Garett Atkins: Slow Start or Bust?

[DevilDriver]

So where are all the people that had him ranked ahead of Aramis Ramirez?

He had 1 good year and it was mostly due to his batting average, there was basically no reason why people had him ranked so high coming into this year. He'll end up with about 20 Hrs by years end but you could get a WW 3rd basemen that can do that.

I had them pretty much equal coming into this year. The way I figured it..

Avg = Atkins
HR = Ramirez
RBI = Tie, slight Ramirez
Runs = Atkins
SB = Tie, slight Atkins

Still very early and Ramirez isn't exactly lighting things up himself. I can't say either way at this point how it will end up.....

Ramirez is on pace for 42/116. I don't know what you consider "lighting things up", but he's putting up pretty damn good numbers (especially considering he usually starts off slow), and he's played in 5 less games than Atkins.

[High Heat]

Quote gives reason for optimism.

Atkins is 2-for-21 in his last seven games and is hitting only .243/.329/.360 this year. When comparing last years swing to this year hitting coach Alan Cockrell said, "The mechanics mirror each other. . . There's just not any difference. I don't think there's anything mechanically that he should work on."

[05worldserieschamps]

Well, he is hitting better than Ryan Howard(.204) and Albert Pujols(.239) and I wouldn't bench them.

[pibb55]

6 game home stand coming up, I forecast 5 runs, 2 HRs, 6RBIs from Atkins in these 6 games

[pangbones]

I think he's a good hitter and should be able to knock out 20 HR's. I just offered Glaus for him straight up!!

[dipset]

i am sooo sick of hearing this whole "he was projected to be a 20 homerun hitter"..... who cares

was bonds projected to hit 70?? NOO looked how that turned out

[number9]

He was very lucky last year with a BABIP of .340 and slightly unlucky this year with .279 BABIP so far, though this doesn't explain everything a .060 swing in BABIP has significant effect on his conventional stats, probably. (League average is usually around .300 I think.)
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/stats ... ame=atkins

[janssenlbd]

what sold me last year was that he was consistent both at home and on the road.

he's been consistent both at home and away this year too. unfortunately, he's been consistently bad.

[The Big Train]

Well the news probably gets even better for us Atkins owners tonight; he faces Brandon Webb whom he has 23 AB against lifetime with the folowing line:

.130/.167/.174 (3/23, 1 double) Enjoy!

[Fugetaboutit]

Personally, I dont know what to think about Atkins. Im pissed that I took him in the 3rd round over Aramis Ramirez (When 2 players are very close to me, I look at batting average/injury concerns for consistency in head-to-head), but I think he will turn it around at some point this season. Hopefully we can get a Texie-like second half out of him. Then I wont feel too bad.