2023 Misc Braves Talk

[Super]

Feel like we need a post for stuff that isn’t game-related for miscellaneous Braves stuff (like the Olson k% post)

I’ll start it off with a post about Money Mike’s splits.

Versus lefties, Harris has a 15.8% k rate, a 111 wRC+, and a .292 average with a .316 BABIP.
It’s only 76 PAs, but the concerns about his platoon splits have to be dying down a tad.

[bravesfanMatt]

Mike is like 20 something years old and still has small sample of professional baseball logged.. I was never in favor of platooning him at any point. He was never going to be as bad as whatever RHH options the Braves have/had... Let the kid learn and prove that he can either hit them or not hit them. I think we still don't know for sure because of the sample size.. but it looks good so far.

[Russ2dollas]

Mike is like 20 something years old and still has small sample of professional baseball logged.. I was never in favor of platooning him at any point. He was never going to be as bad as whatever RHH options the Braves have/had... Let the kid learn and prove that he can either hit them or not hit them. I think we still don't know for sure because of the sample size.. but it looks good so far.

I agree and have agreed.

Guy hardly had any at bats at a high major level. Hardly saw any MLB quality breaking balls until he got up here.

I honestly feel the same way about Grissom.

I was not sold he was an impact bat. Still not sold. But I'm moving toward the idea that he will be an impact bat. Sample size is still small. Really impressed with how he rebounded from the slow start and how is defense continued to be strong.

[bravesfanMatt]

that mlb piece about the brave's deep line up might be good to post here.. although, I thought is was a poorly written fluff job.. they made it like our 9 hole hitter was our worse hitter when that is clearly not the case.. just twit and his sharpie. Sorryio and Arcia are clearly worse hitters.

[DirkPiggler]

that mlb piece about the brave's deep line up might be good to post here.. although, I thought is was a poorly written fluff job.. they made it like our 9 hole hitter was our worse hitter when that is clearly not the case.. just twit and his sharpie. Sorryio and Arcia are clearly worse hitters.

In that piece Petriello actually mentioned that Rosario was our worst hitter.

[bravesfanMatt]

In that piece Petriello actually mentioned that Rosario was our worst hitter.

I might have skipped that part or stopped reading. My wife was yapping at me to schedule a dog to be groomed... yeah she wears the pants.. so what.

[msstate7]

Since the braves didn't trace Grissom at the deadline, he needs to get some playing time in LF. His bat could be an asset

[chop2chip]

Feel like we need a post for stuff that isn’t game-related for miscellaneous Braves stuff (like the Olson k% post)

I’ll start it off with a post about Money Mike’s splits.

Versus lefties, Harris has a 15.8% k rate, a 111 wRC+, and a .292 average with a .316 BABIP.
It’s only 76 PAs, but the concerns about his platoon splits have to be dying down a tad.

This is why it never made sense to force him into a strict platoon. Mike’s shown a unique ability to develop and adapt since he was drafted. The only way he learns to hit lefties is experience.

The next big step for him is cutting down on his chase rate (37% compared to 22% for Ronald for reference). I suspect if he does that he will hit less ground balls and walk more.

[Super]

This is why it never made sense to force him into a strict platoon. Mike’s shown a unique ability to develop and adapt since he was drafted. The only way he learns to hit lefties is experience.

The next big step for him is cutting down on his chase rate (37% compared to 22% for Ronald for reference). I suspect if he does that he will hit less ground balls and walk more.

I completely agree. It was brought up last year for playoff time specifically because he was legitimately pretty bad vs lefties last year. I think it always made sense to let him try and figure it out during the regular season where games aren’t as important.

I know his splits were a point of hesitation for enscheff in Harris’ extension. While again, 76 PAs is not enough to draw a definitive conclusion, the extreme improvement so far in his numbers vs lefties is a hugely positive sign. K% almost cut in half.

[sturg33]

If the Braves hadn't extend Olson, he'd be a free agent this off-season. What would his market value be coming off a 50+ HR season?

[CyYoung31]

I might have skipped that part or stopped reading. My wife was yapping at me to schedule a dog to be groomed... yeah she wears the pants.. so what.

Someone’s on a leash, and it’s not the dog.

[MadduxFanII]

Someone’s on a leash, and it’s not the dog.

But enough about your mom's kinks.

[NYCBrave]

On a related note, is there any reason Harris needs to be hitting 9th??

[Garmel]

On a related note, is there any reason Harris needs to be hitting 9th??

For the same reason Olson was batting 2nd. It's just one of the squirrely ideas that's floating around in Snitker's mind.

[50PoundHead]

For the same reason Olson was batting 2nd. It's just one of the squirrely ideas that's floating around in Snitker's mind.

I think decisions on line-up construction are made at a level above the dugout.

[thewupk]

I think decisions on line-up construction are made at a level above the dugout.

That and it's a pretty common sabemetric idea to have your best hitter batting 2nd. In an ideal world that's probablly Ronnie but he's made it clear he's going to bad leadoff. Olson is the next best guy so that's why he was there earlier in the year. It just took a slump to get him moved down. He's certainly a better fit to bat 2nd than Albies.

[50PoundHead]

That and it's a pretty common sabemetric idea to have your best hitter batting 2nd. In an ideal world that's probablly Ronnie but he's made it clear he's going to bad leadoff. Olson is the next best guy so that's why he was there earlier in the year. It just took a slump to get him moved down. He's certainly a better fit to bat 2nd than Albies.

True, but I wonder if Olson was taking pitches to accommodate Acuna's desire to run. I have no idea of knowing that, but if you are right behind a guy who is going to steal 60+ bases, that's probably a consideration. Moving Olson down takes that pressure off of him to some extent.

[thewupk]

On a related note, is there any reason Harris needs to be hitting 9th??

2nd leadoff hitter

[chop2chip]

On a related note, is there any reason Harris needs to be hitting 9th??

He should hit higher in the order. With that said, since Harris’s biggest weakness is chasing pitches outside the zone, hitting him in front of RAJ is probably the best way to mitigate that.

[bravesfanMatt]

I like the idea of batting him leadoff some.. at least against a RHP. bump Ozzie behind Ozuna then Arcia and Sorryio last.