Chris Duncan in Left: Making the Routine Look Like Roulette

[Ankiel84]

I want to see him work on his throws to the plate. There's been a couple times where he could have gunned someone down, but he didn't really crow hop and the throw was weak. He's a big, strong guy, he should be able to send it home a little quicker.

[thrill]

A lack of speed may require a Duncan, Dunn, or Floyd to have to lay out for a ball that an Edmonds, Hamilton, or Soriano get to with ease.

I know what you're saying here, but I think Duncan has above-average speed for a LF. He's probably faster than Edmonds right now.

He was just being diplomatic by mentioning Edmonds.

[jim]

A lack of speed may require a Duncan, Dunn, or Floyd to have to lay out for a ball that an Edmonds, Hamilton, or Soriano get to with ease.

I know what you're saying here, but I think Duncan has above-average speed for a LF. He's probably faster than Edmonds right now.

I think you might be right. Duncan isn't that slow at all.

[mcgee51taguchi99]

I am not being too critical, but some of Chris Duncan's early season "circus" catches that have been featured on BBTN and MLB.com were fairly routine balls that a decent outfielder handles with little incident. Duncan certainly looks more comfortable out there, but I would describe his range as "hesitant", which forces him to struggle to reach very reachable balls. He has improved, and is certainly still a work in progress, but he's not "there" yet.

Which ones are you speaking of specifically? Off the top of my head there was one he made in a Sunday home game a couple weeks back (against the Brewers?) that was hit toward the gap and was a sensational catch. He made a great read on the ball and arrived just in time to make the play. The one Friday versus the Cubs looked like an unbelievable catch right against Bartman's brick wall, but I was there and didn't get to see a replay. These catches look legit to me. If you only want to talk about his first reaction or step not being up to par there's definitely some debate, but to insinuate that these are "routine" plays and "reachable" balls is a little much.

The end result is what matters to me; I don't care if he's parked under it and hot dogging like Andruw Jones, or diving unnecessarily like Eric Byrnes. A catch is a catch.

I've been as a big critic as they come as far as his defense goes. He looks much more confident this season, is making improvements and that's all we can ask. When Chris Duncan catches a ball, there shouldn't be any complaints.

[jim]

Off the top of my head there was one he made in a Sunday home game a couple weeks back (against the Brewers?) that was hit toward the gap and was a sensational catch.

I was at that game in section 448, perfect view to see the jump etc.. I will definitely agree with you, he got a great jump and took a perfect route to the ball on that.

[Fat Strat]

He is still a bit sloppy, jittery, jumpy, and awkward, but I'm not really worried about him any more. He can make most of the catches that you would expect an OF'er to make. That's all you can really ask of a player like him.

[skmsw]

He looks much more confident this season, is making improvements and that's all we can ask.

He does not look confident to me at all. If it is hit anywhere near him, he looks like he does not know where it is going to fall. He has a terrible first step, takes terrible routes, and looks like he has to go to the bathroom waiting for fly balls to come down.

I'm not really worried about him any more. He can make most of the catches that you would expect an OF'er to make.

It's been what, three weeks and he's alreay dropped one hit right at him for an error once, and played an out into a double another time.

I will definitely agree with you, he got a great jump and took a perfect route to the ball on that.

I actually agree with this. And I saw at least one other above average play too (in addition to soem that only looked good because he was slow getting to them).

The more I watch him play, the mroe I see that his struggles are with the ones hit right to him -- line drives at him, and fly balls right above him. I don't think he reads the flight of the ball very well when it is coming straight towards him. The lateral plays, he seems to see better.

[Fan_In_NY]

He is still a bit sloppy, jittery, jumpy, and awkward, but I'm not really worried about him any more. He can make most of the catches that you would expect an OF'er to make. That's all you can really ask of a player like him.

I think the awkwardness could be more because of his body type. Its tough to look fluid with his build.

[Third Strike]

I am not being too critical, but some of Chris Duncan's early season "circus" catches that have been featured on BBTN and MLB.com were fairly routine balls that a decent outfielder handles with little incident. Duncan certainly looks more comfortable out there, but I would describe his range as "hesitant", which forces him to struggle to reach very reachable balls. He has improved, and is certainly still a work in progress, but he's not "there" yet.

I have absolutely no complaints about Chris Duncan this year. I realize that you are not trying to be critical, and I think some of the points you make are valid, but from everything I've heard he is a very hard worker, and has spent all offseason working to improve in the field. His hard work is evident, and it is nice to see him getting on the highlight reels for nice defense. I would much rather have a guy who is a hard worker like Dunc, rather than a more gifted athlete who gets buy on his natural abilities and slacks off when it comes to improving.

[mcgee51taguchi99]

He does not look confident to me at all. If it is hit anywhere near him, he looks like he does not know where it is going to fall. He has a terrible first step, takes terrible routes, and looks like he has to go to the bathroom waiting for fly balls to come down.

I think we're seeing the same thing but interpreting it in different ways.

I see a guy with "happy feet" who isn't planting himself under a fly or a liner and can more easily adjust in case he misreads a ball. A good number of the balls he missed last year were misreads where he was flat-footed and the ball sailed over him or he couldn't readjust himself to the proper position to make the catch. The liner in the Cubs game appeared to catch him flat-footed, hence he could not take the extra step back and the ball sailed over his head (again, I was there hence no replay in the stadium so that's how I remember it occurring and could be wrong).

It seems to me like you're taking that body language and "happy feet" as him being unsure of himself. I don't want to put words into your mouth though and am interested in your take on this.