one month passes...
three weeks pass...
one month passes...
five months pass...
one month passes...
one month passes...
one month passes...
eight months pass...
three months pass...
one year passes...
three months pass...
this dude is ridiculous. unlike Bellinger over in the NL, he seems unstoppable.
― nomar, Wednesday, July 5, 2017 11:52 PM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
Would much rather have Bellinger.
― clemenza, Wednesday, July 5, 2017 11:59 PM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
i'll take judge for the next 5 and bellinger for the next 10
― k3vin k., Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:02 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
what's the case for bellinger over judge?
― Karl Malone, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:08 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
the same solid and unassailable case that was made for Dave Justice over Frank Thomas.
― nomar, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:15 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
Bellinger is 21 and Judge is 25, so he's got 2-3 seasons left til his peak would hit. Bellinger has more time but I'm not 100% convinced on him being at this level all the time going forward.
― nomar, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:16 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
though the history of guys his age hitting like this is a pretty good one, especially if you're a dodger fan.
― nomar, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:17 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
yeah, i think they'll both probably be prettttty good
but judge seems like an absolute monster
― Karl Malone, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:18 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
It seems fairly self-evident to me.
Bellinger will turn 22 next week; Judge is 25. A three-plus year difference at this age is generally a reliable marker of growth potential.
Bellinger's ascension has been rapid and makes sense. His slugging averages in the minors, starting at age 17, have been .358, .474, .538, .515, .627. So .620 this year doesn't strike me as entirely unexpected. Judge's, starting at age 22, read .483, .448, .489, .345 (majors), and .689 this year. I'm just skeptical about that--how many guys learn to hit when they turn 25?
Might be totally wrong, but I'd much rather have the 22-year-old with some clear foundation for his success this year (in a much tougher hitter's park, no less).
― clemenza, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:19 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
but hmm...Judge...Justice...they should get together with Vance Law and play a tourney.
― nomar, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:20 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
i'd be skeptical if he was just mashing dongs, Kingman-style. he's a triple crown threat, though.
― nomar, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:20 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
I don't remember anybody--anybody serious, anyway--thinking that Dave Justice had a brighter future than Frank Thomas in 1991. Besides which, it was Justice who was two years older...
― clemenza, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:21 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
that was a bit of a joke, i didn't do the scouting before i made it. i've seen Bellinger play and he's impressive, he's not Kevin Maas or anything. god i hope not, wouldn't wish that on Dodger fans.
― nomar, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:23 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
Judge's HR are impressive, no argument there, but I've got to be skeptical about the batting average. He's struck out 102 times in 286 AB and he's hitting .330. His BABIP (yes, I've been reduced to trotting out BABIP) is .420-something--as has been pointed out here, in the neighborhood of Babe Ruth's 1923 season.
I'm enjoying Judge's season, and he's probably already clinched the MVP (the three Houston guys are going to split all their votes). But I would take Bellinger without a second thought.
― clemenza, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:27 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
If there are precedents for Judge, I'd be interested in who they are (no sarcasm intended). There must be somebody who came out of nowhere and tore the league up at 25.
― clemenza, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:30 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
if this year is any indication, though, bellinger's poor defense might dull any offensive edge he has on judge
― Karl Malone, Thursday, July 6, 2017 12:31 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink
(that year was not any indication, though)
― Read between the lines Zach (Karl Malone), Wednesday, 11 August 2021 21:29 (two years ago) link