Jim French Stepstool
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Everything posted by Jim French Stepstool
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It's looking more & more like we won't be picking up another starter unless something unexpected falls into our lap, which is doubtful. I wonder if there are concerns about Sonny Gray in STL, he's been cuffed around pretty good in recent starts.
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Sun. 7/28 - All Eyes on Misiorowski
Jim French Stepstool replied to Jim Goulart's topic in Brewers Minor League Talk
I agree re 40-man. Just talking about him being bumped a level to AAA. The more experienced, AAAA-types might give him a little better challenge AFA taking tough pitches & sharpening the location & command even further. -
Maybe I grazed over it too quickly. I thought it also factored in the ability to get around the bases & score runs, in addition to SB.
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Something like that would absolutely skyrocket an OPS for Yelich, you would think.
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Sun. 7/28 - All Eyes on Misiorowski
Jim French Stepstool replied to Jim Goulart's topic in Brewers Minor League Talk
That's the thing. At 24 you would think he'd be on a faster track as long as the performance is there, which it obviously is. Maybe when some smoke clears after 8/1? -
Good piece. I mentioned awhile back that everyone in the NL Central had their "Gee, that team really sucks!!!" stretch except us. Then it finally happened just before the break. All considered, I thought it was impressive they went that long w/o such a stretch. They're beaten down some, I'm sure. So is everyone else. An interesting sequence coming up, not only trade possibilities but IL stint conclusions, BP decisions, etc. Maybe at the end of it all Murphy will prove to be our Columbo--Rumpled, slow-talking deliberate kinda guy who doesn't know what he's doing---except he did, all along.
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Sorry but I don't see better options than keeping him there. He's shown me (and the team, apparently) enough earlier in the season to warrant it. Maybe if Ortiz' approach hadn't fallen off a cliff---maybe if there were enough baserunners out of the bottom third of the order to give Chourio opportunities w/baserunners---Maybe if Tyler Black could field a position---or WE were the ones that acquired Chisolm---- Yes, if this continues, it would suck. And if it doesn't, then something else. Sure, there's some subjectivity. With the lack of experienced options there kinda has to be. And maybe the leash, and the patience they show, is a little extended by the position the team is in right now in the NL. If ever there's an organization that's in perpetual 'stay the course' mode, it's this one. Big picture, it's served them well. But many of your points are valid. Well done.
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No, I didn't. That's why I originally answered the question with a question. See above answer to @yourout. A high OBP guy might also be someone you want a little deeper in the order if he has a knack for driving in runs, so it isn't etched in stone. But it's a starting point. I also like to look at pitches per AB, and the innate ability to foul off tough pitches. Speed is a plus but you don't have to be a burner. Ability/willingness to draw walks. Being able to bunt a runner over if late & a close or tie score, especially since 2-hole hitters are often the best hitter on a team nowadays. For the same reason, ability to steer the ball to the right side if a RHH. A lot of the above can't be quantified by stats. In a nutshell, I like someone who can be a 'pain in the ass' to a pitcher, make him earn his outs. Turang was terrific at that. The last 20 or whatever games he hasn't been. I think they're best served riding him out up there. You don't. That's what makes this board tick. I guess. The above, is the perfect leadoff hitter constructed out of my lab. Not the only way to go. Paul Molitor was great at the job & doesn't fit that description much at all.
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In a vacuum, I agree. The problem lies when you have a high OBP guy that you'd rather get up with runners on base. Like Yelich before the back started up again.
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To replace OPS? Nothing. I think OPS combines two stats that are drastically different when talking about a hitters' prowess & therefore the combined number is meaningless to me. I want more specific detail if looking at what a hitter brings to the table. Like I said, I have two numbers I can view. I don't need them combined into a third.
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Damn..........😲. That means he's been an OF for........seven, eight games? didn't think it was that many.
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Not Wiemer-bad, but too much movement right now, causing him to make up his mind waaay too soon. Look at (I think it was) his last at-bat. He battled, but chased at least three pitches I all but guarantee he would've taken for balls in May.
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That was a function of getting a guy that's been putting up some pretty good ABs lately (Bauers) and someone who is showing signs of seeing the ball better (Hoskins) both in the lineup while still being able to DH Contreras. Worked out well. The obvious drawback is Bauers in LF, but IMO he's been serviceable when out there.
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I'll be honest. When I first heard of the OPS stat many years ago and found out what it meant, I laughed. When critiquing a player as a hitter, I might want to look at his OBP. I might want to look at his slugging %. I'm probably in the minority but I think combining those two numbers into a 3rd is silly. I think it glosses over way too much detail. Two players can both have an .800 OPS, but be drastically different as to how they arrived at it. It's never been an important stat to me. To each their own, I guess.
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I don't agree with all his moves but I see the logic behind most of them. I don't know if you're referring to Mitchell getting thrown out, but I definitely think you run there. I WAS questioning Junis not getting a 3rd inning, unless that makes the difference between him being available on Wednesday. Some of the running on 1st & 3rd situations are IMO too aggressive, although that usually comes down to who's at the plate. I agree with @nate82 about the Sanchez AB. I also would've let Mitchell hit, but I get it. Not all, but many of these decisions in-game aren't slam dunks. They're 60%-40%, 55%-45%, and hunches that are based on stuff we couldn't possibly know about.
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Are the guys leading off, in that spot because their OPS is .700 or better? Or because they're best suited to the leadoff spot compared to the rest of the roster? Turangs' OPS, after today, is .698. If it raises two more points it won't make him any more suited to the leadoff spot. Or any less, for that matter.
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You can have a relatively high OPS & be effective in the leadoff spot (Schwarber is probably a good example) but I don't think it's a prerequisite. Some people put most/all of the emphasis on 'getting the extra AB' when looking at the leadoff spot in the order. I don't. If Turang continues to struggle getting on base up there, yep, it's a negative. He has to get better, that's the most important thing. I agree with @nate82, there isn't exactly a boatload of options.
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Yeah.........equating a low OPS with why someone shouldn't lead off, that's a new one on me. The only others that fit up there are either not in the lineup, or also not hitting.
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Would it be absurd to think Pena could start 2025 in Carolina? I know he isn't turning 18 until this fall, but my goodness, his performance in the DSL is ridiculous. And only K'ing once every 13-14 PAs, that's the type of stuff you used to see 70-80 years ago (not that I would know😁).
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That was my initial thought after learning of this. Even with Hudson out, there's a glut of BP arms when you see who is close to returning. And you still have my guy in Biloxi striking out 2 batters per inning. I hate the term 'JAG' but that pretty aptly describes Blalock. And there are a few starters in the system I'm sure they like better than Herrera who are also further up the ladder. I was never on the 'add a BP arm' bandwagon this year but I doubt the two they dealt would help constitute a package for a DH-OF bat. After looking at the Wednesday game in Chicago, I think you're on to something & we may not add another starter. Wilson, Junis, Hall and or Ross going 3-4 innings on selected days may be an X factor.
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I remember he seemed to have what I call a 'flatter' swing and, even with a slightly open stance, was just absolutely lashing balls to RF. That seems to have disappeared. I'm sure it works for some guys but in general I hate the big leg kicks & hate seeing it being more pronounced for Ortiz. Obviously it isn't as easy to fix as one would think, but "Gee, A works well, I think I'll try B" drives me right up a tree. I haven't paid close enough attention but I suspect he's being crowded a little more these days, which factors in.
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They have, in essence, four OFs. Black has been playing out there a little bit but they aren't going with 4 OFs w/ Black being one of them. If they don't find the right deal for a bat I think Black winds up in Milwaukee but I feel the corresponding move pretty much has to be one of the catchers.
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I'm not big on "Fire this guy, fire that guy", but last season there was a point where I actually wanted both of them gone. You might be right about making adjustments in-season. Guys like Turang & Ortiz wearing down could also be a part of it. Chourio is hot, but you hear a lot about Contreras & Adames working with him before the hot streak, not the coaches. So who knows?
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Yeah, like I said the ABs need to be better. No denying that. But you had your (cough, cough) staff ace yesterday, after all the documentation about starting games poorly & throwing too many pitches, promptly fall behind the games' first batter 2-0, then walks him. Then one inning later Adames whiffs on a chest-high hop & commits an error a high school SS would be embarrassed by. Those two things made what should've been an early 2-0 deficit 5-0. Even the plays in the 7th tonite--none of this stuff is above-the-norm, elite run prevention stuff. it's basic. If what happens these last two games continues, the offense can get better & it isn't making any difference. Glad you mentioned the basepaths. What Mitchell did with the team down 2-0, just can't do that.
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If I understand what you're saying, I don't really agree. they've had plenty of games where they have trouble scoring runs, yet the starter, and/or BP and/or defense was top notch & they won. Friday night Peralta & Adames were poor early and put the team in a hole, before they even had a chance to show whether or not they were going to hit that night. We all know they need to string together more successful ABs. But the above areas I mentioned are always going to be vital. Tonight---two missed catches within a 3 batter stretch. Ballgame. A five-run hole Friday in the 2nd inning, then a four run deficit in the seventh tonight. Philly & LA more often than not aren't coming back from those deficits, much less us.
