2K18: Steven Souza

[pitbull]

I haven't had a chance to watch him too much. Power/speed guy with Story-like Ks. One thing that did stand out was that over the last 3 season he hits .192 .239 and .218 at home and on the road .269 .253 and .258 away. Assuming that he will be in a much better hitters park despite the humidor what do you see him as far as producing numbers.

[chancellor]

The very good: Love the major uptick in plate discipline he showed last year.
The good: Still in prime years, even when he struggled in 2nd half hitting-wise, he still ran
The bad: If Arizona can't deal Tomas, may go into some sort of 3 for 2 rotation in OF with Souza, Peralta, and Tomas. Neither Souza nor Peralta have exactly been pictures of health through their careers, so there's some logic to the concept.
The very bad: Make sure his shoulder is healthy. IMO, most of that second half decline was due to the shoulder injury he mostly played through.

If he gets near full time ABs, I can see him .255-25-80-15 in Arizona. I'm assuming Arizona will hit him fourth or fifth against LHPs and fifth or sixth against RHPs.

[Gregg]

The very good: Love the major uptick in plate discipline he showed last year.
The good: Still in prime years, even when he struggled in 2nd half hitting-wise, he still ran
The bad: If Arizona can't deal Tomas, may go into some sort of 3 for 2 rotation in OF with Souza, Peralta, and Tomas. Neither Souza nor Peralta have exactly been pictures of health through their careers, so there's some logic to the concept.
The very bad: Make sure his shoulder is healthy. IMO, most of that second half decline was due to the shoulder injury he mostly played through.

If he gets near full time ABs, I can see him .255-25-80-15 in Arizona. I'm assuming Arizona will hit him fourth or fifth against LHPs and fifth or sixth against RHPs.

I think this is a good projection.

Souza was one of my fav sleepers last year. Lost him to the NL. I will try to bid him back in our NL only. The problem is two other owners know I like him and will bid him up.

[Flyman]

I actually like Souza a lot this year. He moves from the dungeon of MLB stadiums to Arizona. Humidor or not, he's in a much more favorable home environment, on a much better team, in a much better lineup. Logic dictates that he should make a major step forward this year...from a logistical and mental approach standpoint. When you consider he was a .215 career hitter in Tropicana and .255 on the road, I would not be surprised in the least if his BA actually stepped up to the .260.265 range this year. Even with the humidor, he's in a better HR-hitting ballpark now (though 14 of his 30 HRs came in Tampa last year), and his counting stats should tick up in an Arizona lineup in which he's projected to hit 5th.

I frankly believe, with 550 ABs this year, he holds the potential for .260-80-30-100-15 this year...and I honestly think there's room for more. I understand most will consider that a fairly bullish projection, but I believe it's a reasonable uptick from his 2017 numbers in moving to a better ballpark.

[revo]

Activated and in the lineup today. Huzzah!