Kevin Youkilis Is Back To His Norm: Kicking Ass

by Randy Booth on May 13, 2010 8:00 AM EDT in News

BOSTON - MAY 06: Kevin Youkilis #20 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with teammates in the dugout after he scored in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on May 6, 2010 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

I just wanted to give you a quick update on something very important:

Kevin Youkilis is back to kicking ass again.

After batting just .270 in 23 games in April, Youkilis is hitting .400 in May. His stats are now looking quite MVP-like:

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2010 - Kevin Youkilis	34	122	27	37	9	2	5	17	24	24	1	0	.303	.431	.533

Batting average, of course, is only part of the game. Look all the way across his stat line (more importantly, his ever-extended stat line) and you can see that he's back to the Youkilis that we all know and love. Hitting in the cleanup spot, Youk is getting on base a .431 mark. In the month of May alone Youkilis is getting on base at a .587 clip. Small sample size, sure, but even if he averages out, May is going to be a great month for Youk.

It all looks good, especially when compared to what he's done the last two seasons:

YEAR	BB%	K%
2008	10%	20.1%
2009	13.1%	25.5%
2010	15.4%	20.2%

Walk rate is up while strikeout rate is down. That's nice to see, even if it is still early in the season.

I'm still fed up Youkilis didn't get more recognition last season for his amazing 2009. Despite Joe Mauer being the clear MVP favorite, Youkilis should have finished second in the American League -- but he was nowhere close.

With that said, 2009 is in the past. It's 2010, but Youkilis is on pace to put up numbers that are as good and maybe even better. This bodes well for him and the Red Sox -- hopefully -- becoming a much better team.

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YOUKKKKKK!!!

by Ol' Green Boyz on May 13, 2010 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Why does ZiPS hate Youk?

I’m looking at his updated projection and even taking into account that his offense is right back up at his typical level they think he’s going to be mediocre again. I mean not that a .393 OBP is anything to scoff at but for a guy that has gotten better just about every year why the disrespect?

"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.

by Rogue Nine on May 13, 2010 12:25 PM EDT reply actions