Author Topic: Today’s Game 2023  (Read 33584 times)

Reb

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #60 on: March 17, 2023, 09:45:09 pm »
K rates tend to stabilize at just over 100 PAs in a season. But, that’s regular season baseball. Spring training Ks at a FULL spring is about 50 PAs and generally against different sorts of pitching than regular season pitching. So, have to be VERY careful in inferring much.

I would call spring training Ks as more of “something to be aware of”——if something out of ordinary or continues/contradicts a trend from the previous season, especially late the previous season.

For example, last spring Bellinger had 17 Ks in his first 27 spring ABs. This year he has 5 Ks. Interesting. But, even in regular season have to careful about any 27 PA increment. Willie Mays famously started his career going 1-26 and did okay thereafter.

Deeg

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #61 on: March 17, 2023, 10:05:25 pm »
I'll never forget Garciaparra having an unbelievable spring the first full season with the Cubs.  Looked like his 25 year-old MVP self.  Season started, and he was basically washed.

Spring training stats for established hitters are meaningless.  Unless you're looking for bogus reasons to pimp a tired argument.
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CUBluejays

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #62 on: March 17, 2023, 10:14:28 pm »
Stanalizes just means less likely to be due to chance.  A guy that has his K% drop is something to take notice of.  It doesn’t mean that it is going to hold up for a whole year. 

Swanson’s K% of 32% is a big nothing burger.  It is well within the error bars of his 26% last year.  I’d be more interested in Swanson doing damage on non-fastballs than anything else he does this spring.  Bellinger dropping his K% is encouraging and something to keep an eye on.  It doesn’t mean it is going to hold up over a whole year. 

See Reb read something, it was a good discussion.

guest405

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #63 on: March 18, 2023, 04:22:43 pm »
Nick Madrigal has answered all questions about if he could play 3rd this Spring.

Im sure someone here will come up with some bullshit about his footwork or something though.

Deeg

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #64 on: March 18, 2023, 11:35:31 pm »
Cubs are 28th of 30 teams in Spring Training OPS.

Reb

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #65 on: March 18, 2023, 11:43:40 pm »
Madrigal has played—what?—8 or 9 partial games at 3B with maybe 15 fielding chances?

Takes WAY more than that to answer whether he’ll be credible at 3B.

So far, so good, but it’s tiny amount that “proves” nothing.

Good enough to go forward, but that’s it.

Deeg

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #66 on: March 18, 2023, 11:48:52 pm »
Madrigal does look fine at 3B FWIW, but his OPS is way under .600.  If he doesn't hit .300 minimum his offensive value is so negligible you wouldn't want him occupying any position anyway.

Reb

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #67 on: March 19, 2023, 01:53:40 am »
Look, Madrigal is getting a shot at 3B in part because Cubs alternatives at 3B are putrid.

Wisdom is a .210 hitter with a 35% K rate and coming off a season with bad 3B defense.

Morel is a 34% K guy with poor 3B defense and who obviously needs at least 300-400 PAs at AAA.

Rios has a .892 career fielding % in minors as a 3B and is basically a DH.

McKinstry hit under the Mendoza line last season and is highly questionable whether makes the club in ANY role.

That leaves Madrigal. The alternatives are so unattractive that playing a dozen partial games at 3B in spring training has some folks convinced he’s answered successfully that he can play a position he’s never before played in his life.

Maybe he can. This is Baseball, so stuff happens. But, still a major question mark on defense accompanied by a second major question mark as to whether he can hit enough singles to make up for his almost total lack of power.

That is our 3B position. This is not the days of Kris Bryant or Aramis Ramirez or Ron Santo or Stan Hack.

Maybe Vance Law (if we get lucky).

CurtOne

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #68 on: March 19, 2023, 01:28:11 pm »
You forgot Ron Cey and Bill Madlock.

davep

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #69 on: March 19, 2023, 03:09:00 pm »
And Kevin Orie

guest405

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #70 on: March 19, 2023, 03:35:03 pm »
And Tyler Houston.

JR

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #71 on: March 19, 2023, 04:33:55 pm »
Luis Salazar

Reb

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #72 on: March 19, 2023, 04:47:42 pm »
1876-2022. Every friggin starting 3B.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/pos.shtml

Dave23

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Re: Today’s Game 2023
« Reply #73 on: March 19, 2023, 05:02:19 pm »
Luis Salazar
Smiley!

First time at Wrigley, 1990 or so…Cubs vs. Phillies, and Smiley hit a 3 run bomb as part of a 6 run 1st inning…

Dave23

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