Can Russell Martin come close to providing value at his contract?

[HERPDERP]

K but Tulo is like a BABIP correction away from .280/.400/.450, so

 

Tulo hasn't been having much bad luck

 

He's been either striking out/hitting weak grounders/pop flies

 

There have been very few line drives off his bat.

 

Not to mention he has become very passive at the plate - not sure if he always has though

[West Texas Forever]

Has Saunders looked like s***? No. Donaldson and JB are right where you expect them to be, EE is fine but a bit lower than normal in power (his power comes in streaks anyway), and Saunders is mashing. Tulo's BABIP is .200 but his power is fine and he's walking at 14%. The only guy who really looks lost that we could reasonably expect to be good is Martin.

 

Yeah you're right, if Saunders can keep hitting all over the field it will be awesome. Also once Travis comes back in a month I think we will see a big change in this team too.

[HERPDERP]

What do you suggest Martin does then?

 

if Martin is getting beat by fastballs then he will have to switch to the lighter bat. We all know he is at his best when he waits for the pitch and goes oppo, but if he can't do that anymore then he will either have to sell out and go pull happy or get a lighter bat so that he can go back to being the oppo monster he was before. I prefer the latter. He could also choke up on the bat so his swing is faster through the zone but at that point we have a slap hitting catcher.

[Statman]

Tulo hasn't been having much bad luck

 

He's been either striking out/hitting weak grounders/pop flies

 

There have been very few line drives off his bat.

 

Not to mention he has become very passive at the plate - not sure if he always has though

 

Totally agree with everything you said especially your first sentence.

[Spanky99]

rolls eye*

 

common sense for anyone who watches the game

 

Other small things hitters can do that can change things up

-move closer to the plate

-move closer to the pitcher

-choke up on the bat

-remove leg kick

 

Cool, are you a Pirate?

[Key22]

I was under the understanding that Martin injured his neck - he's been playing through it. Largely because we have no competent back up option. If this is true - then I cut the guy some slack. He was brought here for defense at the time so said the former management - they were not expecting that level of offense - if they did then dumping AA was the right move.

 

The problem is never one guy - it's a series of failures from several guys - Tulo should not be this bad a hitter. If he's our next Aaron Hill then we're in big trouble. With an aging EE and Bautista - I think that they should start talking to other teams about these two. Tulo and Martin are untradeble ubnless we take on a terrible contract in return.

 

The Reds and Joey Votto - terrible contract but some stellar performance. EE for three minor leaguers from someone - send all three to the Reds + two decent Jays prospects - and Tulo. Use Goins at short - Travis returns to second - Barney covers. Jays offset the cash with Tulo - Reds get 5 good prospects - Tulo's contract ends sooner. And still has potential - we get one of the 5 best bats in the NL and a Canadian - take on bad contract at the end - but by then 27 million will be what $17million looks like now - not too terrible. Votto helps solve the gap when EE leaves next season and gives us lefty bat power.

 

Votto has been utterly terrible so far this year as well. Strike while the GM's are panicking.

[Statman]

If his struggles are because of the injuries the best move is to DL him. He is hurting the team. All his replacement needs to do from the minors is play at a replacement level and it would be an improvement.

[Spanky99]

*Dream Weavers*

[Stangstag]

I was under the understanding that Martin injured his neck - he's been playing through it. Largely because we have no competent back up option. If this is true - then I cut the guy some slack. He was brought here for defense at the time so said the former management - they were not expecting that level of offense - if they did then dumping AA was the right move.

 

The problem is never one guy - it's a series of failures from several guys - Tulo should not be this bad a hitter. If he's our next Aaron Hill then we're in big trouble. With an aging EE and Bautista - I think that they should start talking to other teams about these two. Tulo and Martin are untradeble ubnless we take on a terrible contract in return.

 

The Reds and Joey Votto - terrible contract but some stellar performance. EE for three minor leaguers from someone - send all three to the Reds + two decent Jays prospects - and Tulo. Use Goins at short - Travis returns to second - Barney covers. Jays offset the cash with Tulo - Reds get 5 good prospects - Tulo's contract ends sooner. And still has potential - we get one of the 5 best bats in the NL and a Canadian - take on bad contract at the end - but by then 27 million will be what $17million looks like now - not too terrible. Votto helps solve the gap when EE leaves next season and gives us lefty bat power.

 

Votto has been utterly terrible so far this year as well. Strike while the GM's are panicking.

 

Gross

[BTS]

I keep hoping for news of a DL stint. He's obviously not right, and he's not helping the team by playing through it.

[RealAccountant]

How about that Russell Martin

 

Almost 2 WAR now practically carrying the team on his back. 106 WRC almost .350 obp

[HERPDERP]

How about that Russell Martin

 

Almost 2 WAR now practically carrying the team on his back. 106 WRC almost .350 obp

 

Best hitting catcher in the league. Defense is still there (Despite failing to throw out runners)

 

I will admit that I thought he was done

 

edit: forgot that Lucroy is now in the AL

 

Also, I didn't know Realmuto and Rupp were doing so well.

[Laika]

You can add another entire WAR for framing.

[Sammy225]

I am still convinced that had he gone on the DL to start the season with his neck he would not have gotten off to that putrid start... Glad he is doing great one of the easy guys to cheer for same as tulo.

[Governator]

I am still convinced that had he gone on the DL to start the season with his neck he would not have gotten off to that putrid start... Glad he is doing great one of the easy guys to cheer for same as tulo.

 

 

Yea I think starting the year with Thole as the starter was just not an option if he was willing to play through it. They couldn't admit that I think to save face but it was well known he had neck issues.

[intrigid]

It felt like forever that he was in his slump. Now it's like it never happened.

[Maahfaace]

I was under the understanding that Martin injured his neck - he's been playing through it. Largely because we have no competent back up option. If this is true - then I cut the guy some slack. He was brought here for defense at the time so said the former management - they were not expecting that level of offense - if they did then dumping AA was the right move.

 

The problem is never one guy - it's a series of failures from several guys - Tulo should not be this bad a hitter. If he's our next Aaron Hill then we're in big trouble. With an aging EE and Bautista - I think that they should start talking to other teams about these two. Tulo and Martin are untradeble ubnless we take on a terrible contract in return.

 

The Reds and Joey Votto - terrible contract but some stellar performance. EE for three minor leaguers from someone - send all three to the Reds + two decent Jays prospects - and Tulo. Use Goins at short - Travis returns to second - Barney covers. Jays offset the cash with Tulo - Reds get 5 good prospects - Tulo's contract ends sooner. And still has potential - we get one of the 5 best bats in the NL and a Canadian - take on bad contract at the end - but by then 27 million will be what $17million looks like now - not too terrible. Votto helps solve the gap when EE leaves next season and gives us lefty bat power.

 

Votto has been utterly terrible so far this year as well. Strike while the GM's are panicking.

 

Gross

 

Reading this for the first time, but even in April these trades were an absolute atrocious idea.

[Dr. Dinger]

Martin has paid off about half of his contract now.

[G-Snarls]

Russell Martin

 

August (64 AB) .313 AVG & 7 HR

 

April - July (277 AB) .235 AVG & 7 HR

[Jonn]

Russell Martin

 

August (64 AB) .313 AVG & 7 HR

 

April - July (277 AB) .235 AVG & 7 HR

 

It could not have came at a better time with Donaldson slumping.

[RealAccountant]

Martin has paid off about half of his contract now.

 

Much more. @ 8 mil a WAR

 

He has already had 6-7 WAR as a Blue Jay

[Governator]

Russell Martin

 

August (64 AB) .313 AVG & 7 HR

 

April - July (277 AB) .235 AVG & 7 HR

 

 

 

 

2nd Half of season he has a 175 wRC+ (114PA), first of qualified catchers. But you know what's crazier? Gary Sanchez with his 245 wRC+ in 71PA. f***in' Yankees.

[King]

Russell Martin

 

August (64 AB) .313 AVG & 7 HR

 

April - July (277 AB) .235 AVG & 7 HR

 

You did the split way wrong. This is misleading Martin has been hitting like a stud since June.

 

April - 6 wRC+

May - 68 wRC+

June - 131 wRC+

July - 137 wRC+

August - 185 wRC+

[G-Snarls]

You did the split way wrong. This is misleading Martin has been hitting like a stud since June.

 

April - 6 wRC+

May - 68 wRC+

June - 131 wRC+

July - 137 wRC+

August - 185 wRC+

 

Good point, it's been a steady improvement since mid season. (TBH, I borrowed the stat from a tweet, which was obviously meant to mostly highlight the more sudden increase in home runs)

[Spanky99]

You did the split way wrong. This is misleading Martin has been hitting like a stud since June.

 

April - 6 wRC+

May - 68 wRC+

June - 131 wRC+

July - 137 wRC+

August - 185 wRC+

 

Wow man, from June on he's been fantastic. He had to be hurt with that neck injury early on.

[Brownie19]

Wow man, from June on he's been fantastic. He had to be hurt with that neck injury early on.

 

I suspect it was - but you could also just caulk it up to baseball....Martin's career wRC+ is 107 (essentially where he's at right now). There are a lot of ups and downs during a season. Martin got s*** on because his big slump was in April instead of July - but he's the same as he's ever been really.

 

The concern is his defense hasn't been as strong, which has dragged down his value. The neck injury probably had a big effect on that as well.

 

 

I love me some Martin. Him and Tulo are so easy to root for as anchors of this team.

[Cyborg]

You can add another entire WAR for framing.

1.2 WAR according to BP. 5th most in the league. Good for 3.0 WAR.

 

Posey is at 6 WAR with his framing. Grandal at 4.6 WAR in 356 PA.

[Maahfaace]

Martin is 31st all time on the WAR list for catchers, he will probably finish his career inside the top 20 and should IMO get the nod to Cooperstown. He probably won't though, because his contributions have been weighted on the defensive side of the ball, and we all know how the votes lean towards counting stats.

[Governator]

Martin is 31st all time on the WAR list for catchers, he will probably finish his career inside the top 20 and should IMO get the nod to Cooperstown. He probably won't though, because his contributions have been weighted on the defensive side of the ball, and we all know how the votes lean towards counting stats.

 

 

Doubtful he'd be in, Piazza just got in, Pudge will be next. Not to mention Mauer & Molina are the same age as Martin, which will likely kill his chances when looking at catchers with hardware.

[wamco]

No chance