2023 Guardians Offseason Thread!

[Criznit]

Great to see... Hopefully Kwan got 999,999.99

 

[KluberSociety]

Unless Straw is credited with half of a home run, I don't think you understand how numbers work

Hopefully he can create divide by zero errors in less advanced analytical departments that get in the way of them cracking his weakness...

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

If Straw hits 1 HR then he'll have doubled his output from 22.

Uh, better check your math on that.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Straw's approach changed visibly in the last month of the season and the results were impressive. I don't expect the same results because pitchers will adjust, but he will almost certainly hit better than the .198 he hit up until Sep. 1. In 2021 he hit .262 in 325 at-bats with the Astros. That looks realistic, especially since he gets infield hits.

He stole 21 bases in 22 attempts and with the shorter basepaths this season plus a better OBP he could steal 35. The bigger bases won't make any difference to the slow guys - they'll be thrown out by 1.5 feet instead of two. But the fast guys will steal even more. This rule change adds value to a player like Straw (and Rosario, Hosey, etc).

The improved offensive production from Bell (and hopefully a better hitting catcher) also works to Straw's advantage. As others have noted, you can get away with one Gold Glove player at a critical position who can't hit as long as he's the ONLY low productivity hitter in the lineup.

As of Sep. 1 last year I'd have said no way Straw starts 150 games in center next year, but his outstanding final month plus the shorter basepaths and the addition of Bell all add to his value.

But give me Bryan Reynolds all day long. He was a 6.0 WAR player in 2021 before slumping a bit last year (3.0 WAR, .262/.807, 27 home runs). I would give up Valera (we don't need Valera if we have Reynolds, Oscar, and Kwan), a top middle infielder (Arias, Freeman, Martinez), and a pitcher (anybody but Espino, Williams, and Bibee). Cody Morris?

Valera, their choice of infielders listed, and Morris for Reynolds. They can include Straw, Brennan, or Benson in the package if necessary.

 

[sportscoach]

Straw's approach changed visibly in the last month of the season and the results were impressive. I don't expect the same results because pitchers will adjust, but he will almost certainly hit better than the .198 he hit up until Sep. 1. In 2021 he hit .262 in 325 at-bats with the Astros. That looks realistic, especially since he gets infield hits.

He stole 21 bases in 22 attempts and with the shorter basepaths this season plus a better OBP he could steal 35. The bigger bases won't make any difference to the slow guys - they'll be thrown out by 1.5 feet instead of two. But the fast guys will steal even more. This rule change adds value to a player like Straw (and Rosario, Hosey, etc).

The improved offensive production from Bell (and hopefully a better hitting catcher) also works to Straw's advantage. As others have noted, you can get away with one Gold Glove player at a critical position who can't hit as long as he's the ONLY low productivity hitter in the lineup.

As of Sep. 1 last year I'd have said no way Straw starts 150 games in center next year, but his outstanding final month plus the shorter basepaths and the addition of Bell all add to his value.

But give me Bryan Reynolds all day long. He was a 6.0 WAR player in 2021 before slumping a bit last year (3.0 WAR, .262/.807, 27 home runs). I would give up Valera (we don't need Valera if we have Reynolds), a top middle infielder (Arias, Freeman, Martinez), and a pitcher (anybody but Espino, Williams, and Bibee). Cody Morris?

Valera, their choice of infielders listed, and Morris for Reynolds. They can include Straw, Brennan, or Benson in the package if necessary.

That's not enough to get Reynolds plus Reynolds isn't very good in CF defensively...

Pirates probably want one of the SPs over Valera...

 

[CDAV45]

Uh, better check your math on that.

Jeesh! How about if Straw hits 1 HR in 23 it will be 1 more than he did in 22. You clowns know what I was getting at.

 

[sportscoach]

Jeesh! How about if Straw hits 1 HR in 23 it will be 1 more than he did in 22. You clowns know what I was getting at.

But your math was wrong and basic math can never be changed...

 

[CDAV45]

So moving on from the "Straw sucks" discussion, what's next? Is Plesac and/or Rosario getting dealt?

 

[sportscoach]

So moving on from the "Straw sucks" discussion, what's next? Is Plesac and/or Rosario getting dealt?

I think both guys will have offers, though what exactly we want for them, is unclear...

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

So moving on from the "Straw sucks" discussion, what's next? Is Plesac and/or Rosario getting dealt?

I think the next topic of discussion is about how 0 x 2 does not equal 1.

Has anyone brought it up yet? No?

 

[CDAV45]

I think the next topic of discussion is about how 0 x 2 does not equal 1.

Has anyone brought it up yet? No?

No you're the first.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

To be fair, Straw hit A LOT of double play balls.. Grounders that would be GIDP for anyone without some decent wheels. Also some of the double play grounders weren't DPs due to how weakly they were hit, which isn't exactly an endorsement.

Can't recall how many times I saw him beat the throw to 1st on a fielders choice... If you want to look up how many FCs he hit into that might be a little more telling.

As for the bunt I do seem to remember one, against TB? But there were a few occasions I wish he had gone that route but instead swung away. Especially late in the season.

Geesh. Saying Straw hit a lot of double play balls but he was fast enough to stay out of the double play is actually a GOOD thing, but you seem to be presenting it as a negative. If Straw can beat out so many of those potential DP grounders, how come the incredibly fast Rosario hit into SO MANY DP’s?

This is like saying that Austin Hedges hit a ton of infield singles but wasn’t fast enough to beat any of them out (unless the fielder fell down and broke both arms) and presenting that as a positive.

It blows my mind how so many people hate on Straw. He’s a top-flight CF who is signed for comparative chump change.

 

[Criznit]

Geesh. Saying Straw hit a lot of double play balls but he was fast enough to stay out of the double play is actually a GOOD thing, but you seem to be presenting it as a negative. If Straw can beat out so many of those potential DP grounders, how come the incredibly fast Rosario hit into SO MANY DP’s?

This is like saying that Austin Hedges hit a ton of infield singles but wasn’t fast enough to beat any of them out (unless the fielder fell down and broke both arms) and presenting that as a positive.

It blows my mind how so many people hate on Straw. He’s a top-flight CF who is signed for comparative chump change.

LOL.

I don't hate on Straw... You have already said you don't read all posts.. Your perception is skewed - its all on you.

Maybe one should consider how many opportunities he even had to hit into DPs batting leadoff or behind Hedges/Maile most of the time. After all he hit into 13 in 2021. This should be simple for you - Rosario hit into more double plays because he batted 2nd all year and puts the ball into play way more....

I watched Straw hit plenty of grounders that ended up resulting in a fielders choice. Not as "bad" as an actual double play but not good either.

"Like saying Austin Hedges hit a ton of infield singles but".... - if that is your leap of logic.. That is all on you bub. That's one of the dumbest things I have read in awhile.

Sure he is a top flight DEFENDER in CF. No one disagrees with that.

CDAV is leading the Straw sucks parade - try to keep up.

Geesh yourself...

 

[CDAV45]

LOL.

I don't hate on Straw... You have already said you don't read all posts.. Your perception is skewed - its all on you.

Maybe one should consider how many opportunities he even had to hit into DPs batting behind Hedges/Maile most of the time. After all he hit into 13 in 2021. This should be simple for you - Rosario hit into more double plays because he batted 2nd all year and puts the ball into play way more....

I watched Straw hit plenty of grounders that ended up resulting in a fielders choice. Not as "bad" as an actual double play but not good either.

"Like saying Austin Hedges hit a ton of infield singles but".... - if that is your leap of logic.. That is all on you bub. That's one of the dumbest things I have read in awhile.

Sure he is a top flight DEFENDER in CF. No one disagrees with that.

CDAV is leading the Straw sucks parade - try to keep up.

Geesh yourself...

I am the President of my local "Straw sucks" chapter, and you're right, nobody disagrees or argues that Straw is gifted defensively. The problem is that nobody can argue that a 64 wRC+ from any position isn't equally awful. That is not a starting major league player. I don't give a shit how good he is with the glove. There's a reason fielders hit and hitters field(minus DH of course). Hell, Zimmer gave us an 89 wRC+ in his last season in Cleveland. That's how bad Straw was offensively.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

LOL.

I don't hate on Straw... You have already said you don't read all posts.. Your perception is skewed - its all on you.

Maybe one should consider how many opportunities he even had to hit into DPs batting leadoff or behind Hedges/Maile most of the time. After all he hit into 13 in 2021. This should be simple for you - Rosario hit into more double plays because he batted 2nd all year and puts the ball into play way more....

I watched Straw hit plenty of grounders that ended up resulting in a fielders choice. Not as "bad" as an actual double play but not good either.

"Like saying Austin Hedges hit a ton of infield singles but".... - if that is your leap of logic.. That is all on you bub. That's one of the dumbest things I have read in awhile.

Sure he is a top flight DEFENDER in CF. No one disagrees with that.

CDAV is leading the Straw sucks parade - try to keep up.

Geesh yourself...

I’m the second smartest poster on this board. Everyone else is tied for first.