Julio Borbon: Unlucky or Bust

[rotoquest]

Is it SAFE? Is it time to start his guy? Can he steal 60 bases from the 9 hole? As Marty Schottenheimer said many times "I see a glimmer".

[thedude]

Is it SAFE? Is it time to start his guy? Can he steal 60 bases from the 9 hole? As Marty Schottenheimer said many times "I see a glimmer".

He has been feasting on Red Sox pitchers the last couple of games. Maybe he is heating up, maybe not.

[mt99808]

How would you guys compare the outlook of Borbon vs someone like Juan Pierre? Are they similar?

[AquaMan2342]

I'd temper my expectations of a huge rebound just because he's not going to wrangle that leadoff spot back from Andrus anytime soon. The biggest reason Andrus still had value out of the 9 slot was because he plays a thin position. I'd be real leery of using an OF or even UTIL slot on any nine hitter, let alone one who isn't really producing right now.

[NYMetsIn2k4]

well im enjoying this early season slump bc i liked Borbon going into 2010 but i was unable to land him him any leagues due to overdrafting by other owners. now, bc of his early season disaster, ive been able to grab him in 2 of my 5 leagues (of the WW!) and im hoping i can steal him from 1 other owner before he realizes the 2010 seasons started. PATIENCE my friends, patience! its key this time of the season... i learned that the hard way lastyr with players like Justin Upton

[Syfo-Dyas]

well im enjoying this early season slump bc i liked Borbon going into 2010 but i was unable to land him him any leagues due to overdrafting by other owners. now, bc of his early season disaster, ive been able to grab him in 2 of my 5 leagues (of the WW!) and im hoping i can steal him from 1 other owner before he realizes the 2010 seasons started. PATIENCE my friends, patience! its key this time of the season... i learned that the hard way lastyr with players like Justin Upton

Its easy to be patient if your other players are performing well. But its impossible is they dont.

[machine3]

Borbon will eventually move back into the leadoff spot this season, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Recommendation: Borbon has played better hitting out of the ninth spot, but manager Ron Washington prefers him atop the lineup over Elvis Andrus.

(Rotowire.com)

[AquaMan2342]

Borbon will eventually move back into the leadoff spot this season, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Recommendation: Borbon has played better hitting out of the ninth spot, but manager Ron Washington prefers him atop the lineup over Elvis Andrus.

(Rotowire.com)

For sure. I mean, who are we kidding here.....who wants a faster player with better plate discipline at the top of the lineup?

[hondo4mvp]

Borbon will eventually move back into the leadoff spot this season, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Recommendation: Borbon has played better hitting out of the ninth spot, but manager Ron Washington prefers him atop the lineup over Elvis Andrus.

(Rotowire.com)

For sure. I mean, who are we kidding here.....who wants a faster player with better plate discipline at the top of the lineup?

I want a hit of crack so I'll think Borbon should be leadoff over Andrus too.

[blibros]

Unfortunately I don't have all the sordid details handy now, but I posted warnings about Borbon on a couple of message boards just before the start of the season. If you get deeper into his minor league numbers, you find that what he had was lots of bunt and infield hits driving up those BABIP and BA numbers. His seeming "success" in his 09 ML debut was due to totally unsustainable BABIP rates that far exceeded what he did in the minors for non-bunts. His BABIP for both GB and FB at AAA last year on a fairly large sample size (over 350 AB if I recall) was pathetic. At this point, he just doesn't know how to hit and mostly just tries to bunt or beat out grounders. Even last year in the majors, I think he bunted on something like 10% of his AB - that's an incredibly high number, but his ability to hit for any kind of average will be completely dependent on bunts and his line drive rate (which was decent last year, but tough to keep up when you hit so many GB and bunts). No way he repeats last year and huge chance of total bust.