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Padres vs Royals May 15-17
#21 · May 16, 2023, 10:35 am
Despite only scoring 4 with a bazillion base runners, I saw a lot of fight in the team last night. Tatis almost has too much... I love the effort and energy, but I don't want him trying to carry the whole team on his back. Soto is back to hitting... We just need the rest of the team to catch up.
#22 · May 16, 2023, 10:57 am
Frustrating 41 games but I still believe in the "back of the baseball cards" for these veteran players. Too much past success for players that are not nearly over the hill not to see a major rebound as the season progresses.
Also believe when the major bats start to hit ... the minor bats will begin getting their stats up from facing pitchers under pressure and the lesser RP.
Maybe falling behind the LAD BUT still on the cusp of the playoff cut and LAD are not out of range with 121 games to play.
#23 · May 16, 2023, 11:00 am
Listened to someone who heard Melvin on MLB and he said FOR NOW he is sticking with Tatis at lead-off because he is the only guy with speed BUT is open to moving him down to #3-4 if the rest of the hitting does not come around.
#24 · May 16, 2023, 12:07 pm
That would be a HUGE mistake.
FTJ forces the oppositions hand every time he's on. The guy changes the dynamic of the game when he's on base. Moving him down the lineup you possibly lose an AB.
The more times he stands at home plate, the more opportunities our team has of scoring runs.
#25 · May 16, 2023, 12:22 pm
It may boil down to if they can find anyone to actually hit in the #2 and #3 slots ahead of Soto. Most would prefer Tatis and his game changing skills leading off but even if he gets on ... followed by two outs so Soto arrived with Tatis on and two outs and effectively gets pitched around to get to #5 who also is not hitting.
I can see sitting Tatis in #3 so IF someone accidentally gets on ahead of him ... he actually has a chance to drive in a run and with Soto behind him a back to back chance of driving in a run with the two best hitters.
Of course, almost does not make much difference if no one other than Tatis and Soto are hitting.
#26 · May 16, 2023, 3:37 pm
Quote from fenn68 on May 16, 2023, 12:22 pmIt may boil down to if they can find anyone to actually hit in the #2 and #3 slots ahead of Soto. Most would prefer Tatis and his game changing skills leading off but even if he gets on ... followed by two outs so Soto arrived with Tatis on and two outs and effectively gets pitched around to get to #5 who also is not hitting.
I can see sitting Tatis in #3 so IF someone accidentally gets on ahead of him ... he actually has a chance to drive in a run and with Soto behind him a back to back chance of driving in a run with the two best hitters.
Of course, almost does not make much difference if no one other than Tatis and Soto are hitting.
Xander had a ton of success early on at #1.. so why not
1. XANDER
2. TATIS
3. SOTO
4. MANNY
5.Crone.. .860 career OPS at #5 best .. #2 2nd best at .810 career
#27 · May 16, 2023, 3:39 pm
I'd bat Tatis and Soto 1-2 for the foreseeable future, to be honest. As Fenn said, there really aren't many other permutations that matter if they're the only ones hitting. No sense in jumbling a bunch of ice cold guys into the top of the lineup for the sake of shaking things up.
#28 · May 16, 2023, 3:44 pm
Quote from fenn68 on May 16, 2023, 10:57 amFrustrating 41 games but I still believe in the "back of the baseball cards" for these veteran players. Too much past success for players that are not nearly over the hill not to see a major rebound as the season progresses.
Also believe when the major bats start to hit ... the minor bats will begin getting their stats up from facing pitchers under pressure and the lesser RP.
Maybe falling behind the LAD BUT still on the cusp of the playoff cut and LAD are not out of range with 121 games to play.
The X factor I worry about is the psychology of Manny re: the pitch clock. Logic and common sense both dictate that, ultimately, a professional will get used to a change like that, even if it's difficult. Manny has a certain stubbornness, though, and I could see him screaming "I'm Manny f*cking Machado" in mid September while sporting a .640 OPS and failing to adjust all season simply because he considers the rule change "stupid" or whatever.
#29 · May 16, 2023, 8:33 pm
That ladies & gentlemen is why every time it was mentioned to put Tatis in LF I disagreed.
No way Soto makes that throw.
#30 · May 16, 2023, 8:40 pm
Has Engle done anything positive since he’s been back?
Anything?
When your main attribute is defense and baserunning and you mess both up in consecutive games…..that’s pretty bad.