2023 Season | Series #24 | A's @ Guardians | June 20-22, 2023

[daddywags]

Can Freeman play Right Field at this moment?

Tyler Freeman has played 0 games in the outfield in his professional career. So I'll go with a "no" on that.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

Good lord, I never suggested that Freeman play right. I suggested getting him in the lineup more often. And getting Bell and Arias out of the lineup more often.

 

[33Y0]

And Oscar getting another chance would allow Arias to be in AAA getting regular at bats.

Oscar isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire in Columbus. I mean, he hasn’t been terrible, but he’s just been okay. Hitting .260 with a .293 OBP, .442 SLG, and .735 OPS. 8 BB and 40 K.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

Correct, Oscar hasn’t done much in AAA but Arias has been abysmal his last 15 games I just want Freeman to get a regular chance.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Please be gentle...






I think Bell isn't a write-off yet.

He has proven more at this level than anyone else we're talking about. We know that players often take half a year to settle in when switching leagues. And, Bell has been putting his bat on the ball for a while now, plus little glimmers of power are starting to shine through.

I'm willing to bet Bell's OPS+ from here through the end of the year is higher than Freeman, Arias and OGon.

 

[sportscoach]

Indeed there is.

Right-handed fastball BA/xBA: .268/.265
Left-handed fastball BA/xBA: .091/.073

Right-handed breaking BA/xBA: .308/.231
Left-handed breaking BA/xBA: .111/.151

Right-handed offspeed BA/xBA: .200/.151
Left-handed offspeed BA/xBA: .100/.233

I figured as much... He isn't reading the ball out of left handed pitchers at all it feels like...

 

[Martyinnewyork]

Bell has to have a higher OPS+ to earn his keep, because he has virtually no defensive value. He’s a bad 1B.

 

[jjvors]

Guardians sweep!

 

[jjvors]

The last out:

 

[daddywags]

Please be gentle...






I think Bell isn't a write-off yet.

He has proven more at this level than anyone else we're talking about. We know that players often take half a year to settle in when switching leagues. And, Bell has been putting his bat on the ball for a while now, plus little glimmers of power are starting to shine through.

I'm willing to bet Bell's OPS+ from here through the end of the year is higher than Freeman, Arias and OGon.

I tend to agree, but, in any event, the sunk cost pretty much requires them to ride him out and hope he finds it. Benching him or otherwise severely decreasing his ABs will only increase the likelihood that he will continue to scuffle and, then, pick up his 2024 option. And then we have to do this again next year.

 

[jjvors]

Game highlights:

 

[daddywags]

The wins are good, but, man, Oakland is terrible. They have some live arms but they make the White Sox look like a bunch of gold glovers.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

Bell has to catch fire if there’s a chance we won’t have to keep him next year. It’s a lose-lose situation. If he continues to be bad, we’ll be stuck with him next year. And if he’s great the rest of this year, he’ll leave for more money. I guess it’s better that we have him for one good 2nd half of 2023 than be stuck with him for two bad years.

 

[KluberSociety]

Please be gentle...






I think Bell isn't a write-off yet.

He has proven more at this level than anyone else we're talking about. We know that players often take half a year to settle in when switching leagues. And, Bell has been putting his bat on the ball for a while now, plus little glimmers of power are starting to shine through.

I'm willing to bet Bell's OPS+ from here through the end of the year is higher than Freeman, Arias and OGon.

I don't think that's a difficult bet to make other than you're betting against 3. While I don't think he exactly deserves the price tag he got to be a DH/bad 1B, he is a bit of a hot/cold hitter and really has been decent lately. We need all the help we can get on offense so a slightly above average bat is welcome.

 

[sportscoach]

Bell has been a good player in June with the bat... So hopefully he keeps that up...