Follow the Prospects: Darren Baker, 2B

[welch]

Garcia has a. .870 OPS in Triple A. Baker is OPSing .711.  Im not sure how you can declare Baker the better player

Garcia has an OPS of .639 this season with a career OPS of about .675, and an average of a little over .250. He has not looked good since the Nats gave him a second chance. That he needed to get sent down says he has not always, or even mostly, taken MLB seriously. I think you judged him lazy, as Garcia floated along, the "future star", for several years. 

Darren Baker has had to work for everything. "Nats drafted him as a favor to Dusty, but he will never hit Low A pitching". "He hit in Fredericksburg, but not in Wilmington" etc.

[nobleisthyname]

Garcia has an OPS of .639 this season with a career OPS of about .675, and an average of a little over .250.

García's career AAA numbers are significantly better than Baker's AAA numbers though. It's only been this season that García has struggled at AAA (and is still only slightly worse than Baker).

[Slateman]

Garcia has an OPS of .639 this season with a career OPS of about .675, and an average of a little over .250. He has not looked good since the Nats gave him a second chance. That he needed to get sent down says he has not always, or even mostly, taken MLB seriously. I think you judged him lazy, as Garcia floated along, the "future star", for several years. 

Darren Baker has had to work for everything. "Nats drafted him as a favor to Dusty, but he will never hit Low A pitching". "He hit in Fredericksburg, but not in Wilmington" etc.

Okay, but it doesnt change the fact that Garcia's career performance in Triple A vastly exceeds Baker.

Baker has a .711 OPS. Thats pretty meh, especially for Triple A. Baker has not forced himself onto the MLB roster.

[Natsinpwc]

Baker’s OBP is ok but he does not generate any power. Also his lack of defensive versatility hurts him. Alu can play 2B and 3B and probably LF in a pinch. There was some talk of using Baker in the OF this year to help with that. Not sure if that happened? 

[Natsinpwc]

Small sample size but he didn’t do much in the AFL last year against the top guys. 

[welch]

Okay, but it doesnt change the fact that Garcia's career performance in Triple A vastly exceeds Baker.

Baker has a .711 OPS. Thats pretty meh, especially for Triple A. Baker has not forced himself onto the MLB roster.

Partly, that's an exaggeration to make the point: Luis Garcia had to be demoted just to make him take baseball seriously. We don't know if he has.

Incidentally, Baker has been playing LF.

[Slateman]

Partly, that's an exaggeration to make the point: Luis Garcia had to be demoted just to make him take baseball seriously. We don't know if he has.

Incidentally, Baker has been playing LF.

So without taking it seriously, Garcia OPS'd 160 points more than Baker. So how is Baker the better option?

[welch]

Baker’s OBP is ok but he does not generate any power. Also his lack of defensive versatility hurts him. Alu can play 2B and 3B and probably LF in a pinch. There was some talk of using Baker in the OF this year to help with that. Not sure if that happened? 

Baker has been playing LF to give Garcia 2B. We will see if Garcia is any better than he was when the Nats dumped him to Rochester.

[imref]

Darren Baker at Rochester this year: .285 /.350 /.362, 393 PAs

Luis Garcia at Rochester this year: .268 / .315 / .381, 108 PAs

Are we seriously arguing that Garcia is better than Baker at this point because of what Garcia did at AAA in 2022 and 2021?

[rbw5t]

So, we’re arguing over which of two guys who barely OPS’d .700 in AAA is less bad. Seems clear to me neither is the answer as an everyday major leaguer. Show me someone OPS’ing .900 who might one day do .800 in the majors.

[nobleisthyname]

Darren Baker at Rochester this year: .285 /.350 /.362, 393 PAs

Luis Garcia at Rochester this year: .268 / .315 / .381, 108 PAs

Are we seriously arguing that Garcia is better than Baker at this point because of what Garcia did at AAA in 2022 and 2021?

Why shouldn't we consider the numbers they put up just one season ago? Especially in this case when those numbers are significantly better than what either has done this season.

[nobleisthyname]

Show me someone OPS’ing .900.

That was García in 2022 (technically just below at .885) and 2021 (.970). Which goes to show how success in the minors is never a guarantee of success in the majors.

[Slateman]

So, we’re arguing over which of two guys who barely OPS’d .700 in AAA is less bad. Seems clear to me neither is the answer as an everyday major leaguer. Show me someone OPS’ing .900 who might one day do .800 in the majors.

Rutherford was when he got called up

[JCA-CrystalCity]

So, we’re arguing over which of two guys who barely OPS’d .700 in AAA is less bad. Seems clear to me neither is the answer as an everyday major leaguer. Show me someone OPS’ing .900 who might one day do .800 in the majors.

I really don't mind one high OBP, low ISO guy hitting 9th, especially if he provides good defense. That's how Young has played. It's the "second leadoff hitter" type. Baker could fill that role, too, but I'd hate to have 2 of them in the lineup at the same time.

[Slateman]

I really don't mind one high OBP, low ISO guy hitting 9th, especially if he provides good defense. That's how Young has played. It's the "second leadoff hitter" type. Baker could fill that role, too, but I'd hate to have 2 of them in the lineup at the same time.

Baker isnt a high OBP guy though

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Baker isnt a high OBP guy though

.350 in AAA. I think he's been above average at every level. It's through contact, but it's worked so far. It's a bit like Wile E. Coyote going off a cliff running. He's fine until he isn't.

[Slateman]

.350 in AAA. I think he's been above average at every level. It's through contact, but it's worked so far. It's a bit like Wile E. Coyote going off a cliff running. He's fine until he isn't.

8% walk rate and a .285 average.

So if he hits .270, that means his OBP is at about .330.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

8% walk rate and a .285 average.

So if he hits .270, that means his OBP is at about .330.

I am not his big fan here, but he's not failed yet, so he may deserve a shot at failing at higher level (or not).

[Slateman]

I am not his big fan here, but he's not failed yet, so he may deserve a shot at failing at higher level (or not).

He hasnt failed, but he hasnt done anything to deserve a shot over Alu or Garcia. Baker has the same OPS as Jeter Downs.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He hasnt failed, but he hasnt done anything to deserve a shot over Alu or Garcia. Baker has the same OPS as Jeter Downs.

over isn't what I'm saying. I'm saying it should be a jump ball among the 3. No coronations for anyone. If they are inseparable, then I'd say send Baker back down because there's no need to start his service clock. That's about the only edge I'd give to CK or Alu.

[nobleisthyname]

2023 / 2024 Spring Training Recap

Age: 25
Team rank: 27
Current level: AAA

2023 (3 levels): .284/.350/.349 .698 OPS, 3 HR, 21 SB (479 PA)
2023 position (games played): 68 2B, 33 LF, 1 CF

2024 Spring Training: .308/.357/.308 .665 OPS, 0 HR, 1 SB (14 PA)

[welch]

Started at 2B and got a hit today. (Alu played OF and got two hits, including a double. Somebody named Mejia played 3B)

[imref]

Updating for 2024. Currently hitting .350 with an .850 OPS and 7 stolen bases already.

- Baker was drafted as a favor to his dad
- Baker isn't a prospect
- Baker got lucky at Fredricksburg (.318 / .352 / .394 in 18 games)
- Baker won't be able to hit at A+ (.273 / .333 / .367 in 62 games)
- Baker won't get past AA (.290 / .356 / .361 in 43 games)
- Baker will be overmatched at AAA (.273 / .338 / .340 in 99 games in 2023)
- Baker doesn't have enough minor league games to draw any conclusions
- Baker is at best a backup IF at the major league level <-----YOU ARE HERE
- Baker is an everyday player at the major league level
- Baker is an all-star
- Baker is a future hall of famer
- Baker is traded before free agency because he won't accept 13 / $600 million
- Baker posts .202 / .258 / .217 for the Mets in the first year of his 13 / $600 million contract
- Baker attacks a fan
- Baker retires
- Baker signs with the Long Island Ducks

[welch]

Baker just got a bases-loaded single to make it 6 - 1 Rochester, with Wood coming to the plate.

[Smithian]

He's going to end up a solid utility player.