I'd be interested in your opinion re: Matheny's approach to establishing a consistent batting order against LH or RH pitching. Seems like he consistently slots BWJ at 2 and Salvy at 3 and then just shuffles the cards each night hoping something good happens. At a minimum, can we put someone in the 4 slot who hits better than .212 with 1 HR (O'Hearn)? Maybe Pratto has now earned that spot until Vinny returns.
We have been content with Brady and his recent success. All pitchers can and will have outings like his. I agree, how he responds in his next start will show us something.
I mentioned previously mentioned (elsewhere), a lack of emotion from some players. What I was excited to see was Pratto and his reaction to his final at bat. Did anyone else notice how he slammed his bat to the ground, even after going 4/4? I loved that! You don't see Bobby doing that, or other players for that matter. The closest would be MJ questioning balls and strikes. That may be getting in his head a bit, but if you can't show emotions, good or bad, makes me wonder if you care?
I was singing the praises of Michael Massey's swing, but he is really struggling to hit MLB off speed stuff. He's going to see a ton of it until he shows he can hit it. Pratto has the highest OPS in spite of a 40%+ K rate. I guess thats both a bad thing and encouraging thing at the same time.
Sometimes Salvy has a stretch where I think he's wearing a blindfold at the plate, and then he goes and has a night like last night. You'd think I'd be used to it by now.
I know we really can't play this game because it's SUCH a small sample size, but with three XBH last night, Pratto now has 16 in 133 PA. Extrapolate that to a 600-PA season and that's 72.
As a certain writer for a certain publication would say: "That will play."
I'd be interested in your opinion re: Matheny's approach to establishing a consistent batting order against LH or RH pitching. Seems like he consistently slots BWJ at 2 and Salvy at 3 and then just shuffles the cards each night hoping something good happens. At a minimum, can we put someone in the 4 slot who hits better than .212 with 1 HR (O'Hearn)? Maybe Pratto has now earned that spot until Vinny returns.
We have been content with Brady and his recent success. All pitchers can and will have outings like his. I agree, how he responds in his next start will show us something.
I mentioned previously mentioned (elsewhere), a lack of emotion from some players. What I was excited to see was Pratto and his reaction to his final at bat. Did anyone else notice how he slammed his bat to the ground, even after going 4/4? I loved that! You don't see Bobby doing that, or other players for that matter. The closest would be MJ questioning balls and strikes. That may be getting in his head a bit, but if you can't show emotions, good or bad, makes me wonder if you care?
BTW, where is MJ?
I was singing the praises of Michael Massey's swing, but he is really struggling to hit MLB off speed stuff. He's going to see a ton of it until he shows he can hit it. Pratto has the highest OPS in spite of a 40%+ K rate. I guess thats both a bad thing and encouraging thing at the same time.
Salvy's home run was one of those "This is why we love baseball" moments. That was insane, but par for the course for him.
Sometimes Salvy has a stretch where I think he's wearing a blindfold at the plate, and then he goes and has a night like last night. You'd think I'd be used to it by now.
I know we really can't play this game because it's SUCH a small sample size, but with three XBH last night, Pratto now has 16 in 133 PA. Extrapolate that to a 600-PA season and that's 72.
As a certain writer for a certain publication would say: "That will play."
This is really good, thoughtful, thought-provoking stuff, David! Both in your article and in the comments. Thank you for all of that!
I still like Taylor leading off and the numbers support it. Guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on that one. :)