Great and timely assessment, Brian. Well done. It’s funny (or perhaps not) that Mauricio and Baty get hot while Vientos is about to come back. At this point, I can’t see how they keep Young on the roster. They’ve been saying that he’s getting good ABs but that K rate overshadows his low BABIP. He’s the odd man out and I don’t think it’s close.
I largely agree with your playing time allocation except that I’d give Marte more than 20%, as long as he’s “hot.” He’s been clipping along at a .772 OPS for the last 30 games (.765 for the past 15) and has been productive. Here’s my split lineup.
Against righties. CF- McNeil. 3B Vientos. 2B Baty. DH. Mauricio.
Against lefties. CF- Taylor. 3B. Baty. 2B. McNeil. DH Marte.
McNeil’s OPS is .834 vs RH and, wait for it, .838 vs. LH. He should be in the lineup everyday.
I’d make allowances for the hot bat and for tough match-ups.
You convinced me. Marte should get all DH at bat when a LHP is starting. He has earned it with his 716 OPS. Unfortunately Taylor should loose the majority of his at bats but he still will be still involved as a defensive replacement and McNeil would move to second base. McNeil is passable as a center field. Stearns can reevaluate going into the trade deadline and adjust accordingly.
As always Brian you are timely with your analysis. It's also amazing that as you have often stated, hitters go through six weeks cycles of hitting well and then not hitting so well. We would all take Mauricio's more recent production as well as Baty who continues to prove that he belongs on this roster and needs playing time. Did not realize Young had options so he is an easy demotion to AAA, a move that is well deserved - maybe send him to AA to learn how to hit. McNeil has certainly showed how versatile he is in the field climbing the wall in CF to snag away a homers. And yes his bat has come alive. Still like Tyronne Taylor but we get what we get at the plate from him. Love to see a hot streak to go with his great fielding and still think a deal for Mullins from Baltimore solidifies the CF situation and also let's McNeil either go back to second or give a corner outfielder a day off. What they really need is for Alvarez to get his shit together and come back swinging a significant bat. Hard to remember that he only 23. And I think this team will fall short unless Vientos comes back also swinging a good bat. If he does, he can get some time at 3B and also be a stronger RH DH than Marte.
What a great well written article. Hope we get some talent at the trade deadline, but without significant cost. And please, no Luis Robert. He is having a terrible year. I think we need to really start thinking about next year. Maybe we trade for a first baseman who can DH this year and play first next year. Alonso will surely opt out and some team is going to offer him 5 years, that of course if he doesnt have a bad second half. And where is Jett Williams going to play? I am still stung by seeing Pete Crow's season.
Great and timely assessment, Brian. Well done. It’s funny (or perhaps not) that Mauricio and Baty get hot while Vientos is about to come back. At this point, I can’t see how they keep Young on the roster. They’ve been saying that he’s getting good ABs but that K rate overshadows his low BABIP. He’s the odd man out and I don’t think it’s close.
I largely agree with your playing time allocation except that I’d give Marte more than 20%, as long as he’s “hot.” He’s been clipping along at a .772 OPS for the last 30 games (.765 for the past 15) and has been productive. Here’s my split lineup.
Against righties. CF- McNeil. 3B Vientos. 2B Baty. DH. Mauricio.
Against lefties. CF- Taylor. 3B. Baty. 2B. McNeil. DH Marte.
McNeil’s OPS is .834 vs RH and, wait for it, .838 vs. LH. He should be in the lineup everyday.
I’d make allowances for the hot bat and for tough match-ups.
Thanks Bull!
Baty is a much-better fielder than Vientos, so if both are in the lineup, Baty should be at third the vast majority of the time.
Unless Baty is at 2B, of course
You convinced me. Marte should get all DH at bat when a LHP is starting. He has earned it with his 716 OPS. Unfortunately Taylor should loose the majority of his at bats but he still will be still involved as a defensive replacement and McNeil would move to second base. McNeil is passable as a center field. Stearns can reevaluate going into the trade deadline and adjust accordingly.
As always Brian you are timely with your analysis. It's also amazing that as you have often stated, hitters go through six weeks cycles of hitting well and then not hitting so well. We would all take Mauricio's more recent production as well as Baty who continues to prove that he belongs on this roster and needs playing time. Did not realize Young had options so he is an easy demotion to AAA, a move that is well deserved - maybe send him to AA to learn how to hit. McNeil has certainly showed how versatile he is in the field climbing the wall in CF to snag away a homers. And yes his bat has come alive. Still like Tyronne Taylor but we get what we get at the plate from him. Love to see a hot streak to go with his great fielding and still think a deal for Mullins from Baltimore solidifies the CF situation and also let's McNeil either go back to second or give a corner outfielder a day off. What they really need is for Alvarez to get his shit together and come back swinging a significant bat. Hard to remember that he only 23. And I think this team will fall short unless Vientos comes back also swinging a good bat. If he does, he can get some time at 3B and also be a stronger RH DH than Marte.
Why bring Alonso into this? Is he the new whipping boy now that Acuna is gone?
It's nothing personal from my end. It's just that someone has to be ready to say that the emperor has no clothes.
And news is out that Young's getting demoted and Mauricio is staying.
What a great well written article. Hope we get some talent at the trade deadline, but without significant cost. And please, no Luis Robert. He is having a terrible year. I think we need to really start thinking about next year. Maybe we trade for a first baseman who can DH this year and play first next year. Alonso will surely opt out and some team is going to offer him 5 years, that of course if he doesnt have a bad second half. And where is Jett Williams going to play? I am still stung by seeing Pete Crow's season.