352 replies to this topic

[You Play to Win the Game]

Now an RBI single. He's 2 for his first 2.

[SportsGuy]

He should retire

[CA-ORIOLE]

Mullins is first player in Os history to have 3 hit in his debut. 

[birdwatcher55]

Must be smoke and mirrors.

[CA-ORIOLE]

So Buck has voiced concerns about Mullins hitting right handed (against LHP) and Mullns has been on the bench for the last 2 LHP starts. Apparently his hip was good enough to come in as a defensive replacement though. If we have concerns about his ability to hit right handed, wouldn't it be a good time to test him now? Isn't that kinda the idea? No issue evaluating Andreoli (who I find at least interesting), against LHP, but I'd rather be evaluating Mullins than Andreoli int those situations. Andreoli can play over Gentry (yeah, I know Gentry is playing well, I don't care, I know what Gentry can do). 

[Mackus]

Mullins seems to have hit the ground running, so I'm cool with playing him against LHP, but I also am cool with the idea of protecting him a bit as he's just getting his feet wet.  Set him up to have success by playing him primarily in scenarios where he's had success in the past for a while.  After he's established that he can hit righties up here, then ask him to start doing something he's never been able to do (hit lefties).

 

I don't know how long "enough time" is before you start getting him more exposure to lefties.  If you want to claim that he's had enough time being platoon protected, and has hit well enough that confidence shouldn't be an issue, I wouldn't argue.

[CA-ORIOLE]

I can see not playing him against some really tough LHP's to start, but these last 2 guys didn't seem to be that.  3-15 over 10 games against LHP isn't time to throw in the towel.

[Mackus]

I can see not playing him against some really tough LHP's to start, but these last 2 guys didn't seem to be that.  3-15 over 10 games against LHP isn't time to throw in the towel.

 

My point isn't that you throw in the towel based on what he's done so far against LHP at MLB.  The towel was already most of the way to the canvas based on his minor league career.  I think that it makes sense to let him hit mostly against RHP until he's comfortable at the MLB level.  He's hit great over his 3+ weeks, so entirely reasonable if you think you've given him enough of an adjustment period and that now is the time to start exposing him to more lefties.  I'm fine with either conclusion; to play him nearly everyday regardless of what hand the SP throws with or to sit him against most LH SP.

[Il BuonO]

Pretty good take on this at CC today.

https://www.camdench...-cedric-mullins

[birdwatcher55]

If he's hurting more than Buck let's on, then put him on the DL or shut him down for the season. Otherwise, play him!

[SportsGuy]

Apparently there was talk about him scrapping switch hitting.

You either do that now or you play him vs lefties in a lost season and get some level of evaluation.

I get that you don’t want to ruin him while he is hitting well but isn’t that the point? If he is hurt by it, you stop doing it.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Pretty good take on this at CC today.

https://www.camdench...-cedric-mullins

Yeah. what a bunch of BS from Buck. Even dumber than I thought. Uses we need to evaluate Andreoli n CF as an excuse. That's freaking lame. Just bench Gentry then. 

[Crouseman]

Yeah. what a bunch of BS from Buck. Even dumber than I thought. Uses we need to evaluate Andreoli n CF as an excuse. That's freaking lame. Just bench Gentry then. 

Well at least DD cut Gentry to take that temptation away from Buck.  Gentry and Andreoli are the new version of Reimold. 

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Yeah we really need to get a good look at a guy in CF who didn't even make it to the majors until he was 28. There are a ton of guys out there who can play CF cheap. If somehow the O's (and Buck is included in that) think that Andreoli may be a part of the future then I give up.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Yeah we really need to get a good look at a guy in CF who didn't even make it to the majors until he was 28. There are a ton of guys out there who can play CF cheap. If somehow the O's (and Buck is included in that) think that Andreoli may be a part of the future then I give up.

Yeah, now Buck has Rickard. Interesting how he was going on about every move he makes now is thinking about how to improve the team in the future. I bet he starts Jones damn near every game until the season is over. 

[SportsGuy]

UZR doesn’t like his defense early on

[Mackus]

UZR doesn’t like his defense early on

 

Not much less meaningful than a few weeks of UZR.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Not much less meaningful than a few weeks of UZR.

That's definitely been true for basically ever.... some of our interviews with analysts who did a lot of work with defensive metrics would always say how noisy the numbers were.

Anecdotally though, I feel like in the last year numbers have had less flux. Something to watch.

[SportsGuy]

Not much less meaningful than a few weeks of UZR.

No doubt..just pointing it out

[CA-ORIOLE]

Benched for the LH SP. He pinch hits for the RHP when the LH SP is puled tonight. This is just stupid. Later got a LHP, had a decent AB and drew a walk.