401 replies to this topic

[CantonJester]

He's got the talent, obviously. Look at the HR in KC. Look at the opposite field power. He's got the ability to get on base. I feel like his defense has gotten better as the season has gone on.

Definitely a struggle the first month+

Is Adley a bust, too? He's been as cold as Gunnar lately.

 

Adley's not been blown away by mid 90s heat though. Adley's a stud. Gunnar's got work to do to become a solid, everyday major leaguer. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Btw Hyde bringing him in cold now at least twice off the bench to PH isnt helping. Its 2 ABs it doesnt matter some will say. Again, Im sure he knows he might be called upon in a game. That comes with the territory. Still, when you get a day off you to a degree mentally check out. Or at least you arent as sharp as you would be seeing your name in the lineup.

[BaltBird 24]

Adley's not been blown away by mid 90s heat though. Adley's a stud. Gunnar's got work to do to become a solid, everyday major leaguer.

I'd argue that Gunnar has better bat speed than Adley. Look at that swing on the HR in KC. Kid desperately needs one of stretches where he goes 10-14 and drags himself out of the slump.

[CantonJester]

I'd argue that Gunnar has better bat speed than Adley. Look at that swing on the HR in KC. Kid desperately needs one of stretches where he goes 10-14 and drags himself out of the slump.

 

I think you'd be wrong, or rather, the difference would be negligible. I think Gunnar's issue is pitch recognition (be it arm slot or whatever). He's flat-out late on swings that just leave you scratching your head. 

[Pedro Cerrano]

Bust. Wieters style. Calling it now. Mock me all you want I don’t care.

Guy stinks

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Bust. Wieters style. Calling it now. Mock me all you want I don’t care.

Guy stinks

Except Wieters wasnt a bust. Have already said Gunnar is not gonna be a star. So in a world of overhype yeah hes gonna disappoint.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Except Wieters wasnt a bust. Have already said Gunnar is not gonna be a star. So in a world of overhype yeah hes gonna disappoint.

Wieters colossal bust. So is this loser

[BaltBird 24]

Markakis had a rough start, too.

[Mackus]

Henderson hasn't even had a rough start.  People act like last year didn't happen.  That counts, too.  Maybe he's forgotten how to hit but can still draw walks, but that's an odd career trajectory for a 21 year-old.

[Mackus]

Like is Rutschman officially a bust, too?  Because his last 102 PA are 207/343/281, pretty similar to Gunnar's season to date.

[Pedro Cerrano]

He sucks. You can disagree. I don’t care.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Like is Rutschman officially a bust, too? Because his last 102 PA are 207/343/281, pretty similar to Gunnar's season to date.

Dont tempt him on Adley. Look at how long it took a young Kelnick to find some footing in the bigs. He was a top 5 prospect. Gunnar is 21 with little experience. He will figure stuff out. I just think hes more solid reg vs star

[Pedro Cerrano]

Just not interested in discussing his xWar Fip parabola

I’ve watched him this year. He looks like a crappy baseball player.

Maybe he figures it out and turns into left handed Nolan Arenado.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Hes def looked like a crappy player to this point.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Hes def looked like a crappy player to this point.

See? Everything they say about you ain’t true

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Sir Im here for all the haters. Bring it on

[SonicAttack]

Gunner is just too timid at the plate right now; he needs to be more aggressive. He's 21 with a ton of potential.  The O's are doing the right thing showing patience with him.  Again, he's 21 with a lot of room and time to grow, hopefully into an all-star. 

[Mackus]

Hays would be an interesting comp to Gunnar, at least as a prospect profile.  Gunnar had more clout before his big 2022 than Hays did before his big 2017, he was already a top-100 prospect unlike Hays.  But Hays was a 21 y/o who had a 950 OPS at both A+ and AA, Gunnar was 21 y/o with a 1000 OPS at AA and 900 at AAA.  So clearly Gunnar was the better prospect.  But they were comparable, and Hays followed an unfortunate path of needing about 4 years to become a solid everyday regular.  So that's a glimpse at a potential downside, I guess.  I think Gunnar has already done as much at the MLB level in '22-23 than Hays did from '17-20.

[Hooded Viper]

Sheesh it’s May and be sucks already?

[dude]

Not worried about Gunner.  He's 21 and it's May of his first season.

 

We should learn a couple things (actually we already know them, it's a reminder because we forget)

 

1) You aren't a hammer just because you're a top prospect.  We think guys just show up and dominate.  It happens, but it's more common to have some growing pains against the best in the world.

 

2) You aren't who you are after 45 games....but maybe you are.  The only way to find out is to keep playing.  We aren't going to know anything for certain after this SEASON or even next SEASON or probably the one after that.  Like every position, you have to make choices and you run with those choices until they force you to change (that's 1SP).  We're still easily 1SP for Gunner so keep rolling.

 

3) Everyone bashes guys like Hays and Mountcastle for their walk rates, but they also hunt production.  Gunner's batting eye is great, but it's also passive to production.  We want the walk-rate, but now we're bitching about the walk-rate because it seems to make him passive in terms of production. It's not about picking a lane, it's about recognizing that all of the lanes can have value.  If you could teach a guy to be great at everything, you'd be Mike Trout.

 

Nobody is Mike Trout.  We don't have to have a Team of All-Stars to compete.  My guess would be Gunner winds up hitting 3rd, sooner than later, but he needs to get settled into him ML approach.  I have an external concern but that's a general bias.  He's young, keep playing.  We're winning without much production from him.  We need him to produce.  Let's roll.