Thurs. 7/31 - Shaking Off Wednesday's Results

[Joseph Zarr]

NO MATTER THE BIG FELLA HITS A BALL TO THE WALL!!!!!

[Matt]

Hell yea.

[Joseph Zarr]

NO MATTER THE BIG FELLA HITS A BALL TO THE WALL!!!!!

[Joseph Zarr]

HELL YEAH INDEED @Matt. Let's friggin GO!!!

[biedergb]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

NO MATTER THE BIG FELLA HITS A BALL TO THE WALL!!!!!

Maybe this will get him outta that funk.  Ok. Big win tonight. Get to go to bed with a smile 😀 

[Joseph Zarr]

I will allow my double post for reasons of 'Spazzing Out with Joy'.😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Gull dern that was an awesome moment. SO happy for Blake. Been a rough July. Suffered a bit of bad luck last night on a gapper. Hits the 102 mph walk off to the warning track. You have to beam with joy for the player and the man. Get it, Blake.

[JCREW]

5 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

NO MATTER THE BIG FELLA HITS A BALL TO THE WALL!!!!!

Slump buster with a little SLG. 
 

Too bad for his actual SLG that it will go down as a single in the books. 

[Joseph Zarr]

7 minutes ago, JCREW said:

Slump buster with a little SLG. 
 

Too bad for his actual SLG that it will go down as a single in the books. 

As I love to say (becuz it's true): The Box Score rarely tells the tale. 

I sprinkle the Burke doubters with a bit of zesty:

Hit a nice fading gapper that Chourio simply made an incredible play on last night. That 102 mph liner was obviously a two-bagger under normal circumstances. We take it in stride. He's had bad luck this month to boot. There's no doubt. That moment was awesome. 

[Matt]

This rules. 

[Joseph Zarr]

20 minutes ago, Matt said:

This rules. 

What's doubly cool about that moment is (not seen in the clip but if you stayed in the Live feed you saw glimpses of it) just after the walk off as things settled down some, Burke was seen chatting it up with ol' Shuckers manager and now roving Infield instructor throughout the org Mike Guerrero for a spell. They were clearly talking shop. Got the feels. The beat goes on.

[ghostdrew]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

What's doubly cool about that moment is (not seen in the clip but if you stayed in the Live feed you saw glimpses of it) just after the walk off as things settled down some, Burke was seen chatting it up with ol' Shuckers manager and now roving Infield instructor throughout the org Mike Guerrero for a spell. They were clearly talking shop. Got the feels. The beat goes on.

So do u know when the slump for Burke started I think Mr dinges  is the reason he isn't hitting much to much pressure on him being the offense .

[wiguy94]

21 minutes ago, ghostdrew said:

So do u know when the slump for Burke started I think Mr dinges  is the reason he isn't hitting much to much pressure on him being the offense .

Burke's slump started around July 20th. Dinges was injured on June 29th. 

6/30 to 7/19 - 117 wRC+

7/20 to 7/30 - 8 wRC+

[Playing Catch]

14 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I think it is very fair to say SS Cooper Pratt has had an underwhelming season. I expected more. I wanted more. A baseball progression is rarely linear. Pratt hasn't showcased any more power - he's stalemated giving those concerned about his lack of power or power projection more merit. He also has been too inconsistent for a defense first player. He's had some really poor errors. For every incredible play he has made - and he has made them - he has a boneheaded focus error. He lowered in my most recent prospect rankings. I just don't see any helium right now. <Sad Face>

He turns 21 next month, making him about the same age as many players that were recently drafted.

If he and his minor-league production to date, (an erratic, but skilled defender at short, league-average hitter with projection remaining), were available to be drafted this year, for what kind of bonus would he have been drafted?

This season, he's improved on both his BB% and his K%. That's impressive.

[SoCalBrewfan]

Both Pratt and Lara are having seasons that might look unimpressive, but they are both above average offensively in the Southern League. (The league slash line is .229/ .320/.339.)  For plus defenders at two of the three most challenging positions on the diamond, that is already significant. Add to that the fact that both are 20 years old in AA and you've got something. 

It's easy to get spoiled by a few gaudy stat lines, but not every prospect is going to have a trajectory like Chourio. The fact that guys four or five years older and with lesser defensive value are outhitting them should not be held against them...it is to be expected.

[Joseph Zarr]

21 minutes ago, Playing Catch said:

He turns 21 next month, making him about the same age as many players that were recently drafted.

If he and his minor-league production to date, (an erratic, but skilled defender at short, league-average hitter with projection remaining), were available to be drafted this year, for what kind of bonus would he have been drafted?

This season, he's improved on both his BB% and his K%. That's impressive.

Hey, he's been good. For his age, he absolutely belongs. He's still stealing some bases as well at a favorable rate. He's making the occasional web gem. I am merely speaking to my own perceptions of how I viewed the players trajectory. It's going to take longer than I anticipated - this season was more a challenge for the player than I anticipated in other words. This is a player who I legitimately felt - heading into the season - had a realistic and likely opportunity to be a September call up. He was certainly being called up to Nashville at this time. Did I envision one of my absolute favorites in INF Ethan Murray outplaying him? Absolutely not. Hence, my Chourio remarks initially - he truly spoiled us all. At face value, with age as a distinct factor and League, he is having a solid season. However, with a player of his ilk and reputation, I was expecting more. I personally think that's a very fair remark. And, to be clear, it in now way means I don't absolutely love the player.

[biedergb]

I think the issue with Pratt is he is more he is streaky and had a very good April and solid June, but his May and July have been poor offensively. His defense is good, but he is prone to gaffes that have not improved a lot.

Lara had a rough start and the improved in May, and pretty steady in June/July. But his defense is elite already.

So the numbers look the same but how they got there is very different and that is why I am more concerned with Pratt, as he looked great last year, and started off great, and really has been streaky and hasn't really shown a next level (his power slumped, and the K rate is lower but is up and down). Lara has shown some more plate discipline, and at least been steady, and his defense hasn't slowed down. So that's my take on these two young kids.

Maybe Pratt is putting "more pressure" on himself to fill the offensive void given Adams/Wilken's departure? But shouldn't every prosect try to do that??