Jake Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I think we've all lost our enthusiasm for Trayce Thompson, at least for those of us who ever had it in the first place. Last year was a big year for him and he just didn't quite put everything together. He's still plenty young, but it's tough to see a guy spend 5 years in the minors without doing anything spectacular. There was one particular trend that I find encouraging, though 2009, R (25 games) - 4.3% BB%, 35.5% K% 2010, A (58 games) - 8.9% BB%, 29.4% K% 2011, A (136 games) - 10.1% BB%, 28.8% K% 2012, A+ (116 games) - 8.8% BB%, 28.2% K% 2013, AA (135 games) - 10.2% BB%, 23.6% K% Contact had always been the issue for Trayce. While overall production hasn't been great, he was difficult to project favorably because he struck out so damn much. His only saving grace was that walk rate. Last year he drastically cuts the K rate without hurting his BB rate. He'd been getting pushed up level after level despite not a great deal of success at any of them - certainly not mastering them - so I am very interested in how he does repeating this level where he posted his best contact rates of his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 The K improvement was definitely noted and encouraging, though in increasing his contact rate, he lost some pop. Hopefully the two come together this year. I don't think any of the FS voters from our last poll had completely abandoned ship on Thompson, he was at least in the mid-teens on everyone's list, T10 for some. danman31 will be happy to see this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 9, 2014 -> 03:05 PM) The K improvement was definitely noted and encouraging, though in increasing his contact rate, he lost some pop. Hopefully the two come together this year. I don't think any of the FS voters from our last poll had completely abandoned ship on Thompson, he was at least in the mid-teens on everyone's list, T10 for some. danman31 will be happy to see this thread. Dan is probably going to do cartwheels when he sees this thread just knowing there are others still on the bandwagon. Trayce is definitely a guy that the Sox still have to consider in their plans, but to what extent that is will be up to Trayce. If he can start hitting for average, he's got a shot to be a really good player still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danman31 Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Ha yeah, I am still a believer in Trayce. I've written about his year-to-year improvement at least two or three times over the years. Last year I didn't because it was a disappointing season, but there were still signs of improvement. I think he is a hard enough worker to keep getting better and turn himself into a Major League ballplayer. I don't know how good he will be once he gets there, but I still think he makes it. If he puts up similar numbers to 2013 with a slightly higher average (his BABIP was just over 22 points below his career average) and the power he showed in 2011 and 2012, that would be a significant success. I also don't think that's asking for a lot either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyG Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 I love Trayce. I went to the game friday and he was the only one really doing anything. 3 for 4 with a double and scored the only run in the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.