Trey Lipscomb RotY … Or Disappointment? Watch

[IanRubbish]

Yup, no if and buts about it. I was rooting for him but his OPS is now sitting at .540 lmao...

About the same as Keibert.  Still, I don't see where he fits in with House on the way.  Doesn't have the bat for 1B/OF/DH, and we know the "speed at all costs" offensive strategy is failing.  He's the kind of soft hitting, low K, low BB batter that this org loves, but in reality ends up just making the opposing pitcher happy by swinging early and often. 

[Mattionals]

About the same as Keibert.  Still, I don't see where he fits in with House on the way.  Doesn't have the bat for 1B/OF/DH, and we know the "speed at all costs" offensive strategy is failing.  He's the kind of soft hitting, low K, low BB batter that this org loves, but in reality ends up just making the opposing pitcher happy by swinging early and often.

He's a utility player. That was kind of what he was expected to be.

[IanRubbish]

He's a utility player. That was kind of what he was expected to be.

If he's the Vargas of the future, backing up Garcia/CJ/House, that's not a terrible thing.  But playing him everyday it seems there's some hope that he can be more. 

[welch]

He's a utility player. That was kind of what he was expected to be.

I suspecty that Darren Baker is a better hitter, but Lipscomb has a stronger arm. Maybe he will become the next Vargas...and what's wrong with that? The Nats have House at AAA, and House ought to prove himself at Rochester, and maybe the organization is building depth at 3B. Meanwhile, Senzel must have done something to wear out his welcome. Senzel was closer to the 3B equivalent to Rosario than Winker. House for Spring Training.

[Slateman]

He's a utility player. That was kind of what he was expected to be.

Utility players are expected to be able to be somewhat decent hitters . . .

[Slateman]

I suspecty that Darren Baker is a better hitter, but Lipscomb has a stronger arm. Maybe he will become the next Vargas...and what's wrong with that? The Nats have House at AAA, and House ought to prove himself at Rochester, and maybe the organization is building depth at 3B. Meanwhile, Senzel must have done something to wear out his welcome. Senzel was closer to the 3B equivalent to Rosario than Winker. House for Spring Training.

I think Senzel was a clubhouse problem.

[Mattionals]

Utility players are expected to be able to be somewhat decent hitters . . .

Utility players get the added benefit of having limited action at the plate. The more utility players get regular playing time, the more their holes in their offensive game get exposed. Super utility guys are rare, like Ben Zobrist, and realistically those are guys with starter's bats but don't play any one defensive position more than just adequately.

[GataNats]

I think Senzel was a clubhouse problem.

That and he couldn’t hit, and had the range of a refrigerator

[Slateman]

That and he couldn’t hit, and had the range of a refrigerator

He hit way better than Lipscomb and his defense was still better.

No, this was a clubhouse issue.

[OfftheBat]

About the same as Keibert.  Still, I don't see where he fits in with House on the way.  Doesn't have the bat for 1B/OF/DH, and we know the "speed at all costs" offensive strategy is failing.  He's the kind of soft hitting, low K, low BB batter that this org loves, but in reality ends up just making the opposing pitcher happy by swinging early and often.

Yup, kinda weird how they are playing him every day now... Maybe House gets a September callup?

[rileyn]

I'm willing to be patient and let Lipscomb play every day for the rest of the year.  What is our alternative?  Vargas?  Don't say Kieboom.

[imref]

House

[Smithian]

I'm willing to be patient and let Lipscomb play every day for the rest of the year.  What is our alternative?  Vargas?  Don't say Kieboom.

Correct opinion.

[Natsinpwc]

Correct opinion.

If they’re not calling House up I would like to see Kieboom. Might as well. 

[IanRubbish]

If they’re not calling House up I would like to see Kieboom. Might as well.

Kieboom would have to be added back to the 40 man.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Probably could give a few more starts to Vargas against righties but would want Lip to get at least half the starts vs righties for development.

Why is it when I hear folks talking about starting House now at 3rd I get flashbacks to Carter Kieboom? Kieboom had more success in AAA than House has had in AA and AAA.

[GataNats]

Don’t want to see Vargas or Ramirez play again.  Both of those guys are old and can’t play.   Playing those guys is detrimental to the team.   

Starting Ramirez constantly over Winker, who we are trying to trade, is the height of stupidity

[welch]

Don’t want to see Vargas or Ramirez play again.  Both of those guys are old and can’t play.   Playing those guys is detrimental to the team.   

Starting Ramirez constantly over Winker, who we are trying to trade, is the height of stupidity

Ramirez is not that old. He's 29, and will be 30 in about two months.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirha02.shtml

Vargas? He's 33 and hitting a steady .260 with about .680 OPS. Not a slugger, but he plays a steady 3B, 2B, and can play SS. What's wrong with Vargas?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Don’t want to see Vargas or Ramirez play again.  Both of those guys are old and can’t play.   Playing those guys is detrimental to the team.   

Starting Ramirez constantly over Winker, who we are trying to trade, is the height of stupidity

I'd play Vargas a bit to take some pressure off of Trey. I buy that Vargas loses effectiveness when he's in Every Day, Every Play mode. You look at the pattern the past couple of years, and his hitting declines when he plays every day a couple of weeks or so. I also like him off the bench when all we need is contact, even soft contact. He has his spots.

[Mattionals]

It's become obvious that there seems to be a big split amongst the posters here. Many are asking questions as if the team were in competition today. The thing is, this is still a re-building year, like it or not. Trey's scouting reports never profiled him as a regular player. He is only playing every day right now because Senzel was bad in the clubhouse (from what we surmise) and the prospect projected to be the long term answer at 3B is not MLB ready (House, most likely, or maybe the guy traded to the Nats for Harvey).

Lipscomb is the next Vargas for sure. Decent enough to play any IF position at least adequately and has a bat that would be exposed during every day play, but can hit enough for a bench guy.

[imref]

It's become obvious that there seems to be a big split amongst the posters here. Many are asking questions as if the team were in competition today. The thing is, this is still a re-building year, like it or not. Trey's scouting reports never profiled him as a regular player. He is only playing every day right now because Senzel was bad in the clubhouse (from what we surmise) and the prospect projected to be the long term answer at 3B is not MLB ready (House, most likely, or maybe the guy traded to the Nats for Harvey).

Lipscomb is the next Vargas for sure. Decent enough to play any IF position at least adequately and has a bat that would be exposed during every day play, but can hit enough for a bench guy.

It's a real question though if you'd rather have Lipscomb or Darren Baker in the Vargas role. Baker hits for a higher average and has more speed.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It's a real question though if you'd rather have Lipscomb or Darren Baker in the Vargas role. Baker hits for a higher average and has more speed.

Lipscomb's speed is pretty good and can play left side of the infield. Baker can't really do that. Baker is kind of stuck until Garcia is hurt or traded

[IanRubbish]

Why is it when I hear folks talking about starting House now at 3rd I get flashbacks to Carter Kieboom? Kieboom had more success in AAA than House has had in AA and AAA.

Kieboom's a weird comp because he came out when there was still affiliate Rookie ball, then missed 2020 due to the COVID season, and 2022 due to injury.  He didn't do that badly last year in Rochester, but a patient hitter with limited speed is not what this org is looking for.

House is more of a free swinger, so there's only so much Darnell Coles can do to screw him up.  He's also had solid ISOs, so shouldn't be as soft a swinger as Keibert or Trey.