I think we face the equivalent of three AAAA pitchers this weekend against the Royals. Hopefully, we have a lot of good performances.
I understand Greinke and Lyles have been good starters but not this year.
Two seasons above replacement level (2019 and 2021).
Two seasons below replacement level (2020 and 2022)
Houser’s 13 IP in 2018 were essentially replacement level.
Conclusion: At age 30, this is not the player you make a multi-year commitment to. Maybe two-years at affordable contract? He probably could get a short multi-year deal in free agency.
In any case, no rush.
Seems Syndergaard is scuffling this year. Barely touching 92 mph.
Dodgers pitching coach, Mark Prior, says Noah hasn’t been quite the same since surgery.
Hypnosis and mental hurdles: Dodgers’ Noah Syndergaard seeks answers amid poor start
Cody Bellinger signed for $17.5 million per year. Bellinger’s defense is far superior to Yelich and at a premium position but his bat was considerably worse in 2021 and 2022. Yelich has produced more WAR in recent years.
Perhaps the market value of 2019 MVP candidates is more than we think.
In theory, if three of our young outfielders prove to be productive, they will be making hardly any money for the next five seasons. In that sense, you could eat 70% of Yelich’s salary and still be better off money wise and performance wise.
That said, I expect Yelich will have an on base percentage over .350 this year. It makes sense to hold onto him for a while. We probably don’t have a choice.
I think Yelich likes California enough to accept a west coast trade, Not sure we could find a way to make that happen, though.
Yelich will have multiple WAR this year. I don’t think there is any rush to trade him.
It is worth noting that many of these contracts are ‘bad contracts.’ In other words, the teams are receiving negative or minimal value in exchange for the spending.
I think it is alright for people to miss 7-year Brewer veteran, Brent Suter. He had a career ERA of 3.51 for Milwaukee.
I think the front office felt, correctly, they could get similar production for less than $3,000,000 salary this year.
Milwaukee and Saint Louis hitters have identical BABIP, suggesting similar luck. Both third-highest in MLB. If both teams regress on BABIP then in theory, both offenses decline.
I see the Cardinals’ pitching has third-worst BABIP allowed and third worst HR/FB % in MLB. If that regresses to middle of the pack, they will improve.
They also are third-worst for hard hit percentage allowed, which could also mean hitters are just hitting Cardinal pitching hard this year.
The season Barry Bonds hit 73 HR, he averaged a HR every 6.5 AB. Hiura is only averaging a HR every 7.4 AB in Nashville.
Hiura striking out 32.7% of AB.