GDT: 5/8/2024 - Red Sox at Braves; let's Sale to a series sweep

His previous injuries werent really pitching related. TJ sure, but thats a pretty routine these days. Honestly his arm should be pretty good based on how little he has even pitched the last few years. So much less wear and tear.
 
Going by Fangraphs defensive WAR Acuna is much improved on defense, which would be odd if his knee was bothering him. Last two years they have him at -7.8 and -8.6 on defense. So far this year in 34 games he is at -0.3 which over a full season is roughly a -1.5 pace.
 
cajunrevenge said:
Going by Fangraphs defensive WAR Acuna is much improved on defense, which would be odd if his knee was bothering him. Last two years they have him at -7.8 and -8.6 on defense. So far this year in 34 games he is at -0.3 which over a full season is roughly a -1.5 pace.
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defense take a bit longer to normalize and his knee in 22 didn't impact base running and defense, it is the twist or tork that for what ever reason prevents his swing to be 100% on time.
 
I also have a hard time believing there is anything wrong with Acuna's knee. It's more likely that he is simply is out of sorts mechanically, imo. I also think it is clear that the MLB has effed with the baseball's yet again. Power numbers are down across the league.
 
Carp said:
You don't think running and defense are affected by lack of twist and torque?
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well he said his knee was bothering him in 2022 and his defense was better in 22 than in 23 and he was stealing or attempting to steal in 2022 so I can only base my opinion by what facts I have in front of me.
 
bravesfanMatt said:
well he said his knee was bothering him in 2022 and his defense was better in 22 than in 23 and he was stealing or attempting to steal in 2022 so I can only base my opinion by what facts I have in front of me.
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Acuna's sprint speed per season:

2018 - 29.6
2019 - 29.3
2020 - 29.1
2021 - 29.4
2022 - 28.5
2023 - 28.0
2024 - 27.6

Acuna did not steal 70 bases last year due to elite speed. He no longer has elite speed, and the knee injury looks to have triggered a steepening of the aging curve. Therefore, citing SBs totals as some sort of gauge for knee health/strength is pointless.

Acuna's ISO in 2022 was .148 when his sprint speed was 28.5.

Acuna's ISO in 2023 was .258 when his sprint speed was 28.0.

Acuna's ISO in 2024 is 0.90 while his sprint speed is 27.6.

Therefore, there appears to be no correlation between his ISO and his SB totals, nor with his sprint speed.

Something is wrong with that back knee when he bats, and it is limiting his ability to post his typical ISO values. We obviously have no idea what's wrong, or how to fix it, but there is very clearly something wrong with Acuna...and it's probably the knee just like it was a problem in 2022.
 
I know nothing about knee injuries, but is it completely normal for him to have issues in 2022, be fine in 2023, and then the knee ailments return in 2024? Whatever it is seems recent because he seems to be fine during Winter Ball.
 
Enscheff said:
Acuna's sprint speed per season:

2018 - 29.6
2019 - 29.3
2020 - 29.1
2021 - 29.4
2022 - 28.5
2023 - 28.0
2024 - 27.6

Acuna did not steal 70 bases last year due to elite speed. He no longer has elite speed, and the knee injury looks to have triggered a steepening of the aging curve. Therefore, citing SBs totals as some sort of gauge for knee health/strength is pointless.

Acuna's ISO in 2022 was .148 when his sprint speed was 28.5.

Acuna's ISO in 2023 was .258 when his sprint speed was 28.0.

Acuna's ISO in 2024 is 0.90 while his sprint speed is 27.6.

Therefore, there appears to be no correlation between his ISO and his SB totals, nor with his sprint speed.

Something is wrong with that back knee when he bats, and it is limiting his ability to post his typical ISO values. We obviously have no idea what's wrong, or how to fix it, but there is very clearly something wrong with Acuna...and it's probably the knee just like it was a problem in 2022.
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That was my point, much like a golf swing or a pitching motion, you can still accomplish those when something hurts but it isn't the same. Acuna can clearly run and field and even hit the ball.. but he isn't 100% right.. I would naturally think knee too, but I also hold out a small possibility that he is just worn out from playing all winter. Either way, I would prefer to just IL him for 2-3 weeks and let him get right.
 
UNCBlue012 said:
I know nothing about knee injuries, but is it completely normal for him to have issues in 2022, be fine in 2023, and then the knee ailments return in 2024? Whatever it is seems recent because he seems to be fine during Winter Ball.
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he tweaked it in a spring game where he stole a base or two and then decided to get into a run down as if it was game 7 of the WS. He sat out the rest of spring.

I want to point out that it was a spring training game and he was allowed to play hard because that is just how he plays and you can't tell a guy to not play hard but also be smart.
 
Knee injuries are weird. Joel Embiid’s knee was 100% sound but he said that, despite knowing its sound, he had a hard time fully trusting it when playing. Ronald tweaked his and is probably a bit paranoid about re-injuring it big-time again, so he’s off. That’s my guess anyway.
 
Super said:
Knee injuries are weird. Joel Embiid’s knee was 100% sound but he said that, despite knowing its sound, he had a hard time fully trusting it when playing. Ronald tweaked his and is probably a bit paranoid about re-injuring it big-time again, so he’s off. That’s my guess anyway.
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Swinging a baseball bat is the most violent non-contact action in all of sports. The torque it puts on that rear knee is significant, and any insecurity in that knee could lead to everything we are seeing as wrong with Acuna.

So I totally agree...the knee tweak scare in ST either isn't fully healed and/or Acuna doesn't fully trust it yet.

Something is almost certainly "wrong", but I won't pretend to know how to fix it. Extended rest may not be the answer if it's a mental thing. Either way, this is likely to be an ongoing issue for the rest of his career. Having a few braincells in the dugout to help manage the workload of that knee may be a good idea.
 
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Super said:
Knee injuries are weird. Joel Embiid’s knee was 100% sound but he said that, despite knowing its sound, he had a hard time fully trusting it when playing. Ronald tweaked his and is probably a bit paranoid about re-injuring it big-time again, so he’s off. That’s my guess anyway.
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That's the resaon he gave in 2022. He was 100% but didn't trust himself.
 
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