Nats lock up Ruiz

[nobleisthyname]

And it's not as if he signed some massive extension. $5.3M in 2025-26-27, followed by $7.4 in 2028 and $9.4 in 29 and 30.

I'm not worried about the money, but hard to see them ever moving on from him with the contract in place. His ceiling appears to be a league average player at best, but his true talent level seems to be about replacement level. Millas likely wouldn't hit any worse and would likely be a major improvement defensively but he won't get a serious shot as long as Ruiz is around.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Meh, guy posted 1.5 WAR season and then a 1.3 WAR season. Pitch framing is going away and stolen bases are pretty meaningless. Its a down season but I dont think its a disaster. He's still young enough to bounce back from this

Sometimes, the right decision and thought process doesn't work out. He piled up 2.1 fWAR in 2021 & 2022 over 529 PAs. His defense by some measures was positive. Where the bad defense developed after the contract is hard to figure out.

[Slateman]

Earliest pitch framing is going away is 2026, and it won't go away completely with the challenge system. I'm not writing him off completely but I'm not hopeful. He's not just putting up worse results, the underlying process metrics are all much worse this season too.

His pitch framing has improved this season.

Also, his second half peripherals indicate substantially better performance. Im still not buying the sick story, especially after Cavalli also got sicm, but I think its ludicrous to be giving up on him at this age. We have literally stuck with Garcia for twice as long.

[nobleisthyname]

I hope I'm wrong. Like I said I'm not writing him off completely. A two homer night definitely is nice.

[Senatorswin]

Sometimes, the right decision and thought process doesn't work out. He piled up 2.1 fWAR in 2021 & 2022 over 529 PAs. His defense by some measures was positive. Where the bad defense developed after the contract is hard to figure out.

As I've said before it could be what Mike Tyson said " It's harder to get up in the morning and work when you're getting up in silk pajamas". Ruiz has the comfort of guaranteed money. It's probably not fair for me to say this since I don't really know but the fact he doesn't work the count at all it seems he could put more work into his plate appearances.

Luis Garcia has put more work into his game since last year when he was sent back to the minors.

[Slateman]

As I've said before it could be what Mike Tyson said " It's harder to get up in the morning and work when you're getting up in silk pajamas". Ruiz has the comfort of guaranteed money. It's probably not fair for me to say this since I don't really know but the fact he doesn't work the count at all it seems he could put more work into his plate appearances.

Luis Garcia has put more work into his game since last year when he was sent back to the minors.

He had the comfort of guaranteed money before the contract. He would have accumulated generational wealth, barring career ending injury.

And how do you figure he isnt putting in the work? Last year was his best performance at the plate? This year, he has improved his pitch framing through learning a new stance and framing techniques. Im just not seeing where he has become lazy like Garcia had become.

Finally, Im pretty hesitant to take career advice from a guy who flushed his shot at greatness down the toilet so he could rape a woman.

[Senatorswin]

He had the comfort of guaranteed money before the contract. He would have accumulated generational wealth, barring career ending injury.

And how do you figure he isnt putting in the work? Last year was his best performance at the plate? This year, he has improved his pitch framing through learning a new stance and framing techniques. Im just not seeing where he has become lazy like Garcia had become.

Finally, Im pretty hesitant to take career advice from a guy who flushed his shot at greatness down the toilet so he could rape a woman.

I don't know that he isn't putting in the work but the fact that he doesn't work the count when he's batting and often swings at the first pitch whether it hittable or not would certainly suggest he could work harder at his approach to hitting. Also, when Ruiz signed the contract he talked about the security it gave his family.

That's not career advice from Tyson, just an observation on human tendencies. But again, I don't know he's not working as hard as he could, but if he's working on his at-bat approach he needs to rethink it.

[IanRubbish]

That's not career advice from Tyson, just an observation on human tendencies.

It's 100% right, and there's been analysis on how well many players do in their walk years before their paydays.  We saw that here with Rendon and there's been many other cases of it. 

Keibert has the 2nd highest pop time among qualifying MLB catchers, is near the bottom in arm strength, and unsurprisingly one of the worst throw out rates in the league.  His negative defensive runs saved is a key contributor to the Nats being nearly the worst performers in the league by that measure.

He's 26 and either he can't improve, doesn't have the motivation to improve having been paid, or doesn't have the coaching to improve.  Could be a mix of all three.

[Slateman]

I don't know that he isn't putting in the work but the fact that he doesn't work the count when he's batting and often swings at the first pitch whether it hittable or not would certainly suggest he could work harder at his approach to hitting. Also, when Ruiz signed the contract he talked about the security it gave his family.

That's not career advice from Tyson, just an observation on human tendencies. But again, I don't know he's not working as hard as he could, but if he's working on his at-bat approach he needs to rethink it.

Ruiz has always been like that, even before the contract extension. His bat to ball skills are why he was so highly valued. He is never going to be a work the count hitter. Last year was his best offensive sesson, but he had a lower pitches per plate appearance than this season.

Im just not buying this myth that got paid, he's going to be lazy. Thats the case, we should never commit any money to any player. If thats happening on a regular basis, its a cultural issue with the organization.

[IanRubbish]

If thats happening on a regular basis, its a cultural issue with the organization.

His lack of development and excessive playing time very much is. 

[Senatorswin]

He is never going to be a work the count hitter.

Considering what he's doing isn't working it might be a smart thing to do to change his approach and work the account. He has talent so maybe it's a matter of his approach at the plate.

[Slateman]

Considering what he's doing isn't working it might be a smart thing to do to change his approach and work the account. He has talent so maybe it's a matter of his approach at the plate.

Its not? He hit 18 homers last season. No one had a problem with this approach until he has a rough first half this year.

He might be able to tweak his approach, but the idea he is going to fundamentally alter it is not realistic. He is who he is.

[Senatorswin]

Its not? He hit 18 homers last season. No one had a problem with this approach until he has a rough first half this year.

He might be able to tweak his approach, but the idea he is going to fundamentally alter it is not realistic. He is who he is.

He is who he is is not cutting it. Hitters have to constantly adjust and try to improve. He "is who he is" comes from a guy who is content to get paid and not work to improve. Hopefully that's not who Ruiz is.

[imref]

FWIW, based just on last night, he's on a pace to hit 80 more homers this season. assuming he plays 40 of the final 50.

[Slateman]

He is who he is is not cutting it. Hitters have to constantly adjust and try to improve. He "is who he is" comes from a guy who is content to get paid and not work to improve. Hopefully that's not who Ruiz is.

Wait, why is it not cutting it? Because of one bad half?

[nobleisthyname]

Wait, why is it not cutting it? Because of one bad half?

He was bad in the first half last season too. Maybe he just sucks in the first half.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Nusbaum:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/08/15/mitchell-parker-nationals-loss-phillies/

Over his past 30 games — a stretch that has included little rest — Ruiz is hitting .250 with a .786 OPS and seven home runs. Production from a young offense, one that started nine players under 30, can give the team a slightly clearer picture on whether it can contend next season. But a young pitching staff is the foundation on which General Manager Mike Rizzo hopes to build.

[varoadking]

And it's not as if he signed some massive extension. $5.3M in 2025-26-27, followed by $7.4 in 2028 and $9.4 in 29 and 30.

Holy crap...we're stuck with dood for 6 more seasons? 

[IanRubbish]

Holy crap...we're stuck with dood for 6 more seasons? 

Yup.  And if any future FA signings go awry will be more dead weight on the roster. 

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

It's 100% right, and there's been analysis on how well many players do in their walk years before their paydays.  We saw that here with Rendon and there's been many other cases of it. 

Keibert has the 2nd highest pop time among qualifying MLB catchers, is near the bottom in arm strength, and unsurprisingly one of the worst throw out rates in the league.  His negative defensive runs saved is a key contributor to the Nats being nearly the worst performers in the league by that measure.

He's 26 and either he can't improve, doesn't have the motivation to improve having been paid, or doesn't have the coaching to improve.  Could be a mix of all three.

The only thing the research on “walk year” performance showed was players tend to miss less games. 

[Senatorswin]

He was bad in the first half last season too. Maybe he just sucks in the first half.

  Okay that's it, Ruiz can only play after the all-star break.

[Senatorswin]

Wait, why is it not cutting it? Because of one bad half?

So if he's been bad the first half last season and this, maybe he needs to prepare for the coming season during the off-season better. Obviously I have no way of knowing that but it might be something the Nats will look at.

[Slateman]

So if he's been bad the first half last season and this, maybe he needs to prepare for the coming season during the off-season better. Obviously I have no way of knowing that but it might be something the Nats will look at.

He really wasnt that bad in the first half of last season.

But that seems more indicative of inexperience. Particularly when you factor in his perfornance in both second halfs

Both Abrams and Garcia have seen struggles that lasted for half a season.

I need something verifiable that he isnt "putting in the work." He went from 4th percentile in blocking and 3rd percentile in framing, to currently 57th and 42nd, respectively. You dont do that without putting in some work.

[IanRubbish]

I need something verifiable that he isnt "putting in the work." He went from 4th percentile in blocking and 3rd percentile in framing, to currently 57th and 42nd, respectively. You dont do that without putting in some work.

He's still near the bottom in throwing out runners, pop time, and arm strength.  It's painful to watch how many times he bounces the throw, or is so late he doesn't even bother.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Reporter Roasts Ruiz's Role:

Of the lineup spot/team combos I highlighted in my initial tweet, the Nationals actually fare best, with a group of cleanup batters that ranks 23rd in baseball.

So this is more anecdotal and just an opportunity for me to vent about my displeasure with Dave Martinez’s lineups, which have lately included hitting Keibert Ruiz fourth in seven of his last nine starts, even as the switch-hitter has a 72 wRC+ with no real advantage from either side of the plate. His 80 wRC+ in 13 games as a cleanup hitter isn’t much better, and batting someone who is 20% worse than league average — who hits a ton of ground balls and doesn’t have much pop — in a key run production spot just defies logic. Over the last two games, Martinez has finally moved Ruiz down to sixth, and the catcher has responded well there so far; he hit two home runs last night’s game, which the Nats lost 13-3. Hopefully, Martinez doesn’t use that as a reason to move Ruiz back to batting fourth, a role for which he is not well suited. Instead, Ruiz should remain in the six-hole, because Washington isn’t lacking for quality clean candidates.

The obvious man for the job is rookie James Wood, who surely is more fearsome to opposing pitchers than is Ruiz. Just as Joey Meneses hit cleanup basically up until he was sent down to the minors, Martinez stuck far too long with a struggling bat right in the middle of things. Rookies Wood and Andrés Chaparro should be anchoring things instead as the Nats work to develop their next winning team.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-of-the-order-the-teams-with-problems-at-the-top-of-the-order/