2021 Season | Series #49 | Indians @ Royals | Sep. 28-30

[KluberSociety]

I'd obviously rather Gonzalez around but I don't think he's likely to do much for us. He's a bit like Harold in that he swings at anything only he makes less contact and has more power. That's how you end up hitting 18 HRs in 296 PAs in AAA with a .266 average but only with a wRC+ of 109 (a little bit above AAA league average). I know it's scary to lose someone who is doing what he's doing but I don't see how he helps the 2022 Guardians and we just don't have much space. If we had a better track record of running a "hitting factory" it'd be another story but that's not our thing.

 

[Criznit]

I'd obviously rather Gonzalez around but I don't think he's likely to do much for us. He's a bit like Harold in that he swings at anything only he makes less contact and has more power. That's how you end up hitting 18 HRs in 296 PAs in AAA with a .266 average but only with a wRC+ of 109 (a little bit above AAA league average). I know it's scary to lose someone who is doing what he's doing but I don't see how he helps the 2022 Guardians and we just don't have much space. If we had a better track record of running a "hitting factory" it'd be another story but that's not our thing.

If we had more than one sure thing OFer (Straw) for 2022 I would be a lot cooler on him. But we may have 2 new everyday faces in the OF in 2022 but until/if that happens might as well give the kid a shot..

Kinda random - but maybe he can play 1st base?

 

[macbdog]

How comparable was Franmil as a minor leaguer? Because it seems like the Tribe FO and fans dismiss him like the Padres FO did Reyes.

 

[KluberSociety]

If we had more than one sure thing OFer (Straw) for 2022 I would be a lot cooler on him. But we may have 2 new everyday faces in the OF in 2022 but until/if that happens might as well give the kid a shot..

Kinda random - but maybe he can play 1st base?

I guess what it comes down to is I think he will be a below, maybe significantly below, league average hitter due to bad OBP which will further be compounded by having his weaknesses exploited by big league scouting. Maybe belly flopping in the big leagues would teach him a valuable lesson but it's just hard for me to see how MLB pitchers will not exploit him as he is today. And since offense is his main selling point, I just don't see him adding much to the team. I'd project him for a slash of .237/.268/.445 at the moment which certainly doesn't play at 1B especially when our current 1B is better than that. It's power with nothing else; even Bobby is drawing some walks.

I really just see someone totally unflashy with a solid glove like Mercado being a significantly better option at the moment for the kind of job that Gonzalez would be going for but it's even debatable if we should keep him on the roster.

 

[Criznit]

How comparable was Franmil as a minor leaguer? Because it seems like the Tribe FO and fans dismiss him like the Padres FO did Reyes.

FWIW - Bradley (1st run)and Reyes AA numbers were nearly identical. Oscars were lesser, but this year has been a breakout or outlier depending on your opinion.

 

[KluberSociety]

I wonder - would anyone roster Gonzalez over Mercado? Just curious what the reasoning would be. I generally have been seeing two battles happening, one for the LHB and one for the RHB OF spots, and Zimmer and Jet have basically handed the former to Kwan who has also earned it himself. Maybe these battles are just playing out in my own mind but I'd love to hear other perspectives.

I do think it'll help to have a righty on the roster especially with the potential emergence of Jones and Naylor, someone who hits from the opposite side who is also good with the glove makes for some good synergy. I don't see that synergy as much with Gonzalez because he doesn't have the glove or speed. And I think just on a "WAR basis" Mercado is a better player now because he puts enough balls in play to complement his defense/speed.

Maybe we let Gonzalez walk and he goes to another system and develops something resembling an eye. But he's been with us for 6 years and still hasn't shown any.

 

[sportscoach]

I wonder - would anyone roster Gonzalez over Mercado? Just curious what the reasoning would be. I generally have been seeing two battles happening, one for the LHB and one for the RHB OF spots, and Zimmer and Jet have basically handed the former to Kwan who has also earned it himself. Maybe these battles are just playing out in my own mind but I'd love to hear other perspectives.

I do think it'll help to have a righty on the roster especially with the potential emergence of Jones and Naylor, someone who hits from the opposite side who is also good with the glove makes for some good synergy. I don't see that synergy as much with Gonzalez because he doesn't have the glove or speed. And I think just on a "WAR basis" Mercado is a better player now because he puts enough balls in play to complement his defense/speed.

Maybe we let Gonzalez walk and he goes to another system and develops something resembling an eye. But he's been with us for 6 years and still hasn't shown any.

I'd rather keep Mercado since he is a plus fielder and if he is only going to be in a part time role, we don't need a power bat that is a lesser fielder... plus this allows us to have a left handed hitter who doesn't need to have exceptional fielding since we can always platoon/late game replace them...

 

[TxBuckeye]

He hits a ground ball every time. Tonight he hit three ground balls that found holes. Other times he hits into double plays. All you know for sure is he's hitting it on the ground, he'll never draw a walk, and almost never get an extra base hit.

He's Yandy Diaz only as an outfielder, or more accurately, an outnonfielder.

Really? lmfao. 21 2B's in 330 AB's. That's a pretty fair rate for somebody who never gets a base hit. .270 BA. How many other guys we have can say that? You are more than welcome to your opinion but he would be a useful bat off the bench.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Really? lmfao. 21 2B's in 330 AB's. That's a pretty fair rate for somebody who never gets a base hit. .270 BA. How many other guys we have can say that? You are more than welcome to your opinion but he would be a useful bat off the bench.

You're right, in fact, Harold has the highest doubles rate on the team. But he only has 7 home runs in 335 at-bats. Zimmer, Hedges, and Bradley have more HR's in fewer at-bats.

Obviously I was exaggerating when I said he hits a ground ball every time. I'm a little frutrated because with his exceptional bat-to-ball skills he could be a great hitter if he stopped chasing so many bad pitches and if he could elevate the ball now and then to take advantage of his power. He hits a ton of blistering line drives and ground balls that end up being singles when they would have been home runs if he just got under them a little.

But if he tried to change his swing path to get more balls in the air it might screw him up. At this point he probably is what he is - a .270 hitter who might hit 12 HR's if he played every day. However, he's probably unplayable in the field due to his defense. Are we OK with a .270 singles and doubles hitter as our DH?

Last night in the 9th inning he swung at a 98 mph fastball that was literally at his shoulders and lined it into center field. Unbelievable. Matt and Rick couldn't get over it. No way anybody should be able to square up a 98 mph fastball that was nearly at eye level. But if Harold swings at ten of those he maybe gets one hit.

He could be Manny Ramirez Lite with just a little plate discipline, but I don't think it's going to happen.

I would be OK with Kwan in right field and a Naylor/Harold platoon in left. Or have Harold DH against lefties and put Reyes in right and Kwan in left.

 

[CATS44]

If you want significant improvement in the outfield, it will have to come from outside the org.

If you want to see Franmil in right field more than occasionally, you have to have a DH that is better than Franmil...and Harold isn't.

Franmil is not good in the outfield. He is not even decent. He has zero range. Anything hit with authority not hit right at him is a hit. The only way he looks even close to acceptable is to compare him to Harold.

There is no risk to DFAing Harold, because there is nothing to risk. He isn't anything more than a AAAA player who has already been in four organizations.

 

[TxBuckeye]

You're right, in fact, Harold has the highest doubles rate on the team. But he only has 7 home runs in 335 at-bats. Zimmer, Hedges, and Bradley have more HR's in fewer at-bats.

Obviously I was exaggerating when I said he hits a ground ball every time. I'm a little frutrated because with his exceptional bat-to-ball skills he could be a great hitter if he stopped chasing so many bad pitches and if he could elevate the ball now and then to take advantage of his power. He hits a ton of blistering line drives and ground balls that end up being singles when they would have been home runs if he just got under them a little.

But if he tried to change his swing path to get more balls in the air it might screw him up. At this point he probably is what he is - a .270 hitter who might hit 12 HR's if he played every day. However, he's probably unplayable in the field due to his defense. Are we OK with a .270 singles and doubles hitter as our DH?

Last night in the 9th inning he swung at a 98 mph fastball that was literally at his shoulders and lined it into center field. Unbelievable. Matt and Rick couldn't get over it. No way anybody should be able to square up a 98 mph fastball that was nearly at eye level. But if Harold swings at ten of those he maybe gets one hit.

He could be Manny Ramirez Lite with just a little plate discipline, but I don't think it's going to happen.

I would be OK with Kwan in right field and a Naylor/Harold platoon in left. Or have Harold DH against lefties and put Reyes in right and Kwan in left.

I don't see the problem with a guy who actually puts the ball in play and isn't in love with the launch angle bullshit. It's actually kind of fucking refreshing. Is he an all-star? Hell no. Can he be a help off the bench? absolutely. But of course he is a trainwreck in the outfield.

As I said you are welcome to your opinion and I'll keep mine that his bat could be useful as an off the bench guy.

 

[sportscoach]

I don't see the problem with a guy who actually puts the ball in play and isn't in love with the launch angle bullshit. It's actually kind of fucking refreshing. Is he an all-star? Hell no. Can he be a help off the bench? absolutely. But of course he is a trainwreck in the outfield.

As I said you are welcome to your opinion and I'll keep mine that his bat could be useful as an off the bench guy.

I'd rather have a plus fielder than a plus hitter when it comes to the bench though personally...

 

[TxBuckeye]

I'd rather have a plus fielder than a plus hitter when it comes to the bench though personally...

Sorry, I'm still having Michael Martinez flashbacks. It's nice to have an actual bat on the bench.

I hear what you are saying and not necessarily jumping up and down for Harold to return. Just think he could be of some use but again, that glove. It's pretty bad when you make Manny look like a gold glover.

 

[sportscoach]

Sorry, I'm still having Michael Martinez flashbacks. It's nice to have an actual bat on the bench.

I hear what you are saying and not necessarily jumping up and down for Harold to return. Just think he could be of some use but again, that glove. It's pretty bad when you make Manny look like a gold glover.

That's the thing, I think Clement is just as good of bat but he is an average to plus defender as well. He has experience as an OF as well... I'd so vote Clement over HRam...

 

[KluberSociety]

That's the thing, I think Clement is just as good of bat but he is an average to plus defender as well. He has experience as an OF as well... I'd so vote Clement over HRam...

I'm pretty sure HRam is going to be a better hitter than Clement because he hits the ball much harder but it's possible the defense makes up the gap.

I think HRam's defense is underrated here or at least said to be more terrible than it is because he looks so terrible doing it, but he actually has decent range which makes up for some of it, which makes him probably better than Reyes and Naylor.