[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Moustakas returned from the minors on June 1. Since that time, he is:

.250/.308/.469 (6 HR, 18 RBI). Paired with his defense, that's a very playable major league player, and an above-average guy overall. Dayton Moore said before the season his expectation for Moustakas was for him to hit between .250/.260 with good power and above-average defense. He's succeeding - so far - since his return at meeting those expectations. Project Moustakas out over 550 ABs, and you'd be pretty happy with the results you get - 34 HR and 100 RBI.

Of course, this is Moustakas, so we need to see that sample size grow before we can believe he can sustain it. But he has not been a problem since returning (in fact, he's actually been a plus and would be a very, very effective No. 6 or No. 7 hitter if he can sustain it).

Since June 1, Hosmer is .226/.278/.316. It's just awful, and there's not enough lipstick in Orange County to make it look any different. No power, no OBP. Nothing.

Pair that with Yost and Dayton Moore coddling him more than the worst over-protective mom AND insisting on batting him in the first 3 spots in the lineup, and you've got a production bomb.

If Moose maintains his post-callup OPS for the remainder of the season, he's a nice player.