Spring training results don't matter but still encouraged to see Bart smoking the ball again. I think there are big questions if he can repeat his performance from last year, it's encouraging at least so far.
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In the meantime, feel free to join our Discord ServerAlso good to see Cruz doing thingsSpring training results don't matter but still encouraged to see Bart smoking the ball again. I think there are big questions if he can repeat his performance from last year, it's encouraging at least so far.
Endy with another great game at the plate, he's now hitting .417 in spring training. It's making me feel pretty good about going into this year with Endy and Bart as their catchers, both are having strong springs. Yorke also had another double today playing 1B.
As of right now, it seems like their opening day lineup will be something close to:
1. Pham (LF)
2. Reynolds (RF)
3. Cruz (CF)
4. Bart (C)
5. McCutchen (DH)
6. Hayes (3B)
7. Gonzales (2B)
8. Yorke (1B)
9. IKF (SS)
Once Horwitz is back, I'm really curious for how they change the lineup. Pham is doing a really good job at getting on base so far in spring (.476 OBP from 7 walks in 21 PAs), and his speed advantage over Horwitz makes me think he's a bit more appropriate as the leadoff guy (if he can continue getting on base that is). If Pham can do that, I think I'd actually put Horwitz at #3 and slide Cruz and Bart down a spot. Horwitz's primary focus in that role would be getting on base and setting up Cruz and Bart to hit for power and get RBIs.
He's pulled a couple fly balls in spring so far from what I've seen, but it all just comes down to whether he can actually maintain being healthy. It feels like there are two hurdles to climb here: one is that if he is relatively healthy, then he can be an important defensive cornerstone and a supplementary, league average bat. The other is whatever step is beyond that.
The shit has kinda sailed on the latter given how bad the injuries have consistently been. I fully believe you can just chuck entire seasons from the record when a player had chronic injuries, but that doesn't mean you can be bold with what's in the future.
So yeah, this is just a long-winded way of saying he has to show the changes can stick and help keep him where he apparently is right now health-wise for the full season.
Yeah ultimately I think we need to just give up on this idea that Hayes has any sort of real offensive upside beyond a 85-95 OPS+ guy and just be content with him doing what he needs to do to maintain that. He's still very cheap (I think he's only making $7 million a year going forward) and is well worth that with his defense if he's healthy. I'd rather him do what he needs to do to maintain that level than try to shoot for that perceived "upside" that will just result in him getting hurt.
It sucks that he's not going to be better, but a 3 WAR, 90 OPS+ 3B is still very useful and you can probably trade him for good value if you absolutely insist on getting a better hitter at 3B.