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The 2021 Cleveland Baseball Organization

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I don't think anything will ever be retroactively to be honest. It will be from 22/23 on with the changes... Now the problem is how can you change it? The system has issues but in all honesty isn't all that badly flawed...
To consider the "problem".. first things first.. Is the problem real?.. Are the service clock rules a violation or obstacle to the intended result of these rules (preparing kids to play as ML'ers)?.. The answer is clearly.. no.. the problem is.. younger players don't get paid. So, the reason for the service time changes is predicated on getting younger players/prospects paid more sooner.. So, do that.. keep the rules the same/similar, or simplify them.. Take away the manipulation stuff.. make it a hard timeframe or age (22 to 24?) regardless of draft status, prep, college, IFA.. etc..

Otherwise MLB and the MLBPA will just be chasing their tail....
 
But we don't need a repeat complaining, it's like playing a broken record of a crappy record. I can at least deal with being Rick rolled, but not broken record rolled...

I actually think Rick rolling is one of the more odd and hilarious phenominon of the last 2 decades. Its so random that its hilarious.
 
No, not at all, can’t go back…but we can give Mercado an opportunity to see if he reclaim some of the batting form. We certainly have the time and opportunity at the moment.
Mercado's been swinging a potent bat the last 15 games or so... even though a few of his scorched contacts found leather.. IOW..it's a pretty quick bat.. & his defense is well above average wherever he's put.. More needs to be seen.. and it will be..
 
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To consider the "problem".. first things first.. Is the problem real?.. Are the service clock rules a violation or obstacle to the intended result of these rules (preparing kids to play as ML'ers)?.. The answer is clearly.. no.. the problem is.. younger players don't get paid. So, the reason for the service time changes is predicated on getting younger players/prospects paid more sooner.. So, do that.. keep the rules the same/similar, or simplify them.. Take away the manipulation stuff.. make it a hard timeframe or age (22 to 24?) regardless of draft status, prep, college, IFA.. etc..

Otherwise MLB and the MLBPA will just be chasing their tail....

The current system that allows service time to be manipulated and gives teams about 6 cheap years before the player can earn his true market value is the only thing that gives the low budget teams a prayer. It also provides the opportunity for teams to offer early long term deals that lock in cost savings in return for guarantees. I fear a change that allows young players to make more early would destroy any chance for Tampa and Cleveland to compete with a $75 million payroll.
 
Mercado's been swinging a potent bat the last 15 games or so... even though a few of his scorched contacts found leather.. IOW..it's a pretty quick bat.. & his defense is well above average wherever he's put.. More needs to be seen.. and it will be..
Oscar started out 0-for-9 after being called up but since then he's hitting .264 with an OBP of .361. He's like Straw and Zimmer in that he's so fast on the bases and has so much range in the outfield that if he hits .260/.350 he'll be a contributor even without a lot of power.

Their slugging percentages this season are: Mercado .371, Zimmer .331, Straw .326. Their batting averages are also very close. It's almost like they're all the same player. Zimmer has the best OBP while Mercado has the most power. In 2019 he slugged .443 with 15 home runs in 438 AB's. Zimmer is on pace for 8 home runs in over 500 AB's.

I wonder if the Guardians would consider platooning them next year? Harold in left, Straw in center, and Mercado/Zimmer in right. Mercado is hitting .273/.771 against lefties; Zimmer is hitting .265/.762 against righties. But Josh Naylor hit .287/.805 against RHP's this year so once he's fully recovered he would be an option. However, he doesn't provide the speed or range of Zimmer.

As of now Zimmer has a BABIP of .410 which isn't sustainable. He's been getting a lot of bloops dropping in and beating out some high bouncers to the right side. He'll always get to first base in a hurry, but his normal BABIP is about .330. I don't know if he can maintain a .250 BA and he's not providing any power. He's also four years older than Naylor, who is younger than any of these guys. If Zimmer sticks around his role may be as a late inning defensive replacement for Harold, a pinch runner for Franmil or the catcher in a close game, and a backup at all three OF positions.
 
Oscar started out 0-for-9 after being called up but since then he's hitting .264 with an OBP of .361. He's like Straw and Zimmer in that he's so fast on the bases and has so much range in the outfield that if he hits .260/.350 he'll be a contributor even without a lot of power.

Their slugging percentages this season are: Mercado .371, Zimmer .331, Straw .326. Their batting averages are also very close. It's almost like they're all the same player. Zimmer has the best OBP while Mercado has the most power. In 2019 he slugged .443 with 15 home runs in 438 AB's. Zimmer is on pace for 8 home runs in over 500 AB's.

I wonder if the Guardians would consider platooning them next year? Harold in left, Straw in center, and Mercado/Zimmer in right. Mercado is hitting .273/.771 against lefties; Zimmer is hitting .265/.762 against righties. But Josh Naylor hit .287/.805 against RHP's this year so once he's fully recovered he would be an option. However, he doesn't provide the speed or range of Zimmer.

As of now Zimmer has a BABIP of .410 which isn't sustainable. He's been getting a lot of bloops dropping in and beating out some high bouncers to the right side. He'll always get to first base in a hurry, but his normal BABIP is about .330. I don't know if he can maintain a .250 BA and he's not providing any power. He's also four years older than Naylor, who is younger than any of these guys. If Zimmer sticks around his role may be as a late inning defensive replacement for Harold, a pinch runner for Franmil or the catcher in a close game, and a backup at all three OF positions.

I think we will end up trading someone for an A ball prospect/apart of a bigger trade from that OF. We will have Straw, Amed, Mercado, Zimmer, HRam, Johnson, Naylor, Reyes (but DH'ing too), Jones with a possibility of OGonzalez, Kwan, Benson added to the 40 man... We will definitely see a change of guards in that OF, but who stays, I am not sure...
 
James Karinchak's 2021 season up to July:
ERA: 2.47
K/9: 15.4
WHIP: 0.99
Opp. OPS: .491
xFIP: 2.84
Hard Hit%: 23%

July:
ERA: 7.36
K/9: 9
WHIP: 1.73
Opp. OPS: .923
xFIP: 5.61
Hard Hit%: 44%

He should probably be pitching only in low-leverage situations until he can figure out how to pitch without his goo.
 
From Meisel:




Image

Seeking relief

The spin rate on James Karinchak’s pitches has plummeted in recent weeks. His results have also cratered. It’s probably not as simple as “no sticky stuff equals no effectiveness,” but hitters have feasted on his fastball and haven’t been fooled as often by his curveball.

This is an arbitrary range, but here’s Karinchak over his past 28 appearances: 6.48 ERA, .870 opponent OPS, nearly two base runners per inning. Those numbers are in line with how he has performed since MLB’s sticky substance crackdown in mid-June, too.

In July, hitters have logged a .300 average and a .567 slugging percentage against his fastball.

Swing-and-miss rates vs. Karinchak’s pitches:

May: 50.0 percent vs. curveball, 25.8 percent vs. fastball

June: 52.2 percent vs. curveball, 25.8 percent vs. fastball

July: 38.5 percent vs. curveball, 19.4 percent vs. fastball
 
From Meisel:




Image

Seeking relief

The spin rate on James Karinchak’s pitches has plummeted in recent weeks. His results have also cratered. It’s probably not as simple as “no sticky stuff equals no effectiveness,” but hitters have feasted on his fastball and haven’t been fooled as often by his curveball.

This is an arbitrary range, but here’s Karinchak over his past 28 appearances: 6.48 ERA, .870 opponent OPS, nearly two base runners per inning. Those numbers are in line with how he has performed since MLB’s sticky substance crackdown in mid-June, too.

In July, hitters have logged a .300 average and a .567 slugging percentage against his fastball.

Swing-and-miss rates vs. Karinchak’s pitches:

May: 50.0 percent vs. curveball, 25.8 percent vs. fastball

June: 52.2 percent vs. curveball, 25.8 percent vs. fastball

July: 38.5 percent vs. curveball, 19.4 percent vs. fastball

What I dont understand is why does it keep going down months the ban. Its like his fingers were still sticky and they are getting less and less sticky? lol
 
Karinchak used a now ban substance (sweat, sunscreen, and rosin), but it's still going down cause he isn't 100% healthy and his mechanics are going to shit because of that.

Since the season is pretty much over in the sense of the playoffs, why don't we get him some rest if he's not 100%?
 
exactly - why's he pitching - esp if its messing with his mechanics
Maybe it's a minor nagging injury that posses a very small problem. Maybe the experience is more valuable than his results. I doubt this organization would put one of its most valuable players at risk in a lost season. We should give them that much credit.
 

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