2021 Series #31 | Cardinals @ Indians | July 27-28, 2021

[Gson]

Franny and Harold in the Gold Glove competition

they both tie for second?.. in a two man race?

 

[Gson]

Looks like Clase is getting an inning's worth of work.. let's see if he continues to throw that devastating slider.. again and again.. so far.. through three pitches.. two sliders..

 

[Gson]

Looks like Clase is getting an inning's worth of work.. let's see if he continues to throw that devastating slider.. again and again.. so far.. through three pitches.. two sliders..

All three strikes on Oneill.. the first out.. were sliders.. nice..

 

[xmasbuck]

they both tie for second?.. in a two man race?

2nd is pretty good

 

[KluberSociety]

Can anyone explain why Nolan Jones isn't on this team right now? He's 23, has five years of minor league development and Fangraphs projects him to have a 102 WRC+ this season.

I'm getting really tired of the organization's pecking order of "finding out what we have in a position player in his mid-to-late 20s who would have already gotten a real opportunity, if he was anything special." Here are the results of that joyful experiment thus far:

Jake Bauers: DFA'd
Yu Chang: 32 WRC+
Mercado: .243 xWOBA
Zimmer: 101 WRC+ (solid, but the .408 BABIP, even with his speed, isn't sustainable, and his .083 ISO and 34% K rate are very alarming).
Bobby Bradley: After a torrent start, he's at 116 WRC+ with a 34% K rate. He has certainly earned the 1B job for the rest of the season, but the recent trends aren't promising.
Daniel Johnson: Only 43 PAs, but so far his production has been underwhelming.

If this team intends on competing next season, bring NoJo up now, and let him getting exposure to MLB pitching.

I think if he had a July comparable to his June we might have seen him already. But his July has not been very impressive, including a stretch where he was K-ing a ton.

I'm fine keeping him down there. While he probably would help us out vs RHP, overall I do not think we benefit as an organization for calling up a prospect like that to do a lot of platooning when we're fringe contenders at best.

 

[CATS44]

Thank you, sir! Can I have another?

We complain about the players we have, and then want more of the same.

Guys that K at horrendous rates and can't hit same handed pitching.

 

[CDAV45]

We don't have an OFer that isn't barely replacement level or below. We have the worst hitting C tandem in the league. Our only 1B is either hotter than hell or colder than a penguin's arse. Other than that this team is pretty damn good or will be. We have Jose, Franmil, very good pitching, and MIF depth. As much as I believe in this team, right now the best thing to do is start preparing to make a run in 22 IMO. There are areas that need improvement, but that can be easier said than done. We'll see what happens if anything happens at all. Again, this team is on the verge and would be vastly improved with a good corner OFer and a C that could hit. A 1B/DH like Aguilar would be a huge addition. Especially if the Franimal can play some OF opening up DH.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Yesterday was definitely the formula this team is going for.

• Solid starting pitching
• Airtight bullpen (4 innings, no hits, no runs)
• Offensive contributors throughout the order (bottom third had two hits, a sacrifice, and an RBI)
• Josie and Franmil providing the muscle

The problems lately have been a combination of no Bieber, Plesac, or Civale, Josie playing hurt and starting the second half 2-for-19, Reyes being out, Naylor's injury, and some hiccups at the back end of the bullpen. All of this coinciding with the toughest part of the schedule.

This team needed an almost injury-free season to contend. I think that if Bieber, Civale, and Plesac had been able to start every fifth day and Reyes had not missed a month this team would not be in first place but they would be right at the top of the wild card standings.

But they don't have the depth to withstand the loss of the top three starters plus the cleanup hitter for huge chunks of time. I agree it's time to pack it in and start getting ready for next year. The trading deadline is tomorrow. I expect the organization will make a change.

 

[AZ_]

Can anyone explain why Nolan Jones isn't on this team right now? He's 23, has five years of minor league development and Fangraphs projects him to have a 102 WRC+ this season.

I'm getting really tired of the organization's pecking order of "finding out what we have in a position player in his mid-to-late 20s who would have already gotten a real opportunity, if he was anything special." Here are the results of that joyful experiment thus far:

Jake Bauers: DFA'd
Yu Chang: 32 WRC+
Mercado: .243 xWOBA
Zimmer: 101 WRC+ (solid, but the .408 BABIP, even with his speed, isn't sustainable, and his .083 ISO and 34% K rate are very alarming).
Bobby Bradley: After a torrent start, he's at 116 WRC+ with a 34% K rate. He has certainly earned the 1B job for the rest of the season, but the recent trends aren't promising.
Daniel Johnson: Only 43 PAs, but so far his production has been underwhelming.

If this team intends on competing next season, bring NoJo up now, and let him getting exposure to MLB pitching.

The bolded is a false dilemma.

No sense in starting Jones service time now, vs a month from now when it doesn't count towards service time.


Nor does one month of at-bats have anything to do with being competitive next season.

Zero incentive to do it other than being bored with the middling team you're watching right now.

 

[CATS44]

No team has the depth to lose its top three SPs...esp ones as good as we have.

Unless, of course, it has a $200 mil payroll.

 

[sportscoach]

No team has the depth to lose its top three SPs...esp ones as good as we have.

Unless, of course, it has a $200 mil payroll.

Even then, if they are in a tough division, losing three top end starters will be hard to replace even with a good payroll.

 

[CDAV45]

Even then, if they are in a tough division, losing three top end starters will be hard to replace even with a good payroll.

Absolutely! There is no team in MLB that could withstand simultaneously losing their top 3 SP for an extended period of time.

That has nothing to do with the issue that this team should attempt to address.

 

[CDAV45]

The bolded is a false dilemma.

No sense in starting Jones service time now, vs a month from now when it doesn't count towards service time.


Nor does one month of at-bats have anything to do with being competitive next season.

Zero incentive to do it other than being bored with the middling team you're watching right now.

If he were hitting well enough to justify it then maybe, but he's not and it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to force the issue.