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The fans have asked for it! My scouting report from ESPN.com. Have a great day, I have to go stretch out now so I can dive for routine flyballs:
2004 Season With a strong second half, Jim Edmonds had another big season in St. Louis. Edmonds tied his career high in home runs and had a career-high RBI total while also hitting over .300 and placing among league leaders in walks. However, Edmonds finished his big year in a slump that included an 0-for-21 stretch and no homers over the last two weeks. Edmonds' late struggles at the plate carried over into the postseason when his only highlight was his walkoff home run to end the sixth game of the National League Championship Series.
Hitting Edmonds is a complete hitter, equally dangerous against hard stuff and breaking balls. He has a good eye at the plate, and his exceptional opposite-field power makes him difficult to defense in the outfield. He loves to jump on first-pitch fastballs and hit 12 first-pitch home runs last year. However, Boston's pitching in the World Series was able to underscore Edmonds' perennial flaw, a difficulty in laying off high fastballs and an at times haphazard approach. Boston also exposed Edmonds' career habit of giving away at bats by flailing on two-strike pitches out of the strike zone.
Baserunning & Defense Last year, Edmonds had one of his better basestealing seasons, even though his baserunning habits are often sloppy. On a club that is noted for going hard on the bases, Edmonds at times can be an exception. He has meanwhile lost nothing in center field where he is one of the game's premier players, possessing remarkable range and flair to go with a strong and usually accurate throwing arm.
2005 Outlook Edmonds' cocky, gliding style can sometimes grate on teammates and manager Tony La Russa. However, the Cardinals have little trouble looking the other way because the big picture with Edmonds is that he remains one of the game's elite players who should continue to contribute to one of baseball's best lineups. |
| | Posted 4/11/2005 1:25 PM - 8 Views - 12 eProps - 21 comments
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