Author Topic: 800 pound gorilla (Read 2794 times)

Slateman · « **Reply #25:** May 24, 2021, 06:31:49 PM »

Quote from: Duke of Earl on May 24, 2021, 06:23:47 PM

I thought they said he did that in order to draw the throw so they wouldn't make a play on the runner coming home. Maybe that's what he was thinking, but it was dumb. It's not like they would have tried to get him out if they had a chance at the guy coming home, and more importantly, if they had tagged him before the run scored the run wouldn't have counted.

Thats what he claimed

rileyn · « **Reply #26:** May 26, 2021, 09:39:02 AM »

I'm starting to get concerned. Other than that shot off the scoreboard at Wrigley, there is no pop. A couple weak strikeouts last night. We need to get him going.

imref · « **Reply #27:** May 26, 2021, 09:44:01 AM »

Quote from: rileyn on May 26, 2021, 09:39:02 AM

I'm starting to get concerned. Other than that shot off the scoreboard at Wrigley, there is no pop. A couple weak strikeouts last night. We need to get him going.

last seven games (33 PAs): .333 / .394 / .500, 2 doubles, 1 HR. I'm not worried.

rileyn · « **Reply #28:** May 26, 2021, 11:14:12 AM »

Quote from: imref on May 26, 2021, 09:44:01 AM

last seven games (33 PAs): .333 / .394 / .500, 2 doubles, 1 HR. I'm not worried.

Last 5 games = .250, 1 double, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 K

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #29:** May 29, 2021, 05:39:48 PM »

some of it may be luck, but his barrel rate is about half of last year's and close to 2019.

Slateman · « **Reply #30:** May 29, 2021, 05:41:36 PM »

He just hits everything on the ground

nfotiu · « **Reply #31:** May 30, 2021, 12:02:53 AM »

I have confidence that he'll figure it out eventually. But we'd have won 3-4 more games so far if he was hitting liking Juan Soto.

GataNats · « **Reply #32:** May 30, 2021, 01:39:37 AM »

Turner is the best player on this team

rileyn · « **Reply #33:** May 30, 2021, 07:38:26 AM »

Quote from: nfotiu on May 30, 2021, 12:02:53 AM

I have confidence that he'll figure it out eventually. But we'd have won 3-4 more games so far if he was hitting liking Juan Soto.

I love Juan Soto. Full stop. This team has a long list of issues, but you could make the argument that he is our biggest immediate problem just in terms of expected performance. We would likely be over .500 if he was the Juan Soto we are used to.

Duke of Earl · « **Reply #34:** May 30, 2021, 08:05:26 AM »

Quote from: GataNats on May 30, 2021, 01:39:37 AM

Turner is the best player on this team

I'm not sure if this remark is based on Soto's recent performance but I'd say Turner is the best player even when Soto is at his best. (And that's not a slap at Soto, I love the guy.)

Slateman · « **Reply #35:** May 30, 2021, 08:06:43 AM »

Man y'all turn fast

Duke of Earl · « **Reply #36:** May 30, 2021, 08:13:19 AM »

Quote from: Slateman on May 30, 2021, 08:06:43 AM

Man y'all turn fast

Not sure who that's aimed at, but I sure as hell haven't turned on Soto, I have great confidence in him. I just happen to think Turner is a great player.

Elvir Ovcina · « **Reply #37:** May 30, 2021, 08:41:04 AM »

Quote from: rileyn on May 30, 2021, 07:38:26 AM

I love Juan Soto. Full stop. This team has a long list of issues, but you could make the argument that he is our biggest immediate problem just in terms of expected performance. We would likely be over .500 if he was the Juan Soto we are used to.

Of the position players maybe (and I don't think even Juan Ruth is worth 4 additional wins over 50ish games, especially considering he was hurt), but the negative WAR meatballer Corbin has been for most of the year is a bigger problem overall.

rileyn · « **Reply #38:** May 30, 2021, 09:25:28 AM »

Quote from: Elvir Ovcina on May 30, 2021, 08:41:04 AM

Of the position players maybe (and I don't think even Juan Ruth is worth 4 additional wins over 50ish games, especially considering he was hurt), but the negative WAR meatballer Corbin has been for most of the year is a bigger problem overall.

Don't let stats confuse the issue. A "normal" Juan Soto, driving the ball, changes everything about this lineup.

Elvir Ovcina · « **Reply #39:** May 30, 2021, 09:51:48 AM »

Quote from: rileyn on May 30, 2021, 09:25:28 AM

Don't let stats confuse the issue. A "normal" Juan Soto, driving the ball, changes everything about this lineup.

I'd normally be with you, but not right now. This lineup is far more than 1 dude away. Even with a normal Soto, it'd be him, Turner, Schwarber, and Harrison followed by a load of below-average except when Zimmerman plays. Given the state of the starting pitching, that's not even close to enough.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #40:** May 30, 2021, 11:14:04 AM »

I love Juan Soto, but you do have to wonder if he's swinging differently now and whether it is due to his shoulder. I don't expect this team or him to say, "I've changed my swing path because it hurts when I try to elevate the ball." I expect him to say "there's nothing wrong, I'm still driving the ball, don't panic."

He's doing some things still amazingly (like his ability to draw walks, maybe out of disrespect to Bell and Schwarber) and he's K'ng at his lowest % of his career. Compared to 2019, he's hitting a lot more balls on the ground, pulling a lot less, and the contact is slightly softer (per FG). His exit velo is a touch off of the past 2 years, but the past 2 years he may have sacrificed launch angle for fewer Ks. He's taking more strikes while he swings less overall.
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/juan-soto-665742?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

Davey has said he wants his players swing earlier at strikes. That seems to be what Soto is not doing. He's still hitting the ball plenty hard for power if he were hitting flies.

blue911 · « **Reply #41:** May 30, 2021, 11:25:14 AM »

Quote from: Duke of Earl on May 30, 2021, 08:13:19 AM

Not sure who that's aimed at, but I sure as hell haven't turned on Soto, I have great confidence in him. I just happen to think Turner is a great player.

As an old fart, he reminds me of Paul Molitor

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #42:** May 30, 2021, 11:28:25 AM »

Quote from: blue911 on May 30, 2021, 11:25:14 AM

As an old fart, he reminds me of Paul Molitor

Faster than PM, and plays acceptable SS. I hate the SOB, and it's a high standard, but isn't Jeter a better comp? He's faster and may develop better D, but maybe prime Jeter defense is where Turner is now.

nfotiu · « **Reply #43:** May 30, 2021, 12:52:09 PM »

I think Turner of previous years was more comparable to the "diving as balls passed just out of reach" prime Jeter. Turner's defense this year is better than Jeter's ever was.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #44:** May 30, 2021, 01:05:11 PM »

Another era comp would be Nomar. I think as a rookie Nomar had 30 sb. Arm is comparable. A little stiff on d.

nfotiu · « **Reply #45:** May 30, 2021, 01:15:32 PM »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on May 30, 2021, 01:05:11 PM

Another era comp would be Nomar. I think as a rookie Nomar had 30 sb. Arm is comparable. A little stiff on d.

I think that is a better comparable. Nomar was better defensively than Jeter in those years they played against each other. It's a shame his career derailed, because he was so good for a while there. It's weird how short stops are no longer the marquee stars they used to be.

Smithian · « **Reply #46:** May 30, 2021, 03:45:19 PM »

Ok I’m consternated

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #47:** May 30, 2021, 05:17:06 PM »

Quote from: Smithian on May 30, 2021, 03:45:19 PM

Ok I’m consternated

I recommend dulcolax and a lot of water. Oh, you said consternated.

Dave in Fairfax · « **Reply #48:** May 31, 2021, 02:39:54 AM »

Quote from: nfotiu on May 30, 2021, 01:15:32 PM

I think that is a better comparable. Nomar was better defensively than Jeter in those years they played against each other. It's a shame his career derailed, because he was so good for a while there. It's weird how short stops are no longer the marquee stars they used to be.

I know it's not the same as the talk in the 1990s of the rise of Nomar, A-Rod and Jeter, and how in the wake of Cal Ripken, Jr., the SS position was being redefined as a power position, but I thought there was a lot of recent discussion of the deluge of quality shortstops coming into free agency, with teams potentially competing for, among others, Baez, Correa, Crawford, Rojas, Seager, Semien, Simmons and Story in 2022 and Anderson, Andrus, Segura and Turner in 2023.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #49:** May 31, 2021, 09:27:26 AM »

yes, there were supposed to be a big 5 this year with Lindor too, along with Story, Baez, Correa, and Seager. Semien is in that group to now that he signed a 1 year deal. I think Crawford and Simmons were a bit longer in the tooth. Next year, Turner and possibly Bogaerts with an opt out (likely he'll use that to up the $20MM a year he's getting from 2022-25). I had not realized Anderson was in that group, too.