re: The ATL Thread 5/19 - Bummer released, Drake to the IL

Two things can be true at the same time.

What you just said and what I just said arent mutually exclusive.

This is mostly because of how bad he was in 24 and 25.

There is no way he is going to match is 2023 season though it would appear

I just dont think you can say he is cooked or washed when he is at least playing baseball somewhat recognizable to his best ever season, 2023.

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But I can see why people would think what he's doing in May is more likely to occur again than what he did in April, based on his offensive numbers the last two seasons.

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This is fair.

I still maintain my stance I have held since 2024. He should quit being a switch hitter and bat right handed

I was more talking about his underlying stats like the two I mentioned barrel rate and hard hit % over that time period. You can sort it on fangraphs by 7 days or 14 days. Its in a very high %.

Best in terms of effectiveness over that time period is obviously Drake then theres a group of maybe 5 players who its all really a wash tbh.

The point I was trying to make is his metrics point to a player moving in the right direction

Ive made this point before but its also a really good sign he is pulling the ball with power again

His expected OPS over that time period is also a good bit higher too not that it matters to much since its a results game. But in one of his games he pulled a HR in his seocond AB his first AB he hit a deep fly ball to right field warning track thats a HR in 23 ballparks

Fangraphas currently has him expected to hit 30 HR. So what you are saying sounds pretty sub par the metrics and analytics paint a different picture.

He still has elite bat speed. And for the season in total he is 81% in exit velo and 79% in hard hit, which as ive pointed out is trending upward over the time period we are speaking of. They basically project him to be a pretty low batting average power hitter by years end.

Basically someone currently with a similar stat profile to 2025 zach neto and 2021 teoscar hernandez. Which while not worth his contract, if he ends the season hitting .240 with 30 HR I think we would all take that

That guys post is the one that made me go full schidzo and launch into full on essays about how, in reality, the world isnt on fire because we got blown out by the marlins

Did people just memory hole the dodgers and cubs series?

Yeah he had to go.

Its weird because at on point Bummer was really good, especially if you needed a guy to come in and get a ground ball.

Then he just totally lost it

It is absolutely critical we acquire a high leverage lefty and also a power bat OF at the trade deadline as a baseline. We need to and should add more than that theres no excuse not to. This team is 100% in a world series window.

Waldrep should be able to make some starts in June and we need to hope he is good. Focus your trade package around sending him, Owen Murphy, and a few of our high upside lottery tickets.

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Then he just totally lost it

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Shoulder issue last year had a lot to do with it.

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It is absolutely critical we acquire a high leverage lefty and also a power bat OF at the trade deadline as a baseline.

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I'd prioritize another starter over an OF bat, personally.

I say non existent instead of underperforming and there’s a breakdown over semantics. Goodness gracious. Riley has sucked this season. There.

He was absolutely awful for a stretch at the beginning of the season hitting without average or slugging.

Since then he has not sucked. He still isn’t really hitting for average but he is hitting for slugging which is why he’s projected to hit 30 HR. He is also the best baserunner on the team. I haven’t checked every person on the roster but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the only one in the positive in baseruning run value added where he is 88th percentile one of the best in baseball.

Defensively he has basically been a wash. His range is not good but he has a strong arm so he is really good at making plays like slow choppers where he has to charge the ball and gun someone down.

He also has a faster sprint speed than Michael Harris which doesn’t have anything to do with this I just think it is funny.

It’s a tell of two different pieces of the season for Riley. He is trending up

I am hoping that it just wasn't a case that the stars were lined up perfectly in April and that the last week or so more accurately reflects what kind of team we are..

With regard to Kim, he has to sit. I would roll Mateo's arse out there for the next week just to see if things get better around the 2B bag and better offensive production

I like this lineup actually.

We need to find ways to get Ronald DH spots when and however we can and that azocar guy has shown himself to be sort of an elite defensive RF