I'm glad you mentioned Jeter, Doc.
The MLB Taylor that I've had the chance to see (a very SSS for me) looks much like Jeter-lite, if we try to remember Jeter as a young guy who still was a mediocre SS. Jeter-lite, of course, means that Taylor looks like a pretty darn good player, especially for a MIF bat. I do not mean he looks like a HoF'er and the future face of baseball.
I love your comment on his "relaxed" nature at the plate and his concentration at time of attack, not well before. Lee Trevino had that. And when you talk pressure players in the golf world, there are only a few names (Nicklaus/Woods/Jones/Watson) who come to mind to match Trevino's ability to perform in the clutch.
In many ways, he's is already "out" of his own way. The un-Ackley in that regard.....or at least from my limited 30,000 ft. view. Sport at any level, but most assuredly at the highest levels, is about getting "in" the moment but getting "out" of your own way. I'm sure there is an aiki concept/principle that emphasizes that, Doc. In fact, that is probably the heart of aiki.
I like batters with that relaxed demeanor until just before the moment of attact. Think Ichiro. He was the picture of focused relaxation until he tugged on his shoulder/sleeve. Then he was lasered in.
He's a keeper.
As is Miller. Miller just became, btw, an IF-only Zobrist. Even if Taylor is your everyday SS, there are nearly 80 starts for Miller even if your entire IF is healthy. If you sit Cano and Seager even 10 times a year each (and it will go up as Cano ages) and you give them 10 more DH's. Give Miller 20 SS starts and even conservatively you then have 60 before you let Miller DH or injuries come to play. Or you could just ride the hot SS bat, like Earl would.
Factor in Ty Kelly (who should be factored in) and you get an incredible amount of flexability.
I haven't beat the Kelly drum in a while but goodness knows I've beat it loud and long. But since I've taken a break I will not feel to bad about pointing this stuff out. In his last 10 games hes had 17 hits; has gone hitless only once; has 6 multi-hit games; has walked 6 times; and has a .399 OBP vs RHP for the year, plus a .194 ISO (he's not an eye only guy from the LH side: He can hurt you). Alas, we won't see him until rosters expand.
Back to Taylor: The young Robin Yount, once he was no longer a teenager and before he became THE Robin Yount, was a .285-.325-.420-type of player. In his first 8 big league seasons (including a pro-rated '81) Yount never walked more than 41 times. Once pitchers figures out that the sting in his bat was the 40 doubles/yr. type of sting, he never walked less than 49 times and only one less than 53 over his next 11 seasons. His double numbers dropped but his walk numbers increased proportionally. If Taylor can be a line-to-line double guy on pitches black-to-black then (and if he can handle the yakker) then pitchers have to go off the plate to safely get him out. If so, he's BB's will increase.
If Taylor fell all the way to .265-.320-.410 would we be satisfied? We should be, that was Brad Miller last year (.265-.318-.418), and he was a pretty darn good player. That was the emerging Robin Yount.
BTW, go to B-R and compare Miller's numbers, the year vs. last. Well, except for his K's (up from 52 to 78 in a very similar number of AB's) and his BABIP (down from .295 to .241). His BABIP decline has cost him about 10 hits. You give him 10 more hits and he's now around .233-.300-.345, and doesn't look like a broken player.
Anyway, Taylor and Miller and Kelly = "What was the name of the young SS we traded? I hardly remember him?"
moe
PS: A mea culpa: Endy's hitting .300 vs. RHP. Sigh.........
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