Luis Garcia Aspirations / Trepidations Thread

[nobleisthyname]

I think when Robles plays and does well, he mysteriously gets hurt. I think it's going to be VERY HARD to trade Robles for anything of value, even a lottery ticket, when his track record since 2021 has been questionable at best, and when he does produce, it's for limited periods of time before he is injured.

Is he going to be back in time to flip?

Yeah I think the injuries make it a moot point. I've just been confused at how they've handled him in his final season here when he has been healthy.

[Natsinpwc]

Yeah I think the injuries make it a moot point. I've just been confused at how they've handled him in his final season here when he has been healthy.

He’s disrespected Davey over the years.  Davey doesn’t like him. 

[Natsinpwc]

I think when Robles plays and does well, he mysteriously gets hurt. I think it's going to be VERY HARD to trade Robles for anything of value, even a lottery ticket, when his track record since 2021 has been questionable at best, and when he does produce, it's for limited periods of time before he is injured.

Yea and most contenders don’t need what he brings.  Other teams can just wait until the off-season and sign him. 

[imref]

NextGenNats notes that Garcia Jr. only trains Altuve in OPS among 2B. and he's the fourth youngest playing the position.

[nobleisthyname]

He’s disrespected Davey over the years.  Davey doesn’t like him.

That's the vibe I've gotten as well, but in that case they shouldn't have even tendered him a contract. Just a waste of money when the owners are pinching pennies as it is.

[Natsinpwc]

That's the vibe I've gotten as well, but in that case they shouldn't have even tendered him a contract. Just a waste of money when the owners are pinching pennies as it is.

Well they were not going to spend it one someone else so I really don’t care.  If Robles is here beyond 2024 it means bad things have happened to our key prospects. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Well they were not going to spend it one someone else so I really don’t care.  If Robles is here beyond 2024 it means bad things have happened to our key prospects. 

I think the lineup is better with Young, so they didn't need to go out and spend on someone else. Young's D is good enough, and he runs very intelligently. I think Robles might be a better hitter if he is like 4/23, but that's an if.

[Senatorswin]

Keep Young up when Robles gets back and at least against left handers bat Young, Robles, Abrams, Thomas and Garcia 1 through 5 in the order and run Forest run.

[nobleisthyname]

Apparently knows how to field now too.

[Senatorswin]

Could it be our middle infield is set for the next few years?

[Slateman]

Garcia was very good last September after coming back from the minors. Is it possible the demotion to the minors was a wakeup call?

Maybe. We have an entire season to see.

[Mattionals]

Maybe. We have an entire season to see.

If Garcia figured it out and hits what he was billed as, this team is in much better shape. Now that can shift Lipscomb to be a utility guy which is much more likely his ceiling. I wrote Garcia off, but I'm willing to eat all the crow on this one.

A future infield of:

2B - Garcia
3B - House
SS - Abrams

And hopefully YoYo at 1B. Crews and Wood in the OF. Our catchers will be a weak point, and throw in two bats at DH and LF, and you've got a damn good lineup. That lineup can even field a bit too. Maybe that LF is Hassall, maybe it's a FA. Still need pitching, but the future doesn't look so bad.

[Smithian]

Has Garcia arrived?

[imref]

Has Garcia arrived?

against RHP he has.

[nobleisthyname]

After last night's game García has a higher wRC+ than Abrams (154 vs 152). And it looks mostly earned. BABIP of .400 which is unsustainable, but an xwOBA of .380 vs an actual .392.

Other thoughts looking at his Fangraphs page:
His barrel rate is almost double his previous career best.

After cutting his strikeout rate in half last season it's jumped back up again closer to career norms this season, but the walk rate has stayed elevated, even higher than last season.

Still only 23 years old.

[nobleisthyname]

Hopping over to Baseball Savant shows other promising numbers.

His average exit velocity has jumped from 88.3mph to 90.8mph (77th percentile).

Hard hit (balls hit 95mph or greater) rate has jumped from 36.5% to 52.6% (94th percentile).

Sweet spot (balls hit at the "optimal" launch angle) rate has gone from 31.9% to 34.6% (55th percentile).

The combination of the last two explains his jump in barrel rate. Basically, García is consistently hitting the ball a lot harder than ever before in his career and elevating slightly more as well.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Only trepidation is the right hand right now.

[Senatorswin]

Garcia is still not a good hitter against left handed pitchers but very good against right handers. So a primary reason why he's doing so much better this year is Davey is limiting his at-bats to against right handers as much as possible.

[Slateman]

All of that is fine, but he has had good spurts before. Lets see where he sits at the ASB.

[Smithian]

I'm still guarded in my aspirations for Garcia, but if the way to "unlock" his ability is to hide him against LHP, that is not a fatal flaw. Vargas is not a long term piece, but it isn't hard to go find another solid fielding middle infielder who can hold up as the short side of a platoon.

[IanRubbish]

He's a streaky hitter, but have to respect how he's come back from adversity, especially being sent down last season.  Unlike some players out there, he's definitely earned his playing time.

[Senatorswin]

I never thought I'd see Garcia have an OBP of .385. Walked twice tonight. Who is this guy.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I never thought I'd see Garcia have an OBP of .385. Walked twice tonight. Who is this guy.

the walk thing is as wild as anything. IT was either Davey or maybe Franny who said that Garcia is learning not to chase low or off the plate. Davey (Franny) didn't mind him chasing high a bit because that's where he can drive a ball. Taking walks was just not part of his game until lately. It is an incredibly good sign. Like a few of the Nats, his contact skills are good, so developing a bit of selectivity helps him make better contact.

[Slateman]

Has had a rough May. Currently hitting .262/.305/.415 on the season.

[zimm_da_kid]

Has had a rough May. Currently hitting .262/.305/.415 on the season.

Which is more or less what he’s been for his career