Nick Markakis

by JT12340 on Jul 8, 2008 5:32 PM EDT Comment 15 comments

I've been thinking about Nick Markakis' potential career of late. I reflected upon John's Crystal Ball of Markakis, and I just wanted to get more opinions as to how he's developed. I wanted to get other people's opinions and try to see where everyone else views him. I think Markakis has the potential to be a good player and an All Star in some years, but I don't think he'll be a superstar. With the state of the Orioles lineup and player development, aside from Adam Jones and with no one on the near horizon, I don't believe he's going to post huge numbers unless they get players in free agency. I figure he'll be somewhere between a .285-.300+ hitter with anywhere between 20-28 homers and 90-100 RBI. He reminds me of a Mike Greenwell (remember Greenwell was injury prone and should have been a better player) on the low side of the ceiling or possibly an Andre Dawson with half the speed and minus the 1987 season on the high side of the ceiling.

What do you guys think?

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He is going to be a superstar

I drafted him in my keeper league a few years ago and have followed him closely since as he has become one of my favorite players. He has an OBP close to .400 on pace for 25+ homers and is a doubles machine. Half of his homeruns this year have been opposite field which tells me he has a lot more than just pull power. Everything indicates he could be a 30-35 homer guy, his walks and slugging keep improving. He has an .880 OPS and he has always been a guy who hits much better in the 2nd half. He is one of the best OFs in baseball, playing for a poor team has taken away some national recognition. In his prime he will be a .950 OPS guy with GG defense. That is superstar.

by bravitos5122 on Jul 8, 2008 5:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No one on the horizon?

I think Matt Wieters would argue.

And yeah, Markakis looks headed for superstardom, just without the rep to go with it. He has that combination of well rounded skills and crappy team that gets guys underrated.

by aap212 on Jul 8, 2008 11:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Teixeira

Alot of reports I’ve read claim Angelos and the O’s want to go all out for Teixeira this offseason. In fact I fear it may impede the rebuilding process. But no doubt, Markakis, Jones, Wieters, and Tex would be a very solid middle of the lineup (with Roberts maybe still at leadoff).

Personally I see Markakis sort of like Jermaine Dye. Not a superstar, but still very good (and possibily underrated).

by edsachs1 on Jul 9, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

AAP212,

“No one on the near horizon…” this means no one that will help this year immediately. Wieters won’t be productive until mid next year or late next year. I don’t think he’s going to come in and hit immediately. As for being headed for superstardom, what is your definition… To me Arod, Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Chase Utley, among a few others are guys I consider superstars. They are the best or near the best at their positions, hold their own with the glove (they might not be great) and dominate offensively (making up for their defensive shortcomings if they have any).

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 9, 2008 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I think Markakis is the best defensive RF in baseball and is blossoming into a very, very good hitter. I think he may well end up fitting your definition.

by aap212 on Jul 10, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Markakis has yet to dominate offensively...

while is a good player, he’s slightly above average offensively in terms of the difference between good and great. As for the being among the best at his position, I’m really not sure he ranks. I’m sure someone could find defensive rankings in RF for the MLB somewhere. He just doesn’t do it for me right now with the bat to say he’s going to be a superstar… Right now he’s just above Greenwell in my opinion… hopefully he stays healthy and continues to develop, but I don’t think he’s going to reach the Hawk’s numbers…

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 10, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

O'Neill/Kaline

I’ve also made the O’Neill comparison a number of times. O’Neill (the Yankees version at least) did a lot of things well, but wasn’t spectacular at any one thing. He was an excellent corner OF, hit for a good average, had good power, and was a good baserunner, but never hit more than .325 (aside from 1994), never stole a ton of bases, and never hit 30 HRs. That’s a surefire recipe for being underrated, but in O’Neill’s case he was lucky enough to play on the Yankees of the late 90’s. I think Markakis will hit for more power, but otherwise is very similar.

Also, keep in mind that Markakis is way ahead of O’Neill at the same age—O’Neill didn’t play full time until he was 25, and didn’t really hit his stride until he went to the Yankees at 30. If O’Neill had had 6-7 years with the Reds similar to his years with the Yankees (in reality, he had one), he might have made it to the HOF. For that reason, Al Kaline might be an even better comp.

All in all, I think Markakis will be a very, very good player for a long time, but not quite a superstar and seriously underrated.

by rp0806 on Jul 9, 2008 5:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What about....

Dwight Evans. For some reason that is who he reminds me of….someone who is good at most aspects of the game but not one of the best in any. But Evans was awesome….and that is coming from a Yankees fan.

by cookiedabookie on Jul 9, 2008 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Evans was the other Red Sox player I was considering to compare him to...

But I thought Greenwell was a better comp. As for my floor and ceiling, I believe Greenwell is the floor and Dawson is the ceiling (minus that incredible 1987 season and with about half the speed- I doubt Markakis will steal 30 bases ever in his career).

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 9, 2008 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Markakis is a much better baserunner than you think, then.

He could very easily wind up a 25/25 or 30/30 type for a long-time, think pre-steroids Bonds.

by getxstoked on Jul 10, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't disagree that he's a good baserunner,

but SBs tend to go with team philosophies. The team philosophies from the 80’s until now have changed to where teams do not run near as often. That’s why I think those numbers may be suppressed. I have him at 25-28 hr in his prime, 10-15 SBs with more years closer to 10 than most. I think calling him a 30/30 guy is too much. You also have to remember that Bonds consistently had other teammates who could hit either behind him or in front of him like Van Slyke and Bonilla. However, Markakis likely won’t have any type of talent surrounding him with their consistency for a few years, thus hindering his numbers.

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 10, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dawson never drew walks like Markakis is

I would say he’s a Hybrid of Dawson and Oneil.

by Bravesin07 on Jul 10, 2008 3:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't compare him as a cross of both players without providing more information...

I actually like the comparison to O’neil as I think they will have similar numbers to their careers as I think O’neil is the mean in the comparisons to Greenwell and Dawson. Dawson is a border line half of famer in my opinion. If he wasn’t injured so much, I think he would have gotten to the HOF by getting the requisite 500 hr at that point in time. Also, Dawson was a dominant hitter when power wasn’t as prominent in the game today. That being said, I don’t think Markakis will ever finish in the top 3 of MVP voting, let alone win an MVP. Being a hybrid of Dawson and Oneil would mean he hits for more power (translating dawson’s 30 homers from then to now would be like 35/40 hr on a consistent basis with the size of ball parks now and with how hitters hit hr’s with such propensity in my opinion). As for Oneil, his career high in SBs was 22 with the Yankees in 1991. He never ran consistently throughout his career which is what I see for Markakis. So calling him a new age Paul O’Neil would make him the player I thought he was going to develop into, wouldn’t you say?

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 10, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Markakis

Shawn Green V 2.0

by BBFan1 on Jul 10, 2008 5:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't like the Shawn Green comp at all...

Green hit for more power than Markakis ever will in his prime. He also ran better until injuries took away his legs. Take away the years where Green looks like a HOFer (1998,1999, 2001, 2002), and he looks like Markakis now. I believe Green’s injuries did him in and his skills eroded quickly. Green didn’t hit for a solid .300 average which is something that I think Markakis can do.

"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree

by JT12340 on Jul 10, 2008 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs