Great work, guys. McKinney point is fascinating. From the beginning his at-bats looked so much better than the other OF fill-ins. Who knows if his numbers will stay good, but he looks like a real MLB hitter and is strong in the OF
Enjoyed linked piece about Rojas’ plan for resting regulars using advice from “performance” staff. Still...I can’t understand why a professional athlete in his 20s, coming off a ten-day IL stint, would be over-taxed to play first base every day. Keith must have spit out his coffee reading that. What, exactly, do experts think will happen if Pete plays every day, especially so soon after a long rest? He’s not catching, or logging miles in CF and running in to walls. Don’t get it at all.
It's not just playing baseball anymore. Now they have to "sell" themselves for the good of the sport. Players were definitely tougher back in the day but I don't think the entertainment portion of baseball was so strong in Keith's day. They also didn't work out as much or have to work year-round. It's all encompassing today - they just don't wake up and get ready for the game. That being said, today's players do seem ridiculously fragile.
I think it's too early to tell anything, other than the fact that he's only 21 and Major League pitching is really really good. When Mike Trout first came up in 2011, he played 40 games and went 27-123 (.220/.281). The next year -- he won the ROY and came in second in MVP voting.
Succinct analysis about Kelenic's rookies woes but he is not and will never be Mike Trout. Maybe his numbers should be compared to the other "can't-miss" player, Michael Conforto?
I certainly agree on that point -- I would never project any player to become Mike Trout. I was just using that as an example not to draw too many conclusions from the first time a prospect is called up. It can take some prospects time to get used to Major League pitching.
Conforto did make an immediate impact in 2015 (.270/.335 over 56 games), but remember -- he also played college ball (2-time PAC-12 player of the year) whereas Kelenic was drafted out of high school. Another challenge for a prospect like Kelenic -- no minor league season last year.
I hear you - I was being a tad flippant. Sorry. I get frustrated with the Kelenic talk because he is no longer our concern and to dwell on the trade is silly. Having said that we shouldn’t talk about it, let’s talk about it: Diaz is finally comfortable and pitching as advertised and I’ve never been so happy for a guy to test positive for PEDs like Cáno. We may actually win this trade yet!
I didn't realize that he'd only 6 games total at AAA and 21 at AA. For a team that has only one mission -- developing players -- that seems awfully fast. I fully expect him to be an All-Star eventually.
Seeing Pete get hit in his elbow pad again, I am wondering:
—why doesn’t every hitter at least use the small, light guard on elbow given how disastrous getting hit there could be?
—why does club let Jake bat left-handed with the franchise arm facing the pitcher?
—at a minimum why doesn’t he, and other pitchers, use guard on pitching arm?
Great work, guys. McKinney point is fascinating. From the beginning his at-bats looked so much better than the other OF fill-ins. Who knows if his numbers will stay good, but he looks like a real MLB hitter and is strong in the OF
Enjoyed linked piece about Rojas’ plan for resting regulars using advice from “performance” staff. Still...I can’t understand why a professional athlete in his 20s, coming off a ten-day IL stint, would be over-taxed to play first base every day. Keith must have spit out his coffee reading that. What, exactly, do experts think will happen if Pete plays every day, especially so soon after a long rest? He’s not catching, or logging miles in CF and running in to walls. Don’t get it at all.
It's not just playing baseball anymore. Now they have to "sell" themselves for the good of the sport. Players were definitely tougher back in the day but I don't think the entertainment portion of baseball was so strong in Keith's day. They also didn't work out as much or have to work year-round. It's all encompassing today - they just don't wake up and get ready for the game. That being said, today's players do seem ridiculously fragile.
What's the word on Kelenic? How explain 0-39 streak? Anyone have insights?
I think it's too early to tell anything, other than the fact that he's only 21 and Major League pitching is really really good. When Mike Trout first came up in 2011, he played 40 games and went 27-123 (.220/.281). The next year -- he won the ROY and came in second in MVP voting.
Succinct analysis about Kelenic's rookies woes but he is not and will never be Mike Trout. Maybe his numbers should be compared to the other "can't-miss" player, Michael Conforto?
I certainly agree on that point -- I would never project any player to become Mike Trout. I was just using that as an example not to draw too many conclusions from the first time a prospect is called up. It can take some prospects time to get used to Major League pitching.
Conforto did make an immediate impact in 2015 (.270/.335 over 56 games), but remember -- he also played college ball (2-time PAC-12 player of the year) whereas Kelenic was drafted out of high school. Another challenge for a prospect like Kelenic -- no minor league season last year.
I hear you - I was being a tad flippant. Sorry. I get frustrated with the Kelenic talk because he is no longer our concern and to dwell on the trade is silly. Having said that we shouldn’t talk about it, let’s talk about it: Diaz is finally comfortable and pitching as advertised and I’ve never been so happy for a guy to test positive for PEDs like Cáno. We may actually win this trade yet!
I didn't realize that he'd only 6 games total at AAA and 21 at AA. For a team that has only one mission -- developing players -- that seems awfully fast. I fully expect him to be an All-Star eventually.