tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post5446764549695269491..comments2024-03-13T13:29:33.800-05:00Comments on SocraticGadfly: #Cardinals and Matheny may hit new level of cluelessness (updated)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-35494974120768854062016-06-09T11:38:01.997-05:002016-06-09T11:38:01.997-05:00Did I misinterpret B-Ref's No. 15 in caught st...Did I misinterpret B-Ref's No. 15 in caught stealings? I thought it meant the worst, given a success rate under 65 percent.<br /><br />(I'll have to Google CS percentages. And, ESPN says, combined, they're 25th in all of MLB in percentage of success. <br /><br />So, even if I misinterpreted the CS number, I was still right about the larger idea:<br />http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/batting/sort/stolenBasePct/type/expanded/order/true<br /><br />And, leading the league in runs is still problematic if a bullpen runs out of gas by the ASG! Or if a screwed-up defense is a sieve. I mean, nobody's great at 1B, let's not mess with the rest of the IF, we know what Holliday is in left, and Piscotty is OK or so in right.Gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075757287807731373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-52469720811997056902016-06-09T11:18:12.914-05:002016-06-09T11:18:12.914-05:00Regarding the baserunning: yes, it's frustrati...Regarding the baserunning: yes, it's frustrating when the lack of team speed results in failure to go first to third or score from second on a single. But this team has 80 homers, second to the Nationals (81), and has nine players on pace to hit 16+ homers. The Cardinals lead the NL---ahead of the Rockies---in slugging and extra-base hits.<br /><br />Despite your assertion to the contrary, the Cardinals not only don't lead the NL in caught stealings, but, because of their reluctance to run, actually have the FEWEST caught stealings in the league, with just 10. This is all good---a team that hits like the Cardinals do SHOULDN'T be risking outs/baserunners.<br /><br />The most important thing to focus on, regarding the offense, is runs: Right now the Cardinals lead the NL in scoring.salvohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10669497530494668160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-20046877067851995032016-06-06T16:47:52.062-05:002016-06-06T16:47:52.062-05:00Well, Carpenter wasn't an everyday player unti...Well, Carpenter wasn't an everyday player until 2013, so had less say-so, and the team had less worry about disrupting him, either defensively or offensively.<br /><br />In general, IMO, the fewer puzzle pieces you move at once the better.Gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075757287807731373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-61838232271544567282016-06-06T16:34:44.129-05:002016-06-06T16:34:44.129-05:00I'll definitely agree that Diaz has been slump...I'll definitely agree that Diaz has been slumping and I've often been tempted to say Matheny needs to give him time. However, he usually bounces back, as he has with 9 hits in his last 6 games, 4 in has last 2. I think we're just now getting to the point where we can buy in to the fact that Diaz is going to be a solid player and very possibly the shortstop for the next 6-7 years. Under that logic he needs to be in the lineup everyday. Where that leaves Peralta for the next two years is debatable (trade bait?).<br /><br />Carpenter has said he has no issue moving across the diamond, it didn't bother him moving there in 2013 or moving back in 2014. He's possibly the hardest working guy in baseball so I have no worries about his offense falling off. He's also shown to be a great team player, which gives me no qualms about moving him. I guess that ends up being the sticking point but in my opinion moving him keeps the best bats in the lineup. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-8709959699654087812016-06-06T15:30:02.147-05:002016-06-06T15:30:02.147-05:00Diaz's OPS for both last 14 and last 30 is bel...Diaz's OPS for both last 14 and last 30 is below .750. Enough of a slump to "spot" him a lot more. If you want to go by BA, he's at your slump level.<br /><br />That's why I proposed this. (He's on the bench right now in my primary fantasy league; that's the first reason I knew Matheny was wrong.)<br /><br />Agreed on his overall D.<br /><br />My theory is that he's played enough, pitchers have started getting a "book" on him and he hasn't adjusted yet. Until he does, spot his time. He'd still be the first bench option.<br /><br />The biggest deal is moving Carpenter is dumb. Period and end of story. If you're not going to do that, and you realize Diaz has hit a hiccup of sorts, that means Peralta starts at short, Diaz and Gyorko split time at 2B.Gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075757287807731373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-33765668972814733072016-06-06T15:06:38.706-05:002016-06-06T15:06:38.706-05:00Ok. From what I gather you're plan is leave Ca...Ok. From what I gather you're plan is leave Carpenter at 3B, put Peralta back at SS and split 2B between Wong/Gyorko/Garcia. Then cutback Diaz's playing time significantly with the rationale that it will help him adjust to the new way pitcher's are approaching him?<br /><br />Diaz is slumping in the regard that he isn't hitting .400 anymore, but that was always going to go down. Unless his average starts dipping into the .270s I wouldn't consider him slumping. A young player isn't going to make adjustments sitting on the bench, that's the reason they kept guys like Grichuk and Piscotty in the minors when they could've been upgrades on the MLB bench. <br /><br />My short term alternative would be to move Diaz to 2B and leave Peralta at short. However, they want Diaz to continue developing as a MLB shortstop, which makes enough sense. If you ignore the errors and look at his dWAR he has actually been an above average defensive shortstop and once he stops goofing up the easy plays he could be a very good shortstop.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-21876276003027608982016-06-06T14:52:37.764-05:002016-06-06T14:52:37.764-05:00Erm, I did propose a plan. Read the piece.
It...Erm, I <b>did</b> propose a plan. Read the piece. <br /><br />It's a better defensive plan than what Matheny's proposing.Gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075757287807731373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-50074712147862388972016-06-06T14:50:55.275-05:002016-06-06T14:50:55.275-05:00Not saying Kozma or Cruz relate to this year's...Not saying Kozma or Cruz relate to this year's team just that the structure of this year's bench is far better than what we've had, giving Matheny more options.<br /><br />I'm not saying you can't blame Matheny, only that you need to propose a plan of your own.<br /><br />If you look beyond Grichuk's average there's reason to value his performance so far and be optimistic for improvement. The extra-base hits are still there and his defense has been above-average. His strikeout percentage is way down and while his BABIP is low it should level out leading to a rise average.<br /><br />I believe Wacha and Martinez will turn it around, Martinez has already begun to. They both have too much talent to struggle all year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-50277400566488158572016-06-06T14:43:51.957-05:002016-06-06T14:43:51.957-05:00Given that neither Cruz nor Kozma is with this yea...Given that neither Cruz nor Kozma is with this year's team in any way, shape or form, and given that, even if Cruz were with the team, the only spot he plays is catcher and therefore would be irrelevant to 3B/SS/2B defensive arrangements, David, I'm not sure where your comment is coming from.<br /><br />Otherwise, unless Mo directly said: "Play Peralta at third," oh, yes, I can blame Matheny.<br /><br />Now, nobody is to "blame" for the slow start of Grichuk, or Peralta's injury, that I'll give you.<br /><br />Who's to "blame" for Martinez and Wacha, I'm not sure.Gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13075757287807731373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7532871.post-22432239233253248372016-06-06T14:38:46.983-05:002016-06-06T14:38:46.983-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com