Can Vladdy Stick?

[Deadpool]

Kind of different when you actually get to the big stage where you have been looking to get to all of your life, then to add in the enormous amount of hype and media spotlight and party/gatherings for you then its a recipe for a slow start...none of it was his fault though, the media just wanted to cash in on his arrival.

 

I am fully confident that when the hype wears off and he gets fully accustomed to the big leagues, he will mash like he mashed the minor leagues.

 

Baseball is f***ing hard, you don't need to create some sort of "the media is creating too much pressure" to justify someone having a stretch of bad games. For the 4 games he played in April he had an OBP over .350, for the 5 games in May he's been shittier. I mean, we're talking about a really small sample size.

[Jimcanuck]

I'm OK with giving the No. 1 overall prospect some more rope.

[Doug000]

Getting impatient... abysmal offense needs at least one consistently good player

[Plat]

Baseball is f***ing hard, you don't need to create some sort of "the media is creating too much pressure" to justify someone having a stretch of bad games. For the 4 games he played in April he had an OBP over .350, for the 5 games in May he's been shittier. I mean, we're talking about a really small sample size.

 

I'm confident he will mash but let's not start babying him already.

[Deadpool]

I'm confident he will mash but let's not start babying him already.

 

Who is babying him? I mean, other than Montoyo ridiculously pinch running for him a few times and sitting him when it was likely unnecessary, but even though I disagree with those moves, that's hardly "babying" him.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm OK with giving the No. 1 overall prospect some more rope.

 

This is racist and offensive.

[Krylian]

This is racist and offensive.

 

Then he's doing it right.

[Olerud363]

Then he's doing it right.

 

Was watching Raptors and didn't see the game. Important question

 

Of the three balls put in play by Vladdy were any of them not choppers?? I see he got a hit? Booming line drive or did he beat out one of the choppers ?

[wk680]

Was watching Raptors and didn't see the game. Important question

 

Of the three balls put in play by Vladdy were any of them not choppers?? I see he got a hit? Booming line drive or did he beat out one of the choppers ?

 

It looked similar to the other hard grounders he has hit to me but found the hole between the 2nd and 1st basemen for a clean single. In his defense, it seemed he really went with the outside pitch to the opposite field, so that is a good sign. I am not sure what you mean when you refer to 'choppers'. To me that means a player is swinging on a downward plane (like chopping wood). But in watching Guerrero, it seems he is swinging properly but keeps getting on top of the ball. So his swing mechanics are OK, but he is just not squaring the ball up. Clearly something is off with him, but it has happened to the best of them, so there is every reason to be hopeful he will get on track.

[Deadpool]

Was watching Raptors and didn't see the game. Important question

 

Of the three balls put in play by Vladdy were any of them not choppers?? I see he got a hit? Booming line drive or did he beat out one of the choppers ?

 

104.4 exit velocity on the single. A grounder (though, almost neutral launch angle) but a well hit one.

[Carlos Danger]

I keep on telling you guys... Look at Vladdy like a weeble wobble.. His big belly, 30 plus pounds weight gain is making him lean fwd and down.. Thus affecting his launch angle and everything is going into the ground killing worms.

[wk680]

I keep on telling you guys... Look at Vladdy like a weeble wobble.. His big belly, 30 plus pounds weight gain is making him lean fwd and down.. Thus affecting his launch angle and everything is going into the ground killing worms.

 

It seems to me the weight is concentrated toward his butt, which would (according to your theory) promote a higher launch angle. But I am not buying into this idea; rather I think he is simply having trouble perceiving the ball and squaring it up with a strangely high rate of hitting it into the ground (swinging on top of the ball).

[Olerud363]

It looked similar to the other hard grounders he has hit to me but found the hole between the 2nd and 1st basemen for a clean single. In his defense, it seemed he really went with the outside pitch to the opposite field, so that is a good sign. I am not sure what you mean when you refer to 'choppers'. To me that means a player is swinging on a downward plane (like chopping wood). But in watching Guerrero, it seems he is swinging properly but keeps getting on top of the ball. So his swing mechanics are OK, but he is just not squaring the ball up. Clearly something is off with him, but it has happened to the best of them, so there is every reason to be hopeful he will get on track.

 

By choppers I mean what you're talking about, he's hitting on top of the ball and hitting grounders. Most of them haven't looked that hard hit to me, but the exit's velocities have actually been pretty high.

[Olerud363]

I keep on telling you guys... Look at Vladdy like a weeble wobble.. His big belly, 30 plus pounds weight gain is making him lean fwd and down.. Thus affecting his launch angle and everything is going into the ground killing worms.

 

At least that's potentially fixable. Jenny Craig?? Atkins?? Keto?? Subway diet??

 

They should do a pre-game weight in every day. Then instead of his avg, hr, and rbis display on the screen.

 

Vladimir Guerrero JR

Weight -

Grounders

Today's Grounder

K''s

Today's K's

 

Then tell him just to concentrate on making his stats on the screen look better, every day try for less weight, fewer ks, and fewer grounders... then the rest will work out!

[Doug000]

He can't stick

[Deadpool]

He can't stick

 

You are incorrect. I'm sure that's something you're used to hearing though.

[Doug000]

You are incorrect. I'm sure that's something you're used to hearing though.

 

WhySoSerious?

[Superdood]

Kid hasn't even had 100 MLB AB's, not remotely concerned yet.

 

He might need another stint in AAA like Mike Trout did once upon a time, time will tell.

 

He'll figure it out eventually, I'm 100% confident in that.

[TheHurl]

He can't stick

 

Nor can you. Permaban

[FrozenRopes]

Kid hasn't even had 100 MLB AB's, not remotely concerned yet.

 

He might need another stint in AAA like Mike Trout did once upon a time, time will tell.

 

He'll figure it out eventually, I'm 100% confident in that.

 

Not nearly the same type of player. Trout has always been an athlete, with no concern over his weight, diet, self preservation, fitness etc.

 

Vlad is in there with CC and Prince. Stay away from carbs. 60% veggies, 20% protein 20% fat

[candymartinez]

Vlad is in there with CC and Prince. Stay away from carbs. 60% veggies, 20% protein 20% fat

 

Veggies aren't a macro. You're saying get 40% from protein and fat, then that means you're getting 60% from carbs. You say stay away from carbs yet recommending a mostly carb diet.

 

It's hilarious seeing people constantly thinking "carbs" are some evil food. Big difference between sweet potatoes and quinoa, and Pop-tarts and donuts.

[Jimcanuck]

Predicting a Vladdy breakout today against Ivan Nova.

[Maahfaace]

Predicting a Vladdy breakout today against Ivan Nova.

 

3 for 4 BB HR 2 RBI 1 R and NO GROUNDERS!!!

[Krylian]

Vladdy's only here for his stellar D. Anything extra he can provide with his bat is a bonus.

[G-Snarls]

3 for 4 BB HR 2 RBI 1 R and NO GROUNDERS!!!

 

What he actually did today

 

2 line drive singles

2 walks

No strikeouts

 

Not bad

[Olerud363]

Vladdy's only here for his stellar D. Anything extra he can provide with his bat is a bonus.

 

I think if he can consistently hit 110 mph grounders his batting average should normalize unless they start playing 5 infielders on him. He could be sort of a very odd Ben Revere, but instead of slapping the ball for line drive hits, he'll get his .290 with fearsome grounders (even his hits yesterday didn't have much of a launch angle, the 118 mph er, would of just looked like a routine one hopper to short stop at a more normal mph).

 

He also has a better eye than Revere, so will have a better on base with the same average. Though he won't have the base running ability of Revere if yesterday is any indication.

[Olerud363]

If anyone is interested Vlad the worm killer batted ball update

 

Still sitting at a 65% ground ball rate which is historic... His hard hit rate is very good, thus the above comparison with Ben Revere (statistically only, different style hitters, similar results) (the ground ball rate and hard rate would make him (I am guessing) a .290 or so singles hitter).

 

His defense still rates as positive. Perhaps he will be more a rich man's John McDonald. His great 3b defense and ground ball velocity, making up for his lack of fly ball power at his position.

[Olerud363]

Wow. Was I ever wrong. I blame Mike Wilner's terrible radio announcing. I was on a hike up a mountain and got a window of reception and saw Vlad was coming up, so tuned in. Wilner's description made it sound like Vlad hit another grounder for a hit.

 

AFTER REVIEWING THE VIDEO NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Vlad's second hit was launched at one of his better angles. It didn't seem hit that hard, but was at least 20 feet off the ground (as opposed to his first hit which was about 1 foot off the ground but amazingly travelled 150 feet or so).

[Boxcar]

Wow. Was I ever wrong. I blame Mike Wilner's terrible radio announcing. I was on a hike up a mountain and got a window of reception and saw Vlad was coming up, so tuned in. Wilner's description made it sound like Vlad hit another grounder for a hit.

 

AFTER REVIEWING THE VIDEO NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. Vlad's second hit was launched at one of his better angles. It didn't seem hit that hard, but was at least 20 feet off the ground (as opposed to his first hit which was about 1 foot off the ground but amazingly travelled 150 feet or so).

 

Listen, complaining about Wilner is not allowed here. If you don't like him, listen to 680 news instead and get periodic game updates.

[Barkerfan23]

He raises a good question tho

 

Why does Vald keep pounding the ball on the ground