Who Will Have a Higher Walk Rate in 2012: Moose or Hosmer?

by Freneau on Jan 30, 2012 12:06 PM EST in Kansas City Royals News

Jeff wrote about Hosmer's walk rate last week, noting that Eric Hosmer's low BB totals are perhaps, just a little bit, something to keep an eye on.

Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have been mentioned in the same sentence since Hosmer was drafted, and the long held assumption was that Hosmer was the more polished hitter, the more patient hitter. From the beginning really Moose has been fairly aggressive and there have been concerns about this playing out at the Major League level as a problem.

Interestingly, Hosmer and Moose posted identical walk rates of 6% in 2012, and when you factor in IBBs (Hosmer had 7, Moose had none) you actually have Moose rating better in this regard.

Jumping off of our discussion from last week, let's talk about your expectations for Moose and his patience in 2012, and if he or Hosmer will have a higher walk rate.

Poll

Who will have a higher walk rate in 2012?

Eric Hosmer

402 votes

Mike Moustakas

67 votes

469 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 49 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Moose will get pit he’d around to face LoCain whereas homer has Frenchy and moose as protection, provided you can Frenchy protection….

by Kcto on Jan 30, 2012 12:22 PM EST reply actions

Uhh.

…What?

I'm a 15 year old freshman in high school with a love for all things Royals and Packers.

2012 is the year we shine (hopefully. If not, then it will be 2013).

by Jack Marsh on Jan 30, 2012 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

If you a few words out it your sentence easier to and understand

by Rufus R. Jones on Jan 30, 2012 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs

Wut

Don't you ever play GM- Lee "Touch of Gray" Judge

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 30, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

This thread is off to a good start.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 30, 2012 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

Duh, this is what he meant

by Yodazilla on Jan 30, 2012 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

BFIB

Don't you ever play GM- Lee "Touch of Gray" Judge

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 30, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks for posting that

I really hate having a pain in the god and the ear. I had no idea that knowing how to shape the men flaps would be the key.

Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

by aHorseWithNoName on Jan 30, 2012 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

You're welcome.

And be sure that its the men flaps that are the key, otherwise if you the god but sometimes car.

by Yodazilla on Jan 30, 2012 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

That pretty much sums it up.

exactly, i think. Somebody set us up the bomb, and we’re all golden.

Nick Swisher is hands^h^h^h^h^h delicious.

by ChrisCEIT on Jan 30, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

If you're older than 8, you should be ashamed of yourself.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 30, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

indeed

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jan 30, 2012 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

Please.

I understood it totally.

Nick Swisher is hands^h^h^h^h^h delicious.

by ChrisCEIT on Jan 30, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Both of them had better post a better walk rate next year

because we ain’t goin’ nowhere with a bunch of low OBP guys.

"That fucking fucker of a general swears too fucking much." --Unnamed soldier about Gen. George Patton, 1943

by Juancho on Jan 30, 2012 1:22 PM EST reply actions

We are going somewhere with a bunch of leadership guys

Don't you ever play GM- Lee "Touch of Gray" Judge

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 30, 2012 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

besides, this team values OBP

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jan 30, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Old Boring People?

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Jan 30, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Ostrich Beating Prudes?

Don't you ever play GM- Lee "Touch of Gray" Judge

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 30, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

Obtuse Beatnik Pandas?

by A Study in Blue on Jan 30, 2012 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

Obstreporous Blog Posters

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jan 30, 2012 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

Obedient Benign Patrons

by Rufus R. Jones on Jan 30, 2012 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

Ones who Buy Poptarts

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jan 30, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

OMG BETANCOURT PLUS-HANDS!

I'm a 15 year old freshman in high school with a love for all things Royals and Packers.

2012 is the year we shine (hopefully. If not, then it will be 2013).

by Jack Marsh on Jan 30, 2012 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Old Braves Players

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 30, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 9 recs

Obnoxious Belligerent Pixies

by Yodazilla on Jan 30, 2012 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

Obese Babyfaced Pickerings

We should trade for Vance Worley.

by JKWard on Jan 30, 2012 6:07 PM EST up reply actions

Infinite fun with OBP here:

http://acromaker.com/

by Yodazilla on Jan 30, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

Outraged Basket Peon

Hilarious.

We should trade for Vance Worley.

by JKWard on Jan 30, 2012 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

Older brother's pussy

Who’s down with OBP? You know me.

by ks.cowboy on Jan 30, 2012 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

This isn't really a question.

If Moose has a higher walk rate, I’ll eat a well done steak (this is a “tough” thing to do).

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 30, 2012 1:28 PM EST reply actions

;)

Don't you ever play GM- Lee "Touch of Gray" Judge

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 30, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

If Moose has a lower walk rate, I'll eat some steak tartare (because it will be a "rare" thing)

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jan 30, 2012 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

We're going to need better seasons out of them next year

than this year, if we’re going to compete with Detroit.

"That fucking fucker of a general swears too fucking much." --Unnamed soldier about Gen. George Patton, 1943

by Juancho on Jan 30, 2012 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Other than the use-words-sparingly comment above,

who voted for Moose? I’m leaning Hos, based on their track records, but I’m interested to hear the other side.

Kila's slash for Apr 20 to May 4, 2011, right before he was sent down: .276 / .344 / .448

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 30, 2012 2:10 PM EST reply actions

I see hosmer as being under pressure to drive in runs

While moose will be able to be more patient / will see fewer pitches hitting near getz etx

by Freneau on Jan 30, 2012 4:31 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

It would be a strange (but possible) outcome if their walk rates flipped at the ML level

Hypothetically speaking: Hos feels like he can hit any pitch and has protection in the lineup while Moose has to be more selective, either b/c he doesn’t feel confident that he can chase every pitch or b/c he is being pitched around due to batting 7th/8th.

Kila's slash for Apr 20 to May 4, 2011, right before he was sent down: .276 / .344 / .448

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 30, 2012 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

I really don't see a lineup configuration that would/should have Moose hitting lower than 6th

Even still, it’ll be interesting to see. I still think Hosmer will walk more based off of ability, though.

We should trade for Vance Worley.

by JKWard on Jan 30, 2012 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, this is a team that will be fielding

Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Giavotella/Yuni/Getz, and Salvador Perez. I don’t see any realistic way that Moustakas isn’t batting fifth or sixth pretty regularly.

Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick, SVU at Munch My Benson and on Twitter at Old Man Duggan

by Old Man Duggan on Jan 31, 2012 12:13 AM EST up reply actions

they're gonna hit gia two hole...you know that...

gordon, gia, hosmer, butler, frenchy, cain, moose, perez, escobar….thats possible

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jan 31, 2012 12:20 AM EST up reply actions

I don't see why Cain wouldn't be below Moose.

Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick, SVU at Munch My Benson and on Twitter at Old Man Duggan

by Old Man Duggan on Feb 1, 2012 6:20 AM EST up reply actions

I think the Royals are going to the playoffs, because there's technically a chance of that happening.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 30, 2012 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

I haven't seen a poll this one-sided

since we re-signed Yuni.

by Black and Gold on Jan 30, 2012 2:51 PM EST reply actions

It was designed to Unify the fan base

going into Spring Training

by Rufus R. Jones on Jan 30, 2012 2:59 PM EST reply actions

Fun Fact:

Out of Moose, Hosmer, and Butler, Moose has the highest SLG of any of their minor league seasons (.630 total in 2010). However, his highest walk total—43 in 2008—trails Butler’s highest minor walk total (57 in 2004) and Hosmer’s (59 in 2010).

This seems to suggest that Moose is not prone to walk as much as either Butler does or Hosmer will. However, I didn’t expect Butler’s minor league line to be as absurd as it was (.336/.416/.561).

by Yodazilla on Jan 30, 2012 5:04 PM EST reply actions

It's easy to forget how great Butler was in the minors.

And that .630 SLG certainly wasn’t hurt by his 36 HRs.

Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick, SVU at Munch My Benson and on Twitter at Old Man Duggan

by Old Man Duggan on Jan 31, 2012 12:16 AM EST up reply actions

I voted Hos

just based on what little I’ve seen of him. He seems to have a pretty good idea of the strike zone. I wonder what his heat map looks like for called strikes as I always assume umpires don’t give rookie hitters any credit for knowing the zone and call the close/marginal pitches strikes. Maybe once Hos establishes his reputation for knowing the zone, he’ll get more calls in his favor.

Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

by aHorseWithNoName on Jan 30, 2012 6:05 PM EST reply actions