Soothsaying for Sixteen: Michael Conforto

[Edgy MD]

I'm young, strong, left-handed and I appeared in the majors as a fully formed, complete, ready-to-perform-at-top-value hitter. The Mets haven't had one of those since Ike Davis.

What's'a matter? Did I same something wrong. Well, I'm sorry. Stop ogling my mother. It pisses me off.

Am I ready to rock? Because sophomore regression is a real thing? What's my 2016 going to look like? Because I feel excitement, but also feel pause.

I'm Michael Conforto.

[fimg=500:1h4j7vve]http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/6e/d6/michael-conforto-103115-ftr-gettyjpg_gynxxnyhxuz41xmbmjm4vv537.jpg?t=-1063877928[/fimg:1h4j7vve]

[MFS62]

He may be a Sophomore this year, but he will play like a grizzled veteran.
.285-20-90. OBP .355+
Improved splits against lefty pitchers keep him in the lineup almost full time.

Later

[dinosaur jesus]

MFS62 wrote: He may be a Sophomore this year, but he will play like a grizzled veteran.

That's great, if the grizzled veteran isn't Michael Cuddyer.

[Farmer Ted]

I will ogle and ogle well. Unless someone proves otherwise, has the cutest mom on the team. Available for corporate gigs.

http://www.celebritytalent.net/sampletalent/7947/tracie-ruiz-conforto/

.268-24-88

Edited March 10, 2016 by Guest

[dgwphotography]

How did I not know Tracie Ruiz is Michael Conforto's mom?

.290-25-90

[Lefty Specialist]

He'll be good, but he's not a grizzled veteran just yet. .275 16/75. He won't play every day which will limit his numbers.

[Frayed Knot]

MFS62 wrote: Improved splits against lefty pitchers keep him in the lineup almost full time.

Of course to have improved splits vs LHPs he'd have to have some actual splits vs LHPs - or at least a meaningful sample size as only 14 of his 174 ML ABs last year were facing southpaws (3 hits - all singles).
But, yeah, at some point Terry should remove the training wheels to the point of at least not making the auto-switch a knee-jerk response.

[Edgy MD]

The problem with that is that Terry has a really good option in Juan Lagares, that improves the defense at two positions and smacks lefties well.

But Terry has the other alternative available of sitting Granderson. They're in a pretty good position to let performance dictate.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I'd just hate to wake up in October and find ourselves eight baseball months into this guy's career and still have no idea whether or not he can handle LHP.

[Edgy MD]

Well, if he hasn't gotten much of a chance against lefties by then, it likely means everybody is performing highly (good problem to have), or he's otherwise failing utterly even against righties (a worse problem to have)

I'm sure he'll get a chance.

[ashie62]

520 AB 24 HR 88 RBI .287 AVG

[Guest d'Kong76]

All-star Stud! Expecting big things. Big.
Did I say big? Big!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Guy looks like he knows what's doing out there but keeping expectations in check till he does it for a whole year.

This is a very good year but hoping fans don't overestimate him then look at him like a disappointment

21-79 .263/.319/.450

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Exactly. Take a deep breath, Metlyfolk.

146 G, 526 PA, .258/.320/.455, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 64 R, 46 XBH, 4 SB/2 CS

[Edgy MD]

dgwphotography wrote: How did I not know Tracie Ruiz is Michael Conforto's mom?

Not enough Crane Pooling. All the rest is a pale rehash.

[Vic Sage]

.280ba/ 15hr/ 30db/ 80rbi/ 70r/ .350ob/ .450slg

[Frayed Knot]

I beginning to think that we may have some very special in this guy. In fact, I think I'm pretty much already sold on that idea.

His initial trial by fire last summer -- after barely 500 ABs in the minors and less than 200 of those above A-ball -- was promising enough, but so far this season he already seems leaps and bounds a better hitter than he was even last October when, oh by the way, he was seen knocking 3 HRs in 30 post-season ABs.
Given the 3-slot in the batting order, he accepted the challenge and has run with it to the point where he's already the one I want to see up w/RiSP ... or with no one on, or in any other situation you care to name. It's reached the point where I'm almost surprised if he doesn't get a hit or at least doesn't take a good AB and hit the ball hard somewhere.

[ashie62]

The booth said something to the effect that Conforto is becoming one of the elite hitters in the NL.

[Edgy MD]

It's interesting that folks were concerned he wouldn't get his chances against lefties, and here he is getting run out there against the best of them.