340 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

Balt Sun: Orioles star Cedric Mullins breaks out of slump as team halts long losing skid: ‘I expect him to finish the season strong’

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Interesting how much the defensive metrics dont like him. Potentially one neg in a great season. I can say I havent watched enough this year to comment.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Interesting how much the defensive metrics dont like him. Potentially one neg in a great season. I can say I havent watched enough this year to comment.

I'd have his glove as right around average, and his arm as below average, for an overall of slightly below average I guess? Defense wouldn't be an excuse for him not to be here long term though, it's not like that IMO.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Statcast likes him enough...     his UZR and DRS as shown at FanGraphs can be disregarded. 

He's got excellent range, and a weak arm.  Overall he's plenty above average. 

Jones imo had so-so range most of his career, and a strong arm.  

I think Mullins is a better CF overall. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Statcast likes him enough... his UZR and DRS as shown at FanGraphs can be disregarded.

He's got excellent range, and a weak arm. Overall he's plenty above average.

Jones imo had so-so range most of his career, and a strong arm.

I think Mullins is a better CF overall.

Fair enough. Was just looking at fangraphs stuff and not statcast which is likely to tell a more accurate story

[You Play to Win the Game]

I think Mullins is a better CF overall.

Agreed.

[BSLBobPhelan]

Statcast has him at well above average with the glove. The arm is obviously not good, not sure how important that is compared to a corner. If someone forced him to move to LF he would fantastic in that spot.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

One thing we talked about early in the year was getting his SB % up if he was going to run. He's done that. Seems to be learning the art. Up to 78%+. BB rate also took a nice jump. Truly seeing a guy blossom. Thats why it doesnt feel flukish. Even if he steps back in ways he's still got numerous things going for him.

[Mackus]

Felt very flukish in April.  A whole year now makes me start to get much more optimistic about it being sustainable for a longer time.

 

I'd be curious to see how many examples there are of players who had a 5+ WAR season and then fell back down to just be 2 WAR players.   Just thinking Orioles recent history...Roberts had a huge year that he never came close to replicating, but he still was a 3-5 WAR player for many seasons after that.  Markakis peaked after his 3rd year then fell off and was just ok the rest of the time (he lost a lot of points for defense that I never agreed with).

 

Definitely going to end up as one of the finer seasons in recent Orioles memory.  He's just been so amazingly good all year long.

[Mike B]

Named MVO today.

 

That had to be the easiest vote ever.

[Mackus]

He'll need to go 7/19 over the final 5 games to get his average back up to 300 for the season.  Or have about a 1000 OPS for the final 5 games to get his OPS back up to 900 for the season.  Would be really cool to his those benchmarks.  Amazing season no matter how it finishes.

[You Play to Win the Game]

He'll need to go 7/19 over the final 5 games to get his average back up to 300 for the season.  Or have about a 1000 OPS for the final 5 games to get his OPS back up to 900 for the season.  Would be really cool to his those benchmarks.  Amazing season no matter how it finishes.

I think I'd be desperately pulling for .300/.900, but since he's in the 30/30 club, I think that'll always be point number one when discussing the 2021 Mullins season anyway, so it's all good. It'd be great if he can do it though. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

What a fun player and fun season. Things that come out of nowhere are so awesome. Now there are expectations moving forward. Just not the same

[BSLBobPhelan]

Mullins’ season can’t be praised enough, so cool.

[BaltBird 24]

Wieters if Wieters gave up switch hitting.

[Mackus]

Wieters if Wieters gave up switch hitting.

 

I wonder if he's going to inspire other guys.  Wieters not the best example because he seemed to alternate which side he was more productive from year to year, but there have been lots of guys with consistent extreme splits.  Cedric's the first I recall to give it up after reaching the majors.  I'm sure there have been some others, but he really stands out since he's had such immediate success since making the change including against LHP as an exclusive LHB.

 

Splits against RHP aren't so severe overall, only about a 25 OPS point advantage to be a LHB facing a righty than to be a RHB.  But the league splits against LHP are severe, over 100 OPS point advantage to be facing a lefty as a RHB than a LHB.

[BaltBird 24]

Wieters was significantly better against LHP early in his career. Makes you wonder if it would've made any difference focusing as a right handed batter.

He did seem to level off as the years went on.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Did not get named as a Gold Glove finalist.

[dude]

Did not get named as a Gold Glove finalist.

I watched Straw a fair amount in CLE games and he looked bored and mad he got traded.

I like Taylor and have argued for him many times.

KK is a routine favorite for the award.

...but usually big offense helps you in these situations. Mullins was as good defensively as anyone. Shouldn't be overlooked for the offense, it should be the bonus.

Certainly deserved to be a finalist.

[makoman]

Mullins definitely has a subpar arm, which may matter to this. His range seems as good as anybody’s. I admit I don’t watch enough of the rest of the league to have good enough of an opinion.