Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[Stangstag]

Semien looks to be shaking the rust off. Nice!

 

I’m glad, he was looking like s*** the first few weeks. If Semien can give us like 115wRC+ that would be huge

[Spanky__99]

I’m glad, he was looking like s*** the first few weeks. If Semien can give us like 115wRC+ that would be huge

 

That would be fantastic! Like a 5 win player, I like it!

[Deadpool]

Nice job Bo!

[Spanky__99]

Nice ribeye rip, Bo!

[Deadpool]

Bo cannot read this pitcher at all.

[Deadpool]

That was a freakin' rocket, holy s***.

[Spanky__99]

Vladdy hit that too hard, lol. Bo couldn't score.

[Spanky__99]

That was a freakin' rocket, holy s***.

 

110 EV... Boom!

[Deadpool]

Vladdy hit that too hard, lol. Bo couldn't score.

 

110 even. Looked harder than that, but still smoked.

[Orgfiller]

Rowdy is never seeing a lefty during the regular season.

[Ray]

Liriano has had a good spring. He might actually make this team now with the Yates injury.

[Spanky__99]

Liriano has had a good spring. He might actually make this team now with the Yates injury.

 

I believe you're correct.

[Spanky__99]

Nice play, Cavan.

[King]

 

Might be the ugliest man in baseball

[G-Snarls]

Didn't know about the graduated locker rooms.

[Spanky__99]

Nicely done, Espinal.

[Spanky__99]

Good win, saw some good stuff.

 

Riley Greene hit that ball 115.8 MPH on the double, holy shyte!

[saskjayfan]

Rowdy is never seeing a lefty during the regular season.

 

Rowdy has to find his timing and confidence. It's spring training. His career OPS vs lefties is .764....let's not over react.

[saskjayfan]

Liriano has had a good spring. He might actually make this team now with the Yates injury.

 

I thought he had a decent shot before the Yates injury. It's a shame about Yates. Hopefully he isn't out too long.

[Sorrow]

I know it's a very small sample size but the numbers that Tellez and Gurriel are putting up are not comforting. High ks, low walks, no contact is uncomfortable for guys likely to start the season with a fair number of PA who generally hit well in ST.

 

I really think the Gurriel vs Grichuk for PA in the OF is going to be interesting to watch in the early going.

[Stangstag]

I know it's a very small sample size but the numbers that Tellez and Gurriel are putting up are not comforting. High ks, low walks, no contact is uncomfortable for guys likely to start the season with a fair number of PA who generally hit well in ST.

 

I really think the Gurriel vs Grichuk for PA in the OF is going to be interesting to watch in the early going.

 

They’re both slow starters so it might be whoever stays above the Mendoza line getting more play time

[jerb]

 

Buster Olney

@Buster_ESPN

 

Numbers that leap off the page:

The Jays' Tyler Chatwood this spring...

7 innings

1 hit

0 runs

5 strikeouts

ZERO walks

[Carlos Danger]

They’re both slow starters so it might be whoever stays above the Mendoza line getting more play time

 

Agree with this 100% when it comes to LGjr. I have noticed it to start the season, or when he comes off the IL. He is a player, much like EE used to be, who needs time to warm up.

[Spanky__99]

Glad this one has no tv...

 

[Spanky__99]

Oh... there's a Phillies cam link to watch...

 

 

That I don't know how to find?

[Spanky__99]

[Spanky__99]

[G-Snarls]

Tim Dierkes - MLBTR via MLBTR mailbag

 

Do you know if Vlad Jr.’s launch angle has improved this year in spring training, as that seems to have been the problem with him hitting home runs the last couple of years? He's getting a lot of hits in spring training but only one home run, I think.

 

It’s true that Vlad Jr. has only popped one home run in his 33 spring plate appearances through Monday, but he’s also slugging .840 due to four additional extra-base hits. But Guerrero’s launch angle is a real concern - he hits the ball as hard as just about anyone, but too often into the ground.

 

In 2020, Vlad posted 93rd percentile exit velocity at just a 4.6 degree average launch angle, the latter of which was among the lowest in the game. 90th percentile for launch angle is greater than 17.6 degrees, according to Baseball HQ. The launch angle leaderboard matches up well with the top home run hitters, led by Joey Gallo at 26.8 degrees. There are a few exceptions - Juan Soto had an even lower launch angle than Vlad, and Eloy Jimenez was not much better.

 

Though Guerrero famously lost 42 pounds in the offseason, he indicated he did not make mechanical adjustments to his swing to attempt to hit the ball in the air more. He’s got his launch angle up to 9.7 degrees this spring, which would at least be middle of the pack, but that’s on a sample of just 24 batted balls. Of the 43 players with data on at least 20 batted balls this spring, Vlad’s launch angle ranks 26th.

 

Guerrero’s launch angle was 6.7 degrees in 2019. I think we should take him at his word: he said he didn’t adjust his swing. If I were a betting man, I’d project fewer than 30 home runs for Vlad Jr. this year.

[G-Snarls]

I can't believe that Juan Soto has had a lower launch angle than Vlad... I haven't seen him hit many line drive wall scrapers. Edited March 23, 2021 by G-Snarls

[gruber92]

Catch tonight's game (without audio) here: https://atmlb.com/39biqIv