Garrett Atkins: expectations for rest of the year?

[thejusman1]

I'm buying low on him myself. I hope he get's traded or gets some kinda boost with the Rockies. But I am targeting him

Too late. The price just went up.

Deal him NOW if you have him. Do it while he has more value than Bobby Scales.

Agreed. If I were targetting Atkins and an owner bragged about his 2 homer night vs WandyRod and demanded pre-season compensation (the value of a .300avg, 20+ homer hitter) for him, I'd laugh. Sell now while you still can, the price should still be rock low.

[Splendid61]

Very strange to see Atkins on the bench for 4 straight games.

Ian Stewart emerged from a 3-week slump of hitting absolutely nothing and rode a 5-game power surge... but that was a week ago, it seems like Stewart has come back to earth as he's 1-for-16 with 0 BB and 5 K since then.

Why no Atkins? He's 3-for-4 lifetime vs. Gallardo.

[flloyd]

Don't know what you're talking about. He's 3/14 with 5Ks since June, 6th when he hit two homer runs. And on top of that he just hit another HR today.

As an Atkins owner its been a painful season and he's had quite a bit of bad luck but he really has deserved to lose his starters job; and that's what appears to have happened.

Also having a 3-4 record against a pitcher means next to nothing.

[Splendid61]

Don't know what you're talking about. He's 3/14 with 5Ks since June, 6th when he hit two homer runs. And on top of that he just hit another HR today.

You left out Stewart's 0/5 on Jun 10. After getting 2 hits early in the game on Jun 7, he had a 1-for-16 stretch before the big game yesterday. I agree Stewart is a vital part of the Rockies future... so making sure he has the best chance to develop is a high priority. I think he'll basically put a line like Bobby Crosby did in 2004 but with better power numbers due to Coors.

If the Rockies are in rebuilding mode (and going at it by giving future talent time to develop on the field) as they appear, then they really should have traded Atkins in the offseason since they have no place to play him now. By letting this play out, they're really just wasting Atkins on the bench and his trade value has got to be at an all-time low. While I don't think Atkins was ever truly as good as his 2006 numbers, his .201 BABIP and history of rapidly emerging from prolonged slumps indicate he's probably still a very capable major league hitter. But it will be hard to convince potential suitors that Atkins has any value if he's relegated to the bench.

Also having a 3-4 record against a pitcher means next to nothing.

A 3-for-4 record against a pitcher doesn't mean much, but it at least shows that the hitter doesn't have trouble picking the ball up out of the pitcher's hand. The pitcher might not have had his best stuff or command that day, but the hitter still had to be able to pick up the ball off him, which a even a minuscule sample of 4 AB's can show.

[BitterDodgerFan]

so is atkins gonna be a bench player from now on?

i thought they were gonna try to trade him. don't they need to showcase him by playing him?

[Bwanna]

so is atkins gonna be a bench player from now on?

i thought they were gonna try to trade him. don't they need to showcase him by playing him?

I think they're trying to keep his average from slipping...

[swyck]

so is atkins gonna be a bench player from now on?

i thought they were gonna try to trade him. don't they need to showcase him by playing him?

If he was a new guy no one has every heard of I'd agree, but he's been in the league a few years now and playing regularly. It's no secret he's on the outs in Colorado, and has earned a bench spot. Someone else can take a chance on his prior production but no reason the Rockies have to play him just to showcase him.