Corey Hart

[Scooter1027]

It appears that after a slow start, inconsistent playing time, and a wrist injury, Hart is becoming relevant again. With Weeks on the DL, Yost has played Hart in the leadoff spot for the past several days against both righties and lefties, bucking his previous platoon trend. His numbers over the past five games:

9/19 (.474), 4 R, 2 2B, 2 SB, 1 RBI, 2 BB/1 K

It appears that he's settled in as the leadoff guy (for now anyway). That could be a valuable slot with good run and SB totals (7-for-7 on SB attempts on the year) hitting in front of Hardy/Braun/Fielder. Just a thought for those who may have still clung to him after his early troubles.

[Y`s Guy]

Is this temporary? I haven't read too much yet on him recently and wonder if I accept him in a trade will he platoon again.

[sansav]

Every indication is that he is going to get FT playing time - Yost knows his potential and wants him in the line-up. I think he can be a pretty valuable player this year

[Scooter1027]

Is this temporary? I haven't read too much yet on him recently and wonder if I accept him in a trade will he platoon again.

I can't guarantee it, because Yost has been unpredictable to say the least. But this little excerpt has me believing he'll be the everyday leadoff hitter until Weeks is back at the very least:

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070601&content_id=1999227&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

"Ride the hot hand: With Weeks sidelined, Yost said he plans to stick with outfielder Corey Hart as the right fielder and leadoff man for the foreseeable future, asking, "What other options do we have?"

What about Tony Gwynn Jr.? He entered Friday's game batting .333, including .354 in his 12 starts and profiles more as a table-setter than Hart, who has speed but was a run-producer throughout his Minor League career.

"I've got Corey Hart playing, and the last time I checked, you can only play nine guys," said Yost. "I'm playing Corey Hart right now.

"Corey's been our guy from last year on, the guy that we wanted to get at-bats. He did great last year, proved himself, and coming into Spring Training, our idea was for him to be in the [right field] mix and probably get the majority of at-bats."

That plan changed, according to Yost, when Kevin Mench started the season extremely hot. Just as Mench cooled, Hart sprained his right wrist running the bases, an ailment that only recently has subsided.

Now healthy, Hart started each of the four games before Friday and hit safely in all four, going 8-for-15 over that span to raise his season average to .298. Batting leadoff, he said he shortens his swing and tries to be more selective at the plate.

"It doesn't bother me," Hart said. "I got used to it last year."

[wrveres]

I still don't trust Yost to play him regularly.
He has 6 outfielders on the roster, and has to find playing time for all of them.

[BillyHallDisciple]

I'm with you wrveres, I keep wanting to pull the trigger to pick up Hart but the OF glut in Milwaukee is keeping me away. I think Hart would have to string together a few very solid games to stay on as a regular, maybe this is his audition right now.

[Scooter1027]

I still don't trust Yost to play him regularly.
He has 6 outfielders on the roster, and has to find playing time for all of them.

I hope you're wrong, but it's possible. Corey is out of the lineup tonight against the sidewinding righty Kim as Yost went with his all-lefty lineup due to the general success of lefties versus Kim (Gross, Jenkins and Gwynn in the OF). I get the feeling though that this is very situational, and Hart should be in there almost everyday.

[sansav]

HR for Hart tonight - pick this guy up, very talented, good HR/SB combo, much higher ceiling than guys like Mench or Gwynn - Yost will find this guy PT

[cwrtlm]

He is a Kentucky boy too. That makes him even more ownable.

[shasty mcnasty]

i think i'd be more convinced that he would get regular playing time if he would just agree to wear his sunglasses at night...