The S Word

Watching Mark Reynolds through his first 300 MLB at bats, almost makes me utter the S word.

Not that S word!

Strikeout?

Again, too obvious. I was thinking more along the lines of 'Schmidt'.

Now, before anyone goes tellin' their momma that Diamondhacks went and called our curly haired cabana boy the next Mike Schmidt, let me cut such conclusion jumping to the quick. Mike Schmidt was the greatest third baseman who ever lived. He was a better gloveman than the respectable fielding Reynolds. Schmidt was a better baserunner. And at Mark's age, despite the .196 average, the Phillie Hall of Famer was already walking considerably more. I do not declare Mark Reynolds to be the next Mike Schmidt.

But aside from the curly hair, Reynolds still reminds me of Schmidt. They both came up around age 23, striking out a ton and hitting homers every twenty at bats or so. Beyond frequency, Mark's homers often share Michael Jack's Herculean quality, whether it was yesterday's 445 foot second deck blast near the base of the left field Petco scoreboard, or his 467 ft jawdropper above and beyond the Turner Field bleachers. 

An unpolished hitter straight out of Double A, who's already suffered through extended dry spells, who's still fundamentally adjusting to MLB pitching, Reynolds is nonetheless doing far more than treading water. Even including that sea of strikeouts, our Christopher Atkins lookalike is hauling in an ocean of RBIs (well over 100 on a prorated seasonal basis) that puts The Blue Lagoon to shame.

Another thing that makes me feel good about Reynolds is his demeanor and body language. Yes, he looks disappointed when he leaves runners on base, but for the most part, even in the midst of terrible slumps, he looks as if he enjoys being out there, especially in the field. He's not real demonstrative, but can smile even when things arent going well. Nowadays, that lack of a 'game face' might foster cries of indifference, but it may better reflect a healthy self confidence. I just get the feeling that nothing much bothers him and that he knows his worth isnt predicated on the next at bat - or the last one; sort of the anti-Quentin.

Conversely, when Mark does something huge, like last night when he singlehandedly saved the Diamondbacks season, you wont see showy, insecure fist pumps - just a pleasant expression that says, "Cool. This is fun." Neither the fabricated, professional stoicism that has become de rigeur in most MLB clubhouses, nor the unsustainable theatrics of a Jose Reyes, Reynolds for all his ups and downs on the field, exhibits an even keeled, low key enthusiasm. He exudes a personal quality often in short supply in professional sports. The ability, the nature really, to take both success and failure completely in stride.

Whether his career blossoms a la Mike Schmidt is an open question. The odds are certainly against it. But we'd place even money that another 'S' word is in Mark Reynolds' future.

Success.

(photos courtesy virginiasports.cstv.com, amazon.com & thecoming.org)