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Coming into today, #stlcards LF Tyler O'Neill's .481 spring batting average ranked 5th in all of MLB (per Baseball Reference). pic.twitter.com/ba72tQUu7S
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) March 19, 2021
I like what oneil is doing but I’ll have to wait to see him do it during the actual season to really get on board but good so far.
Perusing the team by team stats I noticed our pitching staff is second in BBs handed out, one behind the Reds, and is tied for most hit batsmen. This causes our WHIP to be pretty bad even though our BA against and hits allowed are middle of the pack. My guess is it also contributes to our being 12th for most runs allowed, while other teams we play a lot, and who I guess play mostly at the same stadiums we do, have allowed the fewest runs against. Astros 25th, Mets 27th, Marlins 30th. Our ERA is 20th best, with the Marlins at 3rd best, Mets 5th, Astros 10th. Only the Rays and Rangers have struck out fewer batters.
Shildt Sat AM comments:
Roster moves expected soon. Can’t offer specifics.
Waino strong possibility for home opener, but haven’t discussed with players yet. Will answer after off day Sunday.
KK to throw normal pen today. Will share report after game.
Gant going 5/80 today. Others to pitch include Hicks, Helsley and Woodford.
Asking pitchers when hitting to focus on getting bunts down.
I really don’t like using Gant as a starter, as I think he’s average at best there. As a reliever, he can be lights out. At this point, we need all the innings we can get, so Shildt’s hand is sort of forced. Hopefully Mikolas and Kim will return fast and Gant can slide back to that fireman’s role.
I’ll take Gant over PDL, as a starter or reliever. I’m less concerned with the pen so I’d prefer Gant stay in the rotation. It’s the old SP’rs are more valuable opinion.
There will probably be opportunity for several bottom of rotation types, depending on how the sick cases progress. And depending on how long before CMart combusts. I can’t see Mo going outside the org other than a dumpster dive, so I would rather our guys get a chance.
O’Neill had some tough luck last year with an unusually low BAPIP. So maybe things are evening out some this Spring. In my opinion he’s a guy that you need to play every day to get value. He’s not one who would be real good in a platoon role.
The potential is there – great power with a short, compact stroke. Mostly needs reps and confidence building from finding success.
I really don’t like using Gant as a starter, as I think he’s average at best there. As a reliever, he can be lights out
I agree with this. I think in this era of baseball it is just as important, if not more important, to have a lights out bullpen that it is to have a lights out rotation. I would prefer to have Ponce in the rotation and Gant in the pen.
GS/25,
Yes, Gants best individual value is in the pen.Now imagine CMart, PDL and Oviedo as the SP3-SP5 until KK returns. That devalues the pen more than taking Gant out of it. You’ve got to have leads to protect.
A SP’rs ability to keep you in the game will always make them more valuable than relievers. When they can’t, they devalue the pen to “when behind” relievers, and I’d rather not be relying on our lineup for comeback wins.
Shildt Sat post-game remarks:
Hitters competing for jobs doing great. Nogowski has done everything asked. Great job. J Rondon has really made a name for himself. Moroff hit a 2-run HR yesterday. Dean/Thomas/Williams all having a really nice camp. Have given them all different looks, moved them around. Guys responded, good trait.
Liked Gant against entire lineup. Put good hitters off balance. Changeup good, fastball had life. A stellar outing. Only blemish was walk ahead of 2-run HR. Likes his pace, was in attack mode, threw multiple pitches for strikes.
Asked about shifts against young players like Carlson. If you can handle the bat, realize you can shoot in the hole to get a hit the other way. Yadi one of the best. Loved bunt by Carlson into shift. On the later HR by Carlson, “He set him up; I like the HR,” Shildt smiled broadly.
Watched end of Kim’s pen. Ball coming out good as usual. He felt good. Positive day for KK.
Everyone off Sunday. Camp closed. Flaherty starting Monday.
10 more cuts. Optioned pitchers Seth Elledge and Angel Rondón and catchers Ivan Herrera and Ali Sánchez, and re-assigned pitcher Roel Ramirez, catcher Aaron Antonini, infielders Evan Mendoza and Delvin Pėrez and outfielders Conner Capel and Scott Hurst to the minors.
The thing with carpenter is there is no value in keeping him other than we owe him a lot of money. Offensively he is stagnant, and defensively, we have far better options np matter what position you are talking about even factoring in subs. If he was elite defensively like bader, you can make a case for him being on team but it isn’t the case.
“Liked Gant against entire lineup. Put good hitters off balance. Changeup good, fastball had life. A stellar outing. Only blemish was walk ahead of 2-run HR.”
Gant gave up a walk ahead of two singles, and no extra base hits.
5 IP, 1 ER, 3 singles, 2 BB / 5 KGant did a good job. He’d be fine as a starter. Don’t understand why no one is talking about Woodford getting some starts. He pitched 151.2 innings at Memphis in the hitter friendly PCL in 2019. Only gave up 124 hits. He’s quietly put up a 1.35 ERA and 0.90 WHIP this Spring. As a side note, HB is now at .120/.185/.160/.345. And willie, he’s a decent outfield but not elite. He doesn’t go back to the wall well.
Hope they all have good rounds on the course tomorrow.The organization is fortunate to have pitchers the quality of Reyes, Gant, Ponce, Woodford, Cabrera, Oviedo, Liberatore, and Thompson to back up Flaherty, KK, MM, Waino, and Carlos.
There are a lot of guys still assigned to big league camp for only having 7 games left. 24 pitchers (including the sick cases) is a lot. Besides the two first basemen there are 8 infielders. Also a lot. 7 outfielders also a lot. I guess you need 4 catchers if you have all those pitchers. Everyone is at the compound whichever camp they are assigned to on paper so maybe it doesn’t matter. Or maybe its just clarifying pecking order. The final cutdown to 26 will happen in a few days anyway.
An interesting sub-plot is what happens to the guys out of options. There is still time for Mo to make deals to avoid losing them for nothing.
bccran said:
Don’t understand why no one is talking about Woodford getting some starts…
Seems pretty simple. Watch how the player is being used. Since he isn’t starting games in spring training, why would he start them in the regular season (except with Memphis)? With just a week left in camp, it isn’t like there is going to be a big change in the rotation pecking order. Instead, it is time to get the five starters ready for Opening Day.
P.S. JJ, thanks for the clarification. I obviously garbled Shildt’s comment…
Bccran,I consider bader an elite center fielder in comparison to other center fielders in the league. Yea he hasn’t navigated going back to the wall especially straight at him at the best level but otherwise he’s great plus he always gives his best effort which isn’t always the case with others. Plus your hatred of one player is rediculous so anything you say on the topic isnt valid. The comment you took that from wasn’t even about bader, I could have inserted arenado in it as well so the fact that baders name just triggers you is a sad commentary on you.
willie, the board needs a counterpoint to those who think Bader will magically morph into something besides a bottom of the order hitter. He is a good center fielder for a team that doesn’t need him to be something he is not. If Schildt would quit with the up in the order nonsense once and for all I think the Bader shade would die down.
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