2016's Around Major League Baseball

[SilenceS]

Lets talk about another star fall from grace. Maybe its just early, but I have watched Tulo play lately. He is awful at the plate. He is completely lost and couldn't hit a beachball. I am not used to seeing that with him. He is really hurting the Blue Jays.

 

[Parade_Rain]

That is fine. If he starts to hit .270 than he should be getting more playing time.

AB's: 72 .181/.274/.278

Baez 49 AB's .306/.333/.490
LaStella: 47 AB's .362/.444/.660
Szczur 30 AB .367/.441/.600

Looking at it it is hard to justify why Soler has been getting the most AB's out of the bench crew. His production sucks to any of them.

With that production, why is Heyward starting?

 

[CSF77]

With that production, why is Heyward starting?

D wins games.

Well add to it he is proven and making 200 mil and his history has been cold start. and he has produced 5 WAR seasons

IDK...take all else away his D alone justifies it.

That said I would adjust the line up some. Heyward has a .317 OBA right now hitting #2. I would start LaStella vs RH pitching at 3B with his .444 OBA hitting #2 and drop Heyward to #6 until his BA picks up. You can justify a slow stick if the D is elite but you should still push for run production.

 

[DanTown]

I would have loved to sign Strasburg to 7/175 as Jake insurance

 

[CSF77]

I would have loved to sign Strasburg to 7/175 as Jake insurance

Seeing how they are both Boras clients and 7/175 seems low it bodes well that they may work out a deal.

 

[brett05]

After watching Soler do his best Eskimo impression last year...it's no surprise that he hates the cold weather. It hasn't been a warm spring. Get him a few starts when it finally warms up and see where he's at.

It's been a heck of a lot warmer than normal.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Seeing how they are both Boras clients and 7/175 seems low it bodes well that they may work out a deal.

I tend to agree because this deal costs Arrieta money on the open market. Most had assumed Strasburg would get 7/$210 at least so this sets market AAV back a bit, plus Jake will be 32. The Cubs allegedly have been willing to only go as far as 4 years, according to the same rumors Arrieta's camp has been firm on 6 at a $35 mil AAV. Could a compromise be 5, plus the remaining arb year, for similar total dollars to Strasburg?

 

[Parade_Rain]

D wins games.

Well add to it he is proven and making 200 mil and his history has been cold start. and he has produced 5 WAR seasons

IDK...take all else away his D alone justifies it.

That said I would adjust the line up some. Heyward has a .317 OBA right now hitting #2. I would start LaStella vs RH pitching at 3B with his .444 OBA hitting #2 and drop Heyward to #6 until his BA picks up. You can justify a slow stick if the D is elite but you should still push for run production.

No. His D doesn't justify batting 2nd in the lineup right now. Once Fowler was signed, Soler became the odd man out. Soler doesn't get as much time or leeway because his defense hasn't developed, as they thought it would.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

No. His D doesn't justify batting 2nd in the lineup right now. Once Fowler was signed, Soler became the odd man out. Soler doesn't get as much time or leeway because his defense hasn't developed, as they thought it would.

I agree with you 100%. The defense protects Heyward's playing time but it should not protect his batting in the 2 hole. It's one of the very few things I disagree with Maddon on. If I can be critical of Dusty Baker for leaving Zimmerman hitting behind Harper (which I think is idiocy when Murphy is hitting .400 with a .340 OBP) then I have to be critical of the Cubs as well.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

After 2 full years of way out performing their numbers, particularly base runs, the Royals finally seem to be regressing to the mean with a 15-16 record. Oddly they are still over performing some as their Pythagorean record is 13-18. I really don't see them stepping up and taking that division this year. I'm not quite ready to say that the White Sox are going to run away and hide (although they're not far behind their Pythagorean total which is 21-12) but that's not impossible either.

 

[Parade_Rain]

After 2 full years of way out performing their numbers, particularly base runs, the Royals finally seem to be regressing to the mean with a 15-16 record. Oddly they are still over performing some as their Pythagorean record is 13-18. I really don't see them stepping up and taking that division this year. I'm not quite ready to say that the White Sox are going to run away and hide (although they're not far behind their Pythagorean total which is 21-12) but that's not impossible either.

The Indians might be the only thing standing in the Sox way from winning the AL Central.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

The Indians might be the only thing standing in the Sox way from winning the AL Central.

Yep. The Tigers are the surprise to me in that division as I had picked them to win it, but then again I hadn't expected Verlander and Sanchez to be as bad as they've been either.

 

[beckdawg]

I agree with you 100%. The defense protects Heyward's playing time but it should not protect his batting in the 2 hole. It's one of the very few things I disagree with Maddon on. If I can be critical of Dusty Baker for leaving Zimmerman hitting behind Harper (which I think is idiocy when Murphy is hitting .400 with a .340 OBP) then I have to be critical of the Cubs as well.

Think this is a bit of an overstatement. I mean I get what you're saying but let's not forget Heyward still has a .317 OBP. It's not like he's batting second with a sub .300 OBP. And arguably if you want someone out of a funk does it not make far more sense to bat him in front of two of your best hitters(Bryant/Zobrist followed by Rizzo)? Heyward clearly isn't playing up to his ability but he started slow last year and got there. And I tend to believe he's also hit into some poor luck. If there's anything to be worried about with him right now I'd point toward his .048 ISO. This was a guy we(or at least me) was hoping would find more power in wrigley vs the pitcher friendlier Atlanta and St. Louis.

Fangraphs had an article on him few days ago that basically suggested that in the past Heyward's hot range was in the bottom of the zone and that he didn't handle high pitches as well. The observation they made this season so far is that he's not been swinging at stuff low and instead has been making an effort to hit higher pitches. There was enough data that you can't really dismiss it as sample size so my guess is the cubs have him working on his approach some and he probably isn't entirely comfortable with it yet.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Think this is a bit of an overstatement. I mean I get what you're saying but let's not forget Heyward still has a .317 OBP. It's not like he's batting second with a sub .300 OBP. And arguably if you want someone out of a funk does it not make far more sense to bat him in front of two of your best hitters(Bryant/Zobrist followed by Rizzo)? Heyward clearly isn't playing up to his ability but he started slow last year and got there. And I tend to believe he's also hit into some poor luck. If there's anything to be worried about with him right now I'd point toward his .048 ISO. This was a guy we(or at least me) was hoping would find more power in wrigley vs the pitcher friendlier Atlanta and St. Louis.

Fangraphs had an article on him few days ago that basically suggested that in the past Heyward's hot range was in the bottom of the zone and that he didn't handle high pitches as well. The observation they made this season so far is that he's not been swinging at stuff low and instead has been making an effort to hit higher pitches. There was enough data that you can't really dismiss it as sample size so my guess is the cubs have him working on his approach some and he probably isn't entirely comfortable with it yet.

I think that's possible and I definitely think his wrist is part of it to. Bottom line is that this is a 26 year old who has a career track record and will certainly end up closer to his numbers if not exceed them by the time the year is out. That said having a guy in the 2 spot with a .576 OPS is not ideal. I'm not sure what you do to be honest, maybe try Russell there or shuffle Zobrist and Baez on days when the latter plays, but if Heyward doesn't start to turn it around you have to try something. This is of course extreme nitpicking on a team that is 24-6.

 

[brett05]

I think that's possible and I definitely think his wrist is part of it to. Bottom line is that this is a 26 year old who has a career track record and will certainly end up closer to his numbers if not exceed them by the time the year is out. That said having a guy in the 2 spot with a .576 OPS is not ideal. I'm not sure what you do to be honest, maybe try Russell there or shuffle Zobrist and Baez on days when the latter plays, but if Heyward doesn't start to turn it around you have to try something. This is of course extreme nitpicking on a team that is 24-6.

I wish the White Sox were so good to have this problem.

The White Sox have ?s at #3 SP, DH, SS, CF, LF, and overall depth. It might even be a time to wonder if we might have a power issue with Abreu as well. I'm not asking Hahn to do anything right now but I am hopeful these issues are on his radar in case somehow someway things can be adjusted.

 

[beckdawg]

I think that's possible and I definitely think his wrist is part of it to. Bottom line is that this is a 26 year old who has a career track record and will certainly end up closer to his numbers if not exceed them by the time the year is out. That said having a guy in the 2 spot with a .576 OPS is not ideal. I'm not sure what you do to be honest, maybe try Russell there or shuffle Zobrist and Baez on days when the latter plays, but if Heyward doesn't start to turn it around you have to try something. This is of course extreme nitpicking on a team that is 24-6.

I think the main reason Maddon has him there is Heyward's speed. In particular, he's one of the most running players the cubs have despite his horrid average. He's got 4 steals and only Fowler who's been a monster so far has more with 6. Players who can get on base(.317 OBP isn't ideal for Heyward but it's still basically league average) and can move themselves over create run opps. In theory, Russell and Zobrist could give you that same sort of spark but in Russell's case I'm not sure he's ready for the #2 slot and in Zobrist's case I'm not sure you really want him running all that much given how valuable his bat is. God forbid he pulls something and miss time(had a leg injury last year IIRC).

Going forward if Heyward continues to not hit maybe you do something different but we're only talking 121 PAs here. It's enough to be meaningful but Fowler should be a more or less case study of a high OBP guy who starts a season off bad and how that can change. He hit .232/.308/.369 369 PAs in the first half last year and then turned it on in the second hitting .272/.389/.463 in 321 PAs and .340/.462/.575 in 132 this year. And correct me if I'm wrong but I don't remember Maddon pulling Fowler from the lead off until june-ish if memory serves. So, similar type situation.

 

[SilenceS]

I wish the White Sox were so good to have this problem.

The White Sox have ?s at #3 SP, DH, SS, CF, LF, and overall depth. It might even be a time to wonder if we might have a power issue with Abreu as well. I'm not asking Hahn to do anything right now but I am hopeful these issues are on his radar in case somehow someway things can be adjusted.

Y'all have played great. I just don't know how long y'all can keep it for the reasons you stated. You would also have to get through the season clean. But, y'all have far exceeded expectations so far.

 

[brett05]

Y'all have played great. I just don't know how long y'all can keep it for the reasons you stated. You would also have to get through the season clean. But, y'all have far exceeded expectations so far.

Let's just pretend that today the WS starts tomorrow (rain out today )

I think the White Sox throwing Sale, Q, and a combination of Latos, Rodon becomes a scary team to play. But it doesn't start tomorrow. Our depth scares me.

 

[SilenceS]

Let's just pretend that today the WS starts tomorrow (rain out today )

I think the White Sox throwing Sale, Q, and a combination of Latos, Rodon becomes a scary team to play. But it doesn't start tomorrow. Our depth scares me.

I like Rodon. I don't believe Latos. Rodon is still so young though. Great arm though. Other two are studs.

 

[TC in Mississippi]

Let's just pretend that today the WS starts tomorrow (rain out today )

I think the White Sox throwing Sale, Q, and a combination of Latos, Rodon becomes a scary team to play. But it doesn't start tomorrow. Our depth scares me.

i wouldn't worry about Rodon and Latos as a 4? That wouldn't concern me. I do think you'll need a 5th starter soon, and a LH bat at DH is probably a must. I don't see your other concerns to be honest and in particular Abreau will come around. To me your biggest disappointments so far have come in the minors with Fulmer and Anderson who I thought would come up an help this year but don't look ready. Unless Cleveland really puts a run together or those pitchers in Detroit figure some things out ASAP I think the White Sox will win that division going away. As I said before I'm not quite ready to say that but it's getting close.