The fascination with Cliff Lee and the continuing Pedro Martinez Experiment and the Jamie Moyer relocation to the bullpen has helped to mask a concern I am starting to have. Raul Ibanez, an early lock for the National League MVP has been kind of quiet lately and has started to become a player I have a slight fear about.
In the month of August Ibanez's batting average has dropped from .301 to .289 entering tonight's game, in which he will get a night off. In his last eight games Ibanez has recorded just four hits and has struck out an alarming 14 times. He struck out 16 times in the entire month of July. He has hit just one home run this month. Since the All Star Break Ibanez is hitting .241 (was hitting .309 before) and his slugging percentage has dropped about 200 points. He continues to struggle most against right handed pitching and is hitting .259 with runners in scoring position in the second half of the season.
It may seem a little overly dramatic to point out these not so alarming trends for a guy who is still currently .289, third highest among starters on the team, but as the season prepares to enter September, and likely October, it is these kind of things that will drive me crazy down the stretch. When Ibanez is on his game the offense is that much more lethal. While he has tapered off a bit after his red-hot start to the season Jayson Werth has picked up the slack a bit, even replacing him in the fifth spot in most games recently.
So how concerned are you about Ibanez? Is it a legitimate concern right now or will Ibanez be steady down the home stretch and play a vital role in the Phillies' post season run?
Original Story:
http://macho-row.blogspot.com/2009/08...
In the month of August Ibanez's batting average has dropped from .301 to .289 entering tonight's game, in which he will get a night off. In his last eight games Ibanez has recorded just four hits and has struck out an alarming 14 times. He struck out 16 times in the entire month of July. He has hit just one home run this month. Since the All Star Break Ibanez is hitting .241 (was hitting .309 before) and his slugging percentage has dropped about 200 points. He continues to struggle most against right handed pitching and is hitting .259 with runners in scoring position in the second half of the season.It may seem a little overly dramatic to point out these not so alarming trends for a guy who is still currently .289, third highest among starters on the team, but as the season prepares to enter September, and likely October, it is these kind of things that will drive me crazy down the stretch. When Ibanez is on his game the offense is that much more lethal. While he has tapered off a bit after his red-hot start to the season Jayson Werth has picked up the slack a bit, even replacing him in the fifth spot in most games recently.
So how concerned are you about Ibanez? Is it a legitimate concern right now or will Ibanez be steady down the home stretch and play a vital role in the Phillies' post season run?
Original Story:
http://macho-row.blogspot.com/2009/08...
