• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

Cleveland Guardians Offseason Discussion 2021-22

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Steve_424 said:
Click to expand...
Interesting...

Bryan Lavastida is on the roster, but not as a catcher but an infielder.. Wonder if that means anything.. I doubt it as Jhonkensey Noel is listed as an outfielder and Micah Pries as an infielder as well, though Pries has a few games at 1st...
 
Criznit said:
Interesting...

Bryan Lavastida is on the roster, but not as a catcher but an infielder.. Wonder if that means anything.. I doubt it as Jhonkensey Noel is listed as an outfielder and Micah Pries as an infielder as well, though Pries has a few games at 1st...
Click to expand...
Criz.. you know what they're seeing with Lavastida.. a darn good bat that can become very good to great..being destroyed by the mere use of the "tools" that will rob him of his swing... Something a 'hit first' back stop must have.. and won't if he stays behind the plate.. imho..

I like Lavastida as hitter.. I am fearful that his game would be completely ruined if he continues working at and trying to be (his ceiling) an average catcher..

Now is the time to make that transition.. if a transition is coming.. BTW... I think Bo Naylor.. is nearly on the same path..
 
Wham with the Right Hand said:
More from The Athletic on the game itself:

BATTING AVERAGE: League average was .244, lowest since 1968.

SINGLES: The average team hit just 5.1 singles per game, almost identical to last year, but producing the fewest total singles in a season since the inception of the 162-game schedule.

STEALS: The average team stole a mere 0.45 bases per game, lowest rate since 1967. But meanwhile, the stolen-base success rate, of 75.5 percent, was actually the best ever, proving that for data-driven teams, base-stealing is now basically a math equation.

DOUBLE PLAYS: The pitcher’s best friend isn’t as loyal as it used to be. The average team grounded into only 0.69 double plays per game, the lowest rate since this has been calculated.

HIT BATTERS: Welcome to the first season in history with more than 2,000 batters getting hit by a pitch. The total is a record, although the rate per game was slightly higher last year.

BABIP: The batting average on balls in play was only .292, barely below last year and the lowest since 1992 (the year before offense exploded in the PED era). Two words: Shifts work!

ERRORS: The average team made only 0.54 errors per game. But we regret to report that is not a tribute to leatherwork. Like the DP rate, it’s a reminder merely that the ball is never in play anymore. All right, not never. But, despite that dip in the Three True Outcomes, not nearly enough.

So what does it all mean? It’s a reminder that too many action plays are disappearing from this sport. And that’s a problem.

“It’s just a symptom of how the game has changed, how the game has moved in the direction of power and strikeouts,” said one AL exec. “When you’re seeing singles, hits on balls in play, stolen bases, all these things, going by the wayside, it’s telling us that nothing that’s been done around the edges has made an impact the way we thought it would.”

So what’s the moral of that story? A lot of traditional baseball fans don’t want to hear this. But here’s the unvarnished truth:

“Without some structural shift — without some significant change to the rules — I don’t see this reversing course,” the same exec aid. “We have to incentivize changing the way the game is played, because it’s just not happening organically.”

My suggestion: Make the baseball itself less aerodynamic. Make it less advantageous to hit balls in the air.
Click to expand...
In a related note:
I saw a recent interview with Myles Straw where he was complimented on a consecutive games hitting streak. He mentioned he was just concentrating on making good contact, and less about launch angles. He said when he tried for a better launch angle, he would just wind up with average fly balls. He said, the line drives were getting him on base recently. He said on our team, getting on base for Amed and Jose was more valuable than an occasional solo homer.
Now if he put on another 5-10 lbs. of muscle I'm sure he would hit more HR's. But I don't think that's really his game.
Personally, I'd love to see the launch angle craze phase out.
 
Gson said:
Criz.. you know what they're seeing with Lavastida.. a darn good bat that can become very good to great..being destroyed by the mere use of the "tools" that will rob him of his swing... Something a 'hit first' back stop must have.. and won't if he stays behind the plate.. imho..

I like Lavastida as hitter.. I am fearful that his game would be completely ruined if he continues working at and trying to be (his ceiling) an average catcher..

Now is the time to make that transition.. if a transition is coming.. BTW... I think Bo Naylor.. is nearly on the same path..
Click to expand...

That list is wrong when it comes to player positions everyone. Pump the brakes.

Also, Lavastida is far from an "average" catcher, defensively, at his ceiling. He would be league average right now.

Entire defensive game took a big leap forward last year. Big improvements in his pop time, blocking, and he is an exceptional game caller for his age/experience. He played at 3 different levels this year and has been heaped praise by pitchers at all 3 levels this year, non-stop.

Not surprising, he was attached to Sandy's hip all Spring and will be again in 2022.
 
And when I say "wrong" I don't mean guys like Lavastida and Noel aren't playing IF/OF at times.

It's instructs, guys play everywhere. They aren't going to have a kid who just caught almost 500 innings after an entire season off then go and catch everyday at instructs. They're also going to see what everyone can do and if anyone can show position flexibility.

But Lavastida will be a C only in 2022 and Noel will be a 1B/3B in 2022. And those positions are where they will get most of their time at in instructs. That's why it's wrong.
 
Last edited:
Mott the Hoople said:
In a related note:
I saw a recent interview with Myles Straw where he was complimented on a consecutive games hitting streak. He mentioned he was just concentrating on making good contact, and less about launch angles. He said when he tried for a better launch angle, he would just wind up with average fly balls. He said, the line drives were getting him on base recently. He said on our team, getting on base for Amed and Jose was more valuable than an occasional solo homer.
Now if he put on another 5-10 lbs. of muscle I'm sure he would hit more HR's. But I don't think that's really his game.
Personally, I'd love to see the launch angle craze phase out.
Click to expand...
like Billy, he should never hit a fly ball
 
BimboColesHair said:
And when I say "wrong" I don't mean guys like Lavastida and Noel aren't playing IF/OF at times.

It's instructs, guys play everywhere. They aren't going to have a kid who just caught almost 500 innings after an entire season off then go and catch everyday at instructs. They're also going to see what everyone can do and if anyone can show position flexibility.

But Lavastida will be a C only in 2022 and Noel will be a 1B/3B in 2022. And those positions are where they will get most of their time at in instructs. That's why it's wrong.
Click to expand...

Pretty much figured that would be the case. Lavasitda playing 1st base (or?) and Noel roaming the outfield for a few games makes perfect sense all and all. That said, wouldn't be surprised at all to see Pries morph into more of a Brooks roll and begin playing 1st base a little more frequently.

Good to see ya Bimbo.
 
What does it take to change the game?

One team.

One team that bucks the trend, and successfully uses contact OBP guys who run the bases well and play outstanding defense behind excellent pitching. One team that forces opponents to abandon shifts...which means having defensively challenged infielders play in normal positions.

When KC placed its emphasis on its bullpen to get to the World Series, look what happened. Tito went even farther, and now pitching staffs have evolved all the way to where Tampa doesn't even rely on a true rotation.

I've spent almost my entire life around football coaches, and when it comes to fads, they are every bit as bad as teen age girls.

They change offensive and defensive schemes constantly. They change weight lifting equipment like underwear. There are few innovators, but hundreds of copy cats.

Baseball execs are the same way.
 
The Rox take a chance of putting their own guys signatures on contracts.. before there's a work stoppage.. or a CBA change.. A couple of good players.. Thoughts?..
 
Goes without saying. Do not get your hopes up for unrealistic scenarios, such as Matt Olson.

Extension or 2, early arb (or early cheap extension) or pre-arb trade for MLB level corner OF talent, 1 or 2 short term 1 year signings (think similar to Rosario) to plug a hole, and some minor league FAs in the OF, 1B, C, and RP. That is where they'll live this winter/spring, if you put a gun to my head right now.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-14: "Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:14: " Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey."
Top