base percentage, 29 homers, and 16 steals for the Giants (whose ballpark was about average effects in a moderate era). Young's rookie year stats thus far are .239 with a .298 on-base percentage, 32 homers, and 26 steals for the Diamondbacks (who play in a hitters park in a hitters era).
http://www.baseball-reference.com/y/youngch04.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kingmda01.shtml
Is Chris Young the new Dave Kingman? If that's the case, should we expect him to have a similar career to Kingman, if enough teams are foolish enough to give him a roster spot?
2007-09-26 21:11:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Great question. One of the best comparisons I've seen.
Young has legit power and speed, I expect him to continue to hit the long ball and use his speed on the base paths. I also would expect his average to climb as he learns to be more selective.
michael - a young Eric Davis batted .277 with 80 steals to go along with his 27 HR's. Then followed that up with a .293, 37 HR, 100 RBI, 50 steal season. So I don't think Young is that class.
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2007-09-27 05:11:08 · answer #1 · answered by Kris 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nice comparison and I see where you are coming from. I really believe Kingman had a little more power than Young has and I think Young has the potential to hit for a better average than Kingman over his career. Kingman hit under 225 eight times in his career and I don't think we will see that out of Young.
2007-09-27 02:21:52 · answer #2 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That was the EXACT comparison that I was thinking of a few weeks ago. I was looking for an OF to pick up in my Fantasy league and noticed Young's stats and thought "he looks like Dave Kingman's illegitimate son!"
All he needs now is to be traded five times in one season! I do not understand it with Young either, he just needs to be more patient, with that speed and power he should spend the offseason working on contact and pitch selection...he looks like Cerrano out there on Curve balls some times!
2007-09-27 02:55:38 · answer #3 · answered by bdough15 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Good question! Obviously, it is early in Young's career, but I checked his minor league stats and he didn't show much plate discipline there, either. I have not seen him play (I work on an Army base in the Balkans), but his defensive numbers don't look great.
Kingman was also, by all accounts, a jerk. I don't know anything about Young's personality.
But if he becomes one of those guys who hits home runs with both a low batting average AND not many walks, he is a liability.
Billy Beane's theory is that by the time guys get to the majors, they have either learned some selectivity or not. Young isn't looking good in that department. So his overall OPS+ is actually BELOW league average.
Gulp...I'm glad I'm not a D-Backs fan. I suspect a lot of disappointment coming!
2007-09-26 22:40:16 · answer #4 · answered by Bucky 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
My brother and i were just talking about Chris young of the Arizona diamondbacks. We thought a young Eric Davis who was with the Reds .
2007-09-27 03:17:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Chris Young is the man to go for, he is great both offense & defense...I mean come on... 32 homers!
Go D-Backs!!!!
2007-09-26 23:08:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
chris Young is the man, he is better than everyone!!!
2007-10-03 16:42:58 · answer #7 · answered by Joe C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He very well could be. Just don't ask Tommy Lasorda for his opinion of this question.
2007-09-28 08:31:41 · answer #8 · answered by Indy Yankee Fan 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋