Around the League - 2021 Szn

It's too early to say Kieboom is a bust. The only point of my comment was that if we're disappointed with Riley, the Nationals are likely at least as disappointed with Kieboom.

That said, I don't know how clvclv came up with a Markakis comparison. If Kieboom reaches Markakis 30 WAR career, my guess is the Nationals won't be disappointed.

Wasn't clear - you're right. I'm talking about late years Markakis - not particularly good defensively, little to no power for someone playing a corner position, little chance to help a whole lot most of the time since he'd be the strong-side of a platoon where you generally hope to have someone who provides more power (and his defense wasn't so good that you were willing to give up some production for the run-prevention he provided).

Late-career Markakis and Blauser (and to this point Kieboom) were just "guys" - they'd do something to help once every few weeks when they were in the perfect situation, but otherwise were just kinda THERE. If you had someone who provided more power/better defense/etc. you'd usually prefer to play them instead.
 
I'm not sure that failing to dominate at 23 is much of a black mark.

I have very little Kieboom stock, myself, but it's a little early.

Nobody is saying they expect him to dominate. But in a very small sample in the majors over the past two seasons, he's shown literally nothing. He did so poorly this Spring that the Nationals sent him back to the minors, when many had him tabbed as the starting 3B. He lost out to journey man Josh Harrison!!!!
 
Man the Reds are crazy on the homerun ball. 6 today

More or less what was expected from them last year - how scary might they have looked last season with all those guys hitting like they were expected to while they still had Bauer and Iglesias?!?!?
 
Man the Reds are crazy on the homerun ball. 6 today

Checking in on the other game too - a deal for Moran, Adam Frazier, and Richard Rodriguez sure wouldn't look so bad about now either. AA could probably get them to take Camargo and Dayton back to help offset some of the money if the return was good enough. Moran platoons with Riley for the next couple years, Frazier takes LF next season when Ozuna slides over to DH, and Rodriguez gives you another really good righty in the pen (replacing Martin on the cheap next winter).
 
In his latest Weird and Wild column in the Athletic, Stark gives some perspective on the Kazmar Jr. 12 year gap in MLB game appearances:

https://theathletic.com/2537730/2021/04/23/stark-weird-and-wild-what-goes-up-edition-the-rays-dodgers-padres-reds-and-braves-get-strange/

"Oh, and also he made the Weird and Wild column think long and hard about how to put those 12 years and 206 days between big-league box-score mentions in perspective. So how about this. In between Kazmar’s games in the big leagues …

• 10 pitchers threw more than 2,000 innings.
• Seven hitters got at least 6,000 at-bats.
• Six players hit at least 300 home runs.
• Nine players scored at least 900 runs.
• Five players drove in at least 1,000 runs.
• Three players got at least 1,800 hits.

So obviously, that’s a long time. But also…

• 12 players drafted in the same draft as Kazmar (2004) played at least 1,000 games in the big leagues and now are no longer playing– but Sean Kazmar Jr. is still going.
• Three pitchers taken in the same draft as Kazmar won at least 100 games in the big leagues and now are no longer pitching– but Sean Kazmar Jr. is still going.

Julio Franco played in a game in the big leagues the day Sean Kazmar Jr. was drafted. He’s now 62 years old.

Randy Johnson, Mike Hampton, Mike Mussina and David Weathers all pitched in the big leagues on Sept. 23, 2008 – Kazmar’s last game in the major leagues before Saturday. They’ve all been retired for at least a decade. But Sean Kazmar Jr. is still going. Because, well …

Baseball!"
 
He's pitching well, but also well above his head. He'll come crashing back down at some point. No walks given up and only 3 hits given up all season.

Still, he's a solid pitcher that would be nice in a BP lacking quality RHPs at the moment.

The main reason I miss Melancon is he didn't f*ck around on the mound. It was "Here it is. Do your worst." Watching Minter and Smith pitch is so painful. I don't think Melancon is really a closer anymore, but it's hard to argue with his results during his one-plus season with the Braves and thus far with the Padres.
 
The main reason I miss Melancon is he didn't f*ck around on the mound. It was "Here it is. Do your worst." Watching Minter and Smith pitch is so painful. I don't think Melancon is really a closer anymore, but it's hard to argue with his results during his one-plus season with the Braves and thus far with the Padres.

Always struck me as funny that folks have always seemed to *itch a whole lot more about Folty/Newk/Wright nibbling so much while apparently giving Minter and Smith a pass - if you ran those guys out there for multiple innings they'd spike your blood pressure just as much.
 
Always struck me as funny that folks have always seemed to *itch a whole lot more about Folty/Newk/Wright nibbling so much while apparently giving Minter and Smith a pass - if you ran those guys out there for multiple innings they'd spike your blood pressure just as much.

I think the difference is that Folty, Newk, and Wright all suck.
 
Always struck me as funny that folks have always seemed to *itch a whole lot more about Folty/Newk/Wright nibbling so much while apparently giving Minter and Smith a pass - if you ran those guys out there for multiple innings they'd spike your blood pressure just as much.

Minter just can’t locate well enough. Same with Newk and Wright.

Smith and Jackson are similar in that they fall in love with their slider when ahead in the count. Smith not quite as bad as Luke obviously.

Folty isn’t pitching bad right now.

I miss Melancon.
 
Minter just can’t locate well enough. Same with Newk and Wright.

Smith and Jackson are similar in that they fall in love with their slider when ahead in the count. Smith not quite as bad as Luke obviously.

Folty isn’t pitching bad right now.

I miss Melancon.

Thanks for reminding me. I omitted Jackson in my earlier post regarding the indigestion caused by some members of our bullpen. He may be the most painful to watch.
 
Corbin Burnes struck out 9 tonight with 0 walks. Bringing his total on the season to 49 K's and 0 BB's in 29 1/3 innings.
 
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