Bananamon

Agree to disagree. Vlad is an above average Mlb first baseman defensively. I can't even argue it because I find it so blatantly obvious

Good points. I think the problem with vlads defense is the problem with his entire game. I don't know about any of you, but I keep waiting to see the vast amount of talent that has been talked about since he was in the minors. Last year was good, but he two years before were kind blah? He shows flashes but no continued brilliance. You see him make stretches and scoops that are consistently excellent. And his foot speed. His ability to track pop ups down the line tell me his foot speed is a non issue. Have any of you nay sayers ever tried to catch one of those over the shoulder pop ups while travelling a good distance at almost top speed while navigating the wall, other fielders, fans and everything else? Its one of the hardest balls to catch, with your back to the infield and trying to navigate your speed and spatial awareness. Ever stop to think why "the catch" by Mayes is considered THE CATCH? Not comparing the two, but the level of difficulty with that type of catch is enormous. Easy to watch it on TV....try getting on the field and do it in a game that means something

I hear you. I see the metrics and I do readily admit that his OAA and DRS are in the middle of the pack at best. But my take is that he is kinda fat, lazy and overly confident at times and that has affected him immensely since he won his GG. You see it when he makes a good play and shakes his finger no and points to his glove, looking like a douche in the process. But I still see flashes of sheer brilliance in his ability to start dp's from first with a pinpoint accurate arm. I see him make those over the shoulder catches that he makes with ease, when the vast amount of guys at his position have nowhere near the ability he does in that area, I agree that his baserunning is horse bleep, but to refer to his defense in that same regard? That's just outright laughable to me. You don't win a GG by sucking at your defensive poisition

Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrre i should

I don't get the hate on his defense at 1b. His arm is easily in the 90th percentile in all the MLB when it comes to accuracy. I've literally watched him flag down foul balls that I've watched numerous others reach out and flail at, almost as if they're closing their eyes and hoping to catch a fish. Vlad does it consistently with ease. I'll readily admit that at third, he looked like a fish outta water, kinda like he does when he runs the bases. Could be one of the worst I've seen in that department. Especially annoying when he tumbles into second safe once in a while with that stupid look on his face, almost like he's actually admiring himself when the joke is actually on him

Maybe so but his GG and my eyes tell me he is easily amongst the best at his position. Thanks for the welcome!

I think they let it play out and trade both Vlad and Bo for a couple of stud young starters and a decent bat or two and piece the rest together through free agency. Other that or rebuild your entire farm system. A lot of teams such as the dodgers, mets,, bosox and many others that would pony up big time for these two guys. One more year after this and springer minus the dinger is off the book too, unless I am incorrect

His defense at 1b sucks? He has become an elite defender at his position and his over the shoulder catches, which most other first basemen flail at, he makes look easy. Not to mention the fact that he makes throws with pin point accuracy to second when he's starting dp's