Juan Encarnacion: Encarnacion is scheduled to play in a few extended spring training games this week and if pain free, he should begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. At 31 years of age, Encarnacion has average power for an outfielder, 2003/2004/2005/2006 home run totals of 19/16/16/19. The rise in his GB% from 39% in 2005 to 45% in 2006, 48% in the second-half, could be a sign that his power is declining. The speed that allowed him to swipe 40 bases in the 2002 to 2003 period is still there, as he hit 5 triples last year, but he simply is not running as much, 57 attempts in 2002 to 2003 versus 31 attempts the last three years. That is easily understood when you see that he has been caught 14 times in those 31. If you have a hole in your outfield, he is ok to plug in, but don't expect above average production.
Mark Mulder: Mulder, who is recovering from surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff, has been doing some light throwing and hopes to be ready to return in late July. Mulder has seen a decline in his skills since he came to St. Louis. The question of whether the decline was because of the shoulder problems can only be answered when Mulder is pitching again. In his Oakland days, Mulder had a very nice skill set of a high GB%, combined with good control and a good, but not a great, K/9. In his 2006, 7.15 ERA, injury shortened season, he was still inducing ground balls, 55% GB%, but his K/9 declined to 4.8, from a peak of 6.9 in 2002, and his BB/9 of 3.4 was over the acceptable 3.0 benchmark. He is just 29 years of age, so he is worth monitoring, just don't be surprised if he doesn't return to the success that he enjoyed from 2002 to 2005.
Matt Diaz: To date, Manager Bobby Cox has employed a strict platoon in left field with Ryan Langerhans and Diaz. At 29 years of age, but just entering his second full season, Diaz was late to the big show, even being discarded by Tampa Bay and Kansas City. A look at Diaz's 2006 batting average of .327 and batting average against right-handers, .358, suggests that Diaz could handle the job everyday. A little deeper look into Diaz's skill set suggests that he is well placed in a platoon role. His power is below average for an outfielder, 50% GB% last year, his batting eye is weak, .22 in 2006, and the high 2006 batting average was aided by a BHIP% of .320. In 2005, he was completely helpless against right-handers, batting .143 in 35 AB. If Langerhans continues to struggle, Diaz may get a shot at playing everyday, just don't expect big numbers.
Chris Snelling: The Kory Casto as the starting left fielder experiment is over. He was optioned to Triple-A, opening the way for Snelling to take over while Nook Logan is out. Snelling is off to a good start, in 26 AB, he is batting .269 with a homer, double, triple, and 6 RBI. RFK Stadium tends to favor line-drive hitters, high fly balls tend to die in the winds above the stadium, while the line-drives carry. Snelling fits that bill and if he can stay healthy, which has been a problem in the past, he could surprise with regular playing time.
Tom Glavine: After four starts, Glavine is 3-1, with 2.70 ERA. Before you get too excited, consider that he has been the beneficiary of a low BHIP% and high strand rate, 86%. That luck and the 12/11 BB/K ratio suggest that his ERA will be heading north in the very near future.
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