Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
The Athletic is running a really good series on the lack of offense in MLB. Part 2 looks at pitching orgs emphasizimg stuff and employing technology and even biomechanics to improve their pitchers. Who are the teams they mention throughout the article for adopting these changes? Guardians, Dodgers, Astros, Rays, Brewers, Cubs, Twins. Every one of those teams has been producing quality MLB pitchers at an above average rate, so clearly what they are doing is working. The Padres, Royals, Orioles, and Mets are orgs recently joining in with biomechanics labs.
I’ve only caught up to Part 2, but a very good and very detailed series of articles.
As a fan, it is annoying watching a RP start an inning, get 2 outs with maybe a runner or 2 allowed to then get taken out for yet another RP for the last out. I wouldn’t personally mind seeing them extend the minimum batter rule to 5 or a full innings pitched.
Because Contreras rightfully should be the starting catcher. Pages is good with the glove, but Contreras is average defensively and has a really good arm. The offense sees a significant upgrade with Contreras at catcher. We can probably improve our overall defense anyway by Burly moving to DH and Carlson/Noot very soon taking RF.
The lineup is constantly in flux with injuries, players coming back, and over/under performances so I realistically don’t see too much of a point in planning our given lineups anyway.
1TD, I’m surprised Liberatore even went 85 pitches since his arm isn’t fully built up since he has been spending time in the bullpen.
6 innings with 8 Ks, 1 BB, and 2 hits against Atlanta. Certainly better than I expected today and certainly more pitches. Libby has good potential and is only 24.
Really good game against one of the better NL teams for Liberatore. I love to see it and BikeMike and I are the crazies wanting him to get more starts.
Looking at the scheduling closer and pitchers days off, they probably do call up a RP for today. They can then go until Sunday with the typical rotation in 5 days rest. Sunday Kloff would be on normal rest or they may feel more comfortable going with a BP game right before the scheduled off day.
Dewitt delivering a nice $500 million contract to Soto would surely help fix the Cardinals. Soto probably has another 6 or so years of prime left and will still only be 31 after those 6 years. If Soto doesn’t end up with major injury issues or decides to retire to pursue other passions, he will likely be towards the top of the record books in many counting stats. He got such an early start at 19 and has been so consistently great.
Realistically I don’t see Soto signing in STL or Dewitt offering that much money, but one can dream right?
Shady, just giving you a hard time here as Burly is hitting well. But Soto’s worst season in his career he posted a wRC+ of 143 (meaning 43% better than average) as a 20 year old. Burly’s at a 127 wRC+ right now as a 25 year old. That 16 point difference is very large and that is compared against Soto’s worst year. Votto had a career 145 wRC+. Just typing that out makes me realize how ridiculously good Soto is as his worst year so far is as good as a future HOF Votto on average, although this does count Votto’s old age years as well.
6 games in 5 days. We will need someone else to make a start or have a bullpen game. What are the rules on a player being sent down and being called back up to be the 27th man? I know typically there are a certain amount of days before you can call a player back up. But if we can use Kloff for the 27th man on the double header, it may make sense to start him tomorrow. It will have been 6 days since he pitched 1 inning and he obviously is built up with a SP workload.
EDIT: Disregard I see he pitched for Memphis tonight unfortunately. Maybe Thompson gets a start tomorrow or they go to Libby, but Libby isn’t built up for more than 50 pitches.
Votto and Soto are the worst comps you could pick for Burly. Their offensive games are completely different as Votto and Soto are defined by their plate discipline. Like LACardFan said, Soto and Burly are the same age as well, but Soto is playing in his 7th full time season and looks like a sure fire HOFer.
Looking around, the best comp I can find for Burly is Yuli Gurriel. Same 1B type player with low walk rates, low strikeout rates, and can hit for average with pop sometimes.
As of today. Mathews is not scheduled to start this week.
Nunez
Hjerpe
Baker
Rajcic
Cornwell
HenceOf course, this could change.
We will first have to see if Hence is healthy actually. If he is, then it will either be Nunez or Baker’s spot I assume Mathews takes. I think I prefer Nunez to keep getting more starts just because his stuff is better and more innings means more time to develop, but both Baker and Nunez probably belong in the pen at some point.
EDIT: I overlooked Cornwell and it could be him that goes to the bullpen as well. Either way, I think Baker and Nunez need to be transitioned to the pen at some point.
Good points JJ about Burly’s season numbers compared against Noot and Donovan’s career numbers and Walker’s season last year (although offense is down in general this year). I am very thankful Burly’s bat has been above average so far this season, but I wouldn’t be penciling him in as a perennial All Star like some people are. I am hopeful he can keep up the power he has been showing this year as he desperately needs it to provide positive value with a 4-5% walk rate and very bad OF defense. Out of all 127 qualified OFs, Burly is the 15th worst by OAA. Thankfully he has had Siani who is #3 in all positions for OAA to cover him and make the OF defense not look bad overall. I am getting more and more confident of Burly potentially being able to be the 1B/DH next year, but a lot can happen in the 2nd half of the season. His bat really needs to keep it up as a 127 wRC+ is slightly above average for a 1B, but obviously the expectations are high offensively for 1B.
Regarding Walker’s defense, he was actually average by all metrics his limited time this year and the eye test also showed he looked much better out there. Walker is very athletic and once he starts getting comfortable in the OF, he should be able to be above average defensively for a RF. He needs to stick with it in AAA though for the mean time and hopefully the swing adjustments work well over more time and he can start lifting the ball more.
Yep very good to see Matthews and Saladin promoted. Let’s see how Matthews does against some more advanced hitters.
Helsey looked much better today. He had been over worked and that rest appears to have done him some good.
Mathews with another great start today. Yeah Mathews was mid 20s most places in the org, but this year his velo is up and his stuff is looking better overall. He isn’t the same prospect he was last year and I am getting more confident it isn’t just facing A ball hitters.
Absolutely great start by Gray. His stuff was really on today. It is a shame he lost the perfect game on a solo shot.