First off, I want to compare him to the other Korean 1B signing by the Minnesota Twins: Byung Ho Park. Park was the more publicized signing by the Minnesota Twins this offseason. He got lots of coverage and Dae Ho Lee was thought of as just a longshot to make the Mariners' roster and nothing more than a backup first baseman who could hit homeruns if needed late in the game:
...
1) Byung Ho Park -
.253 avg / .326 obp / .921 ops / 7 HR / .283 BABIP ( in 79 at bats)
2) Dae Ho Lee -
.281 avg / .342 obp / .999 ops / 4 HR / .217 BABIP (in 32 at bats)
If you increase Lee's numbers to 79 at bats, then his numbers would best Park's. Now you may say, "but Joey, Lee is only hitting against left-handed pitchers because that is what Jerry Dipoto signed him to do and if he had more at-bats against right-handed pitchers his numbers would suffer." To that I would say this:
1) Lee vs. LHP -
.250 avg / .550 slug % / 2 HR (in 20 at bats)
2) Lee vs RHP -
.333 avg / .833 slug % / 2HR ( in 12 at bats)
I realize these are both small sample sizes. But Lee is a good hitter who has been a starter against both handed pitchers in Korea and Japan for many years. He is a pro.
I also realize that we need to get Adam Lind going, but I really think Dae Ho should be getting more at bats against right-handed pitchers. I would be a proponent of just starting Lee 75% of the games for a while to see what happens. We could also possibly get both Lind and Lee in the lineup at the same time by giving Nelson Cruz a day off or putting him [Cruz] in right field and giving someone else a day off.
In closing, basically I am just saying we may have found a diamond in the rough here with Dae-Ho Lee and I want to see what he can do. In Dipoto & Servais [& Edgar] we trust.
GO MARINERS!
.253 avg / .326 obp / .921 ops / 7 HR / .283 BABIP ( in 79 at bats)
2) Dae Ho Lee -
.281 avg / .342 obp / .999 ops / 4 HR / .217 BABIP (in 32 at bats)
If you increase Lee's numbers to 79 at bats, then his numbers would best Park's. Now you may say, "but Joey, Lee is only hitting against left-handed pitchers because that is what Jerry Dipoto signed him to do and if he had more at-bats against right-handed pitchers his numbers would suffer." To that I would say this:
1) Lee vs. LHP -
.250 avg / .550 slug % / 2 HR (in 20 at bats)
2) Lee vs RHP -
.333 avg / .833 slug % / 2HR ( in 12 at bats)
I realize these are both small sample sizes. But Lee is a good hitter who has been a starter against both handed pitchers in Korea and Japan for many years. He is a pro.
I also realize that we need to get Adam Lind going, but I really think Dae Ho should be getting more at bats against right-handed pitchers. I would be a proponent of just starting Lee 75% of the games for a while to see what happens. We could also possibly get both Lind and Lee in the lineup at the same time by giving Nelson Cruz a day off or putting him [Cruz] in right field and giving someone else a day off.
In closing, basically I am just saying we may have found a diamond in the rough here with Dae-Ho Lee and I want to see what he can do. In Dipoto & Servais [& Edgar] we trust.
GO MARINERS!
