The Second Base Transition: Mixing and Matching
- Thread starter nsacpi
- Start date
57Brave
Well-known member
You ruined the joke.
been getting that a lot lately !
even so -- Pena tonight -- hope it works
Those that see it as a lame brain idea - Bill James wrote extensively in the mid-late 80s Baseball Abstracts about why the pitcher shouldn't hit last.
I smell a trade
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Glad to see Pena take advantage of his opportunity tonight.
Part of the mix and match approach is to gradually increase the playing time of the guys who do relatively well. After his double and home run I'd find a way to keep Pena in the lineup tomorrow. I'd still like to get Pastornicky in there against the lefty. So I'd go with Pena at third (and rest Johnson who continues to struggle) and Pastornicky at second. Doesn't matter which one Fredi bats ninth.
Part of the mix and match approach is to gradually increase the playing time of the guys who do relatively well. After his double and home run I'd find a way to keep Pena in the lineup tomorrow. I'd still like to get Pastornicky in there against the lefty. So I'd go with Pena at third (and rest Johnson who continues to struggle) and Pastornicky at second. Doesn't matter which one Fredi bats ninth.
NinersSBChamps
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br> 2015 (Co-Winner)</BR>20
I will go Pastor in left and Pena at second base.
tomahawkchop10
Gwinnett Bound
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/...s.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
Wow. Looks like some players have privately lobbied for Pastor. Looks like the end may be near for Uggs...
Wow. Looks like some players have privately lobbied for Pastor. Looks like the end may be near for Uggs...
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Ugh, I really hope it's not Pastor. He's at best a below average hitter and below average defender. I mean. He's better than Uggla has been, but that's not really hard.
Don't think anybody is vying for pastor long term. Just short term anything is better than uggla.
JohnAdcox
Brian Jordan's New BFF
This. Exactly this. He almost has to be an upgrade, he's on the roster, and I think we'd all like to know just what he can do.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
That's a truly outstanding novel that I recommend to everyone—seriously.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
It is indeed. But we shouldn't digress from today's Disgrace of a lineup.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
I think we could use the lens of Coetzee's writing to analyze what Fredi has wrought: to try to access the fundamental discomfort with, and ultimate alienation from, any sort of rational sensibility in the face of the yawning chasm of alterity, that expanse we all strive and fail to bridge as we attempt to piece some coherence out of this heap of broken images, this bramble of stony rubbish we call human existence.
Or, I suppose we could embrace a more light-hearted, more meta-theatrical trajectory, and still do a fine job circumscribing what Fredi has done today:
GovClintonTyree
<B>Vencer a Los Doyers</B>
Transition?
I prefer the "ripping off a band-aid" method. Pack Dan's **** for him. Have it delivered. Designate him for assignment. Trade him. Or don't.
Promote Tommy. Let him play 120 games. Bet his OBP is .360+. If it's not, go to the Pastor/Pena plan.
Bold and decisive. That's kind of how Frank rolls. Shouldn't be too far out of line.
I prefer the "ripping off a band-aid" method. Pack Dan's **** for him. Have it delivered. Designate him for assignment. Trade him. Or don't.
Promote Tommy. Let him play 120 games. Bet his OBP is .360+. If it's not, go to the Pastor/Pena plan.
Bold and decisive. That's kind of how Frank rolls. Shouldn't be too far out of line.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
Tomorrow we face Wainwright. Uggla has a .610 OPS against him, not the worse on the team but not good either. Given Uggla's record against Wainwright and his ongoing slump, it is my sincere hope that Fredi will play Pena or Pastornicky at second tomorrow. Pena hasn't face Wainwright. Pastornicky as a single and walk against him in 3 plate appearances.
For his career, Wainwright has given up a .631 OPS against righties and a .691 OPS against lefties.
For his career, Wainwright has given up a .631 OPS against righties and a .691 OPS against lefties.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
We're seeing Fredi move in the mix and match direction the last two series. He sat Uggla against Lincecum in game 1 in the Giants series, and against the two righties in the Cardinals series. Pena got to start those games. I'd like to see Pastornicky given some games, but overall I think Fredi is moving in the right direction.
We will face three righties (Hammel, Samardzija, and Jackson) against the Cubs.
Uggla has a .690 OPS against Hammel in 14 PA's. Pena and Pastornicky haven't faced him.
Uggla has a .505 OPS against Samardzija in 19 PA's. Pena has a single and double against him in 3 PA's. Pastornicky has 2 singles in 3 PA's.
Uggla has a .258 OPS against Jackson in 16 PA's. Pena has faced him twice and made outs both times. Pastornicky has not faced him.
Given Uggla's relative lack of success against those three and his ongoing slump, I would not start him in this series. I would split the games up between Pena and Pastornicky. Maybe 1 game each in the first two games, and give the third game to whichever one has the better game.
We will face three righties (Hammel, Samardzija, and Jackson) against the Cubs.
Uggla has a .690 OPS against Hammel in 14 PA's. Pena and Pastornicky haven't faced him.
Uggla has a .505 OPS against Samardzija in 19 PA's. Pena has a single and double against him in 3 PA's. Pastornicky has 2 singles in 3 PA's.
Uggla has a .258 OPS against Jackson in 16 PA's. Pena has faced him twice and made outs both times. Pastornicky has not faced him.
Given Uggla's relative lack of success against those three and his ongoing slump, I would not start him in this series. I would split the games up between Pena and Pastornicky. Maybe 1 game each in the first two games, and give the third game to whichever one has the better game.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Uggla will not sit all 3 games. My guess he plays game 1 and 3. Braves are still hoping he gets hot and they can salvage something for him. Personally, we just freed up a spot on the 40 man by releasing Mejia a few weeks ago, Bring up TLS. Also the platoon method with Uggla is just setting himself up for failure. I don't get why Fredi doesn't get it. Uggla on his career has a noticeable reverse split (.800 vs .750) this year it's been the opposite, but SSS and all. If you were gonna platoon uggla you'd platoon him with Pastornicky. Personally I'm not a fan of platoons when we have an intriguing option in La Stella. TLS shouldn't be a last resort. He should be the first or second option. Last resort should be the Hydra.
nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
I would be surprised to see Uggla go game 3 given his record against Jackson. I agree that a platoon involving Uggla doesn't make sense given the reverse splits over his career. I would not advocate that. When I use the term mix and match I have something else in mind. I would look at records against individual pitchers and I would also reward good performance. If a player produces (whether it be Pena, Pastornicky or Uggla) I would keep him in the lineup. I would stick to this approach for the next four or five weeks. If no one seizes the opportunity I would bring up La Stella.
Why do I want to try the Hydra before La Stella? Main reason is I think Pastornicky and Pena are defensively superior to La Stella. And I don't think it is a foregone conclusion La Stella will hit better than them. So I would rather give the more experienced, defensively superior guys a chance before turning to La Stella. Of course, I realize there are others with a different view of the relative defensive and offensive merits of Pena and Pastornicky relative to La Stella. But that's how I see it.