Author Topic: Vargas! (Read 2611 times)

KV · « **on:** September 16, 2024, 05:01:42 pm »

https://www.mlb.com/news/ildemaro-vargas-presented-nationals-heart-and-hustle-award

Senatorswin · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2024, 05:25:25 pm »

Davey mentioned he hopes Vargas comes back. I remember a couple of years ago when the Orioles first started getting good. Every time they showed the dugout the players looked like they were having fun. It looks the same way now when they show the Nats dugout. It seems Vargas might have something to do with that.

BTW, the Orioles dugout doesn't look like that now.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2024, 05:38:46 pm »

Pressure is on the Orioles now. No longer the underdog. Flames out badly in last year’s playoff and looks like they will play a wild card series.

GataNats · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2024, 11:40:24 pm »

F that guy

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2024, 08:53:35 am »

Quote from: GataNats on September 16, 2024, 11:40:24 pm

F that guy

We do have some predictable posts here.

Smithian · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2024, 10:02:41 am »

I do like Vargas and think he makes a lot of sense coming back next season as a backup. You can win games with him playing a utility role. The problem was this season when he was getting lots of starts at 3B and LF.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2024, 10:38:59 am »

Quote from: Smithian on September 17, 2024, 10:02:41 am

I do like Vargas and think he makes a lot of sense coming back next season as a backup. You can win games with him playing a utility role. The problem was this season when he was getting lots of starts at 3B and LF.

I like him enough hitting righty, which just so happens to make him a decent option when Garcia or possibly Tena gets a night off. I'd love to see Nunez or Lipscomb take over that role, but until then, he's a decent bench option, and, if you buy IanRubbish's "play the contract" critique, he's not going to make so much that he has to get playing time. Also, he's definitely the Parra type in terms of the locker room.

varoadking · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2024, 10:42:40 am »

Quote from: JCA-CrystalCity on September 17, 2024, 10:38:59 am

I like him enough hitting righty, which just so happens to make him a decent option when Garcia or possibly Tena gets a night off. I'd love to see Nunez or Lipscomb take over that role, but until then, he's a decent bench option, and, if you buy IanRubbish's "play the contract" critique, he's not going to make so much that he has to get playing time. Also, he's definitely the Parra type in terms of the locker room.

Of the in-house options, Nunez needs to be our starting SS...

Smithian · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2024, 10:57:36 am »

Quote from: varoadking on September 17, 2024, 10:42:40 am

Of the in-house options, Nunez needs to be our starting SS...

Things have gone so horribly wrong at SS that I read this post and couldn't immediately disagree.

Slateman · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2024, 11:31:43 am »

Quote from: varoadking on September 17, 2024, 10:42:40 am

Of the in-house options, Nunez needs to be our starting SS...

Lol, he has a .180 xBA. Once teams realize he can't hit, they'll stop pitching him carefully. Dude is going to spend all next season in the minors. King is a more viable

varoadking · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2024, 12:42:28 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on September 17, 2024, 11:31:43 am

Lol, he has a .180 xBA. Once teams realize he can't hit, they'll stop pitching him carefully. Dude is going to spend all next season in the minors. King is a more viable

...with a higher OPS than Crews...

Slateman · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2024, 01:07:46 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on September 17, 2024, 12:42:28 pm

...with a higher OPS than Crews...

Which is built exclusively on walks. He makes Jacob Young look like a slugging cleanup hitter.

At best, he's a postseason pinch runner.

varoadking · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2024, 01:45:30 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on September 17, 2024, 01:07:46 pm

Which is built exclusively on walks. He makes Jacob Young look like a slugging cleanup hitter.

At best, he's a postseason pinch runner.

His BA is 40 points higher than Crews as well...

So much for your counter argument...

Slateman · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2024, 02:05:09 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on September 17, 2024, 01:45:30 pm

His BA is 40 points higher than Crews as well...

So much for your counter argument...

And its all dumb luck.

.180 xBA, .233 xSLG. Doesnt hit the ball hard. Doesnt swing hard. He walks a lot and swings and misses a lot.

welch · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2024, 02:24:24 pm »

Crews will be a star. Nothing wrong with Vargas, though.

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2024, 02:45:39 pm »

This Nunez and Crews discussion is the worst small sample size discussion I’ve ever seen. Crews already had almost twice as many at bats and it’s still SSS. You can tell it’s the end of another long year.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #16 on:** September 17, 2024, 03:00:41 pm »

Quote from: Natsinpwc on September 17, 2024, 02:45:39 pm

This Nunez and Crews discussion is the worst small sample size discussion I’ve ever seen. Crews already had almost twice as many at bats and it’s still SSS. You can tell it’s the end of another long year.

I'm hoping that the Crews comments are all just comments on the SSS of Nunez.

varoadking · « **Reply #17 on:** September 17, 2024, 03:20:38 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on September 17, 2024, 02:05:09 pm

And its all dumb luck.

But of course it is. That all ya got?

Natsinpwc · « **Reply #18 on:** September 17, 2024, 03:58:36 pm »

Quote from: varoadking on September 17, 2024, 03:20:38 pm

But of course it is. That all ya got?

I think he can hit .200 at Rochester next year. Well.. maybe.

Smithian · « **Reply #19 on:** September 17, 2024, 04:28:25 pm »

Back to Vargas, seems like a real good platoon partner to Luis Garcia

Slateman · « **Reply #20 on:** September 17, 2024, 04:37:26 pm »

Quote from: Smithian on September 17, 2024, 04:28:25 pm

Back to Vargas, seems like a real good platoon partner to Luis Garcia

Meh, he has no power, even against LHP.

Ideally, Tena takes his spot

Count Walewski · « **Reply #21 on:** September 17, 2024, 04:44:07 pm »

I realize the objective stats say that Vargas sucks, and sucks hard. But who on this team passes the eye test better than Vargas? He can play every infield position, he always looks like he is having fun, seems like a nice clubhouse guy. I can't bring myself to join the haters.

Smithian · « **Reply #22 on:** September 17, 2024, 05:20:49 pm »

Quote from: Count Walewski on September 17, 2024, 04:44:07 pm

I realize the objective stats say that Vargas sucks, and sucks hard. But who on this team passes the eye test better than Vargas? He can play every infield position, he always looks like he is having fun, seems like a nice clubhouse guy. I can't bring myself to join the haters.

Yes. If he could hit well along with playing all over the diamond, he'd be a starter somewhere, not a utility player.

JCA-CrystalCity · « **Reply #23 on:** September 17, 2024, 05:28:13 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on September 17, 2024, 04:37:26 pm

Meh, he has no power, even against LHP.

Ideally, Tena takes his spot

Need a righty IF bat if you are going to platoon Garcia (or Tena, if he's your 3rd baseman). Not necessarily Vargas, I mean VARGAS!, in 2025. He also has good contact skills, especially vs LHP. That can be useful off the bench.

Smithian · « **Reply #24 on:** September 17, 2024, 07:20:51 pm »

Quote from: Slateman on September 17, 2024, 04:37:26 pm

Meh, he has no power, even against LHP.

Ideally, Tena takes his spot

Tena hits from the wrong side, same as Darren Baker. Not useful as a pair to Luis Garcia.

Vargas is slashing .277/.311/.366 versus lefties. Not awful for the short side of the platoon, especially when Garcia isn't so dreadful versus LHP that he can't play against some LHP if the staff thinks he matches up well against them.

I don't think Vargas is "good" as much as I think he is a good utility player who can adequately field 2B/SS/3B and cover starts against tough LHP. And while Jose Tena didn't have a drastic platoon split, his SSS splits so far this year along with his glove may also favor keeping a solid glove backup who can hold his own against LHP.

Vargas is also cheap. Even in his final arbitration year, I can't imagine his contract being so high the team wouldn't mind ejecting him at the deadline next year should they be competing and see an upgrade.