GDT: Spring Training Games, Week of 2/23 - 3/1

[Orgfiller]

The LOOGYs and other depth relievers trying to make a case for a roster spot are completely gas canning. Jacob Barnes, Dick Lovelady, Fluharty all struggling immensely with control.

[John_Havok]

5 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

There are just so many things that irk me about Vlad - this being one of them.  

I respect his ability to hit, but I essentially loath everything else about him.

I hope it's like basestealing where certain guys just have a red light 100% ofvthe time, and i hope Vlad is one of those guys that has it.

[Spanky99]

13 hours ago, Orgfiller said:

IMO it should be relatively simple:

• Never let a pitcher use the challenge, always make it the catcher
• For hitters, if an egregious looking call is made you get a chance to use it, nothing you believe is borderline
• If not egregious, you're only allowed to make the call in a high leverage spot, no wasting challenges in the first inning with no one on base (looking at you, Vlad)
  • Favour 2-strike challenges resulting in a strikeout over any other count
  • Bad hitters may take a chance on a 3 ball count since that might be the best chance they get at getting on base

This Org, is 100% bang on.  I'm down.

[Terminator]

Barger is playing 3B again. If he could play passable defense there it would really raise his profile.

[Laika]

The much anticipated Barger-Jimenez-Orelvis-Wagner infield 

Other than Jimenez, everyone has hands so clunky they might as well just carry pickle ball paddles out there 

[Spanky99]

Game isn't televised, stupid stadium doesn't even have statcast, bummer.

[Terminator]

3 minutes ago, Spanky99 said:

Game isn't televised, stupid stadium doesn't even have statcast, bummer.

The cheapskate Orioles' spring training facilities are a damn joke

[Orgfiller]

Nothing grinds my gears more in ST than teams in 2025 not having a f***ing camera setup and broadcast booth for televising games.

[Terminator]

11 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

Nothing grinds my gears more in ST than teams in 2025 not having a f***ing camera setup and broadcast booth for televising games.

It should be mandated.

February is such a dead zone for sports that MLB is doing itself a disservice by not promoting spring baseball more.

[Spanky99]

4 minutes ago, Terminator said:

It should be mandated.

February is such a dead zone for sports that MLB is doing itself a disservice by not promoting spring baseball more.

Exactly, so stupid. Well, I guess we'll have to radio scout today, lol.

[Jonn]

Would love to see Wagner settle into that leadoff spot against righties. Feel he’s the best fit in that slot. Wouldn’t mind seeing it set up Wagner, Vladdy, Santander, Bo, ect. But it seems Bo prefers the top of the lineup and Vlad prefers to hit third.

[Terminator]

5 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Would love to see Wagner settle into that leadoff spot against righties. Feel he’s the best fit in that slot. Wouldn’t mind seeing it set up Wagner, Vladdy, Santander, Bo, ect. But it seems Bo prefers the top of the lineup and Vlad prefers to hit third.

That's how I would set it up as well

[Brownie19]

29 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Would love to see Wagner settle into that leadoff spot against righties. Feel he’s the best fit in that slot. Wouldn’t mind seeing it set up Wagner, Vladdy, Santander, Bo, ect. But it seems Bo prefers the top of the lineup and Vlad prefers to hit third.

Same.

[Brownie19]

What's up with Santander?  Hasn't yet played in the spring.  Has anyone heard anything?  My 9 year old asks me about him daily - he just wants to see him mash in a Jays uni.

[Terminator]

4 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

What's up with Santander?  Hasn't yet played in the spring.  Has anyone heard anything?  My 9 year old asks me about him daily - he just wants to see him mash in a Jays uni.

He's had visa issues apparently but they are all cleared up now

[max silver]

40 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Would love to see Wagner settle into that leadoff spot against righties. Feel he’s the best fit in that slot. Wouldn’t mind seeing it set up Wagner, Vladdy, Santander, Bo, ect. But it seems Bo prefers the top of the lineup and Vlad prefers to hit third.

I'm hoping that Wagner can at least be passable defensively at third base to open up a little more potential playing time. I believe the club is giving him some reps at first base as well to increase his versatility. DH could be a little clogged up with both of Santander and Vlad featuring quite a few plate appearances there which could limit his playing time a bit.

[Brownie19]

28 minutes ago, Terminator said:

He's had visa issues apparently but they are all cleared up now

ICE got him?  10-4.  Thanks.

[Jays24]

Wagner - Bo - Vlad - Santandar seems like the top 4 but Wagner will definitely have to earn it in Spring Training for them to feel comfortable moving Springer out of the top 4. 

Also hoping Martinez has kept the lasting impacts of the roids to have a great year lol.  This team needs another power bat in the middle of the order.  

[max silver]

6 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Wagner - Bo - Vlad - Santandar seems like the top 4 but Wagner will definitely have to earn it in Spring Training for them to feel comfortable moving Springer out of the top 4. 

Also hoping Martinez has kept the lasting impacts of the roids to have a great year lol.  This team needs another power bat in the middle of the order.  

Come on man you should know by now that Orelvis didn't test positive for steroids.

[Spanky99]

Holy, this game isn't even on the radio? Wow.

[Terminator]

39 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Wagner - Bo - Vlad - Santandar seems like the top 4 but Wagner will definitely have to earn it in Spring Training for them to feel comfortable moving Springer out of the top 4. 

Maybe against lefties they can put Springer in the leadoff spot and move Wagner down or bench him for a right handed bat.

[Jays24]

36 minutes ago, max silver said:

Come on man you should know by now that Orelvis didn't test positive for steroids.

What was it for?

Edit - Saw it was some fertility drug but joke still remains... hope he kept some of that extra testosterone in the system lol. 

[max silver]

14 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Maybe against lefties they can put Springer in the leadoff spot and move Wagner down or bench him for a right handed bat.

Springer has reverse splits the last two seasons so this might not be a great option. Popkins has his hands full trying to squeeze some more juice out of Kirk and Springer as these guys have both been underperforming their expected statistics to a large degree. 

[Spanky99]

I'm going to guess Gunnar tweaked something running to 1st base in the 1st inning, he's been replaced.

[Spanky99]

4 minutes ago, max silver said:

Springer has reverse splits the last two seasons so this might not be a great option. Popkins has his hands full trying to squeeze some more juice out of Kirk and Springer as these guys have both been underperforming their expected statistics to a large degree. 

Speaking of... https://www.mlb.com/news/david-popkins-blue-jays-hitting-coach-philosophy

[Spanky99]

This Andrew Bash fella is getting shelled again. It's been a slice bro, lol.

[Terminator]

36 minutes ago, max silver said:

Springer has reverse splits the last two seasons so this might not be a great option. Popkins has his hands full trying to squeeze some more juice out of Kirk and Springer as these guys have both been underperforming their expected statistics to a large degree. 

I wish I could find this old fangraphs article on splits in a smallish sample size like this. The gist of it was that unregressed splits like this don't tell us much and the article further gave us a way to regress them. 

I guess Steamer projections do splits now and they have Springer projected for a 116 wRC+ against lefties and 108 vs righties for whatever that is worth.

 

[Laika]

9 minutes ago, Terminator said:

I wish I could find this old fangraphs article on splits in a smallish sample size like this. The gist of it was that unregressed splits like this don't tell us much and the article further gave us a way to regress them. 

I guess Steamer projections do splits now and they have Springer projected for a 116 wRC+ against lefties and 108 vs righties for whatever that is worth.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/estimating-hitter-platoon-skill/

You regress a RHB's platoon differential against 2200 PA of the average differential 

i.e. it takes 2200PA until you weight the hitter's own platoon split more than the league average platoon split 

which means for many players, by the time you might have a stable platoon split, they are a whole different player lol 

[Terminator]

3 minutes ago, Laika said:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/estimating-hitter-platoon-skill/

You regress a RHB's platoon differential against 2200 PA of the average differential 

i.e. it takes 2200PA until you weight the hitter's own platoon split more than the league average platoon split 

which means for many players, by the time you might have a stable platoon split, they are a whole different player lol 

Yes that's the one! Thanks

[max silver]

22 minutes ago, Terminator said:

I wish I could find this old fangraphs article on splits in a smallish sample size like this. The gist of it was that unregressed splits like this don't tell us much and the article further gave us a way to regress them. 

I guess Steamer projections do splits now and they have Springer projected for a 116 wRC+ against lefties and 108 vs righties for whatever that is worth.

 

That's an interesting discussion topic to be certain. I went a little further back and George also featured reverse splits in the 2022 season as well which makes 3 seasons in a row. You have to go all the way back to 2018 to find another season where he performed better against left handed pitching, so that makes 5 of the last 7 seasons where he posted reverse splits. It appears as though his career split totals are largely being driven by the results from his first 4 seasons in the league. Over the last 3 seasons he's gone backwards year over year so hopefully this is something that he can reverse with the appropriate adjustments at the plate. 

Springer RHP/LHP splits over time

Career 124/134

2014-2018 120/150

2019-present 127/124

2022-present 113/99