Thing is...we have two capable catchers and a great young prospect in the minors. JTR wasn’t a huge need, and we only would get him for two years. If he was signed to a Yelich deal...then that’s different.
Austin Riley Apology Thread
- Thread starter bravesfanforlife88
- Start date
Thing is...we have two capable catchers and a great young prospect in the minors. JTR wasn’t a huge need, and we only would get him for two years. If he was signed to a Yelich deal...then that’s different.
Southcack77
Well-known member
Bullpen issue was more not picking up lower cost options than big tickets.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
That’s my whole thing too.
cajunrevenge
Well-known member
Trading prospects is bad mmmkay
Russ2dollas
10 yr, $185 million Extension
I’ve watched all of the Riley at bats. I like watching him hit. I have my concerns long term but this is a lot of fun. He’s a good player no doubt. I’m hoping he’s a difference maker over time but we will see.
I never wanted jtr. I wanted us to get grandal like the brewers did. Offer big money for 1-2 years. Higher salary less years. That would be my plan for all free agents. Ideally team options even if they are crazy high options.
I never wanted jtr. I wanted us to get grandal like the brewers did. Offer big money for 1-2 years. Higher salary less years. That would be my plan for all free agents. Ideally team options even if they are crazy high options.
This.
msstate7
Well-known member
I wouldn't. Haniger is almost 29 years old. Riley won't keep hitting at this level, but he will hit. He's also gonna be a 3rd baseman.
Haniger is batting like .232 with around 1.3 WAR and 12 dingers. I have to think Riley would outperform that if up the whole season to this point.
We have two really really promising outfielders that should be in AAA by the end of this season and Guys like Duvall and Demeritte playing great with not a shot to even get a shot....oh and a gold glove center fielder just hoping that he won’t come back as our fourth outfielder.
Things have changed. Haniger is not really a need at all anymore.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
I’m real excited about what Riley has done so far but that K-rate is starting to get up there and his walk rate is almost non existant. If he can’t mske adjustments in those 2 areas he will eventually be exposed.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
All I’m saying. That was the concern in the minors too, but he steadily improved both areas at each level. We’ll see.
zbhargrove
Well-known member
I’m optimistic he can adjust. He’s shown that ability over and over again. Just pointing out the one concerning thing thus far
Like a .250 BABIP though. He has a career high ISO as well. Not to mention, 1.3 WAR would put him tied for 3rd on our team currently, behind FF and Acuna.
Granted he is 28 already, which I forgot. Still, he's proven to be a 4 WAR player and is controllable for like 4 more years.
Russ2dollas
10 yr, $185 million Extension
Agree
Guy throws 95 and he ks three times
He needs to keep hitting. He’s shown he can adjust. Plus it’s baseball and it’s hard. And hopefully not hurt us in the field
msstate7
Well-known member
He's at 1.1 fWAR, which would be tied with flowers for 6th on braves. Mitch is K'n at 27.9% BTW, which is up 6.2% from his career year last season. Zips, steamer, and depth charts all project him in 2 range in fWAR (2.1-2.7).
Those projections are for the rest of the season...so they project him at 3-4 wins overall. Haniger is exactly the player everyone thought he was.
We do know a few things about Riley now, and none of them have to do with his 1.000+ OPS that's hyper-inflated by a .450 BABIP and 50% HR/FB rate (I'm going to assume we no longer have to discuss how unsustainable those numbers are...):
1. His power is legit, but not top of the scale. His hardest hit ball before tonight (I don't know the exit velocity on the double) didn't quite top 110 mph. That puts his raw power in the tier below Acuna/JD with Freeman/Flowers/Markakis/Albies(RHH).
2. His Z-Contact% of 60.8% is well below MLB average of ~85%. There isn't a single qualified MLB hitter that makes contact with pitches in the zone less frequently.
3. His O-Swing% is 43.3%, and would rank #3 in MLB if he were a qualified hitter, tied with Javy Baez...the poster-child for wild swingers.
4. We worry about his ability to catch up to FAs, but the league isn't throwing him many. His 46.2% FA% would rank #158 out of 170 qualified batters.
What I see so far is a good power hitter with a bit of a long swing that is guessing FA often and cheating for it. When he gets it in the zone, he causes damage. When he guesses wrong he either swings at a bad pitch, or fails to make contact altogether.
Add all that up and you get a young mistake hitter who is up there guessing, and is obviously going to K a lot as a result. Only time will tell if he can adjust to MLB quality sequencing, but MLB pitchers will let us know pretty soon. Of course, we have seen Riley make adjustments and improve many times already in many different facets of being a professional baseball player, so it would be pretty dumb to suggest he won't make adjustments at the MLB level to correct these fairly obvious issues.
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AerchAngel
<B>Secretary of Statistics</B>
The doctor, Dr. Scheff analysis.
He is usually, well mostly, right.
He is usually, well mostly, right.
msstate7
Well-known member
You right... the projections are from here out. I remember when the projections came out that they had haniger way below what most of here thought he'd get, so guess that's why I read the projections wrong. Thanks for correction
CrimsonCowboy
Moderator
I completely agree. I was on YouTube not too long ago. Now, I'm far from a professional scout, but I saw good similarities to Glaus with Riley. Time will tell if he had any sort of career like Troy Glaus, but Austin Riley is off to a good start.