Totally agree with your optimism for Matos. To see how impressive his debut was one need only look at his performance relative to his (older) peers. Compare his contact rates, routes and CF play to Meckler (whom I also like a lot long term). Hell, compare his strike out rate to literally any player on the team! Sure, he's not impacting the ball yet, but he's not whiffing either. Sure his defensive metrics look a little rough in SSS, but he's not looking overmatched and is making some spectacular plays in center as a 21 year old rookie! This is a special player whose time in the sun is only beginning.
Yesterday aside, Meckler had been pretty good in centerfield and is still at/slightly above average in the small sample so far. Matos has been MLB's worst defensive center fielder this year per Statcast's Outs Above Average despite just 52 games (which is not say he won't get to Yastrzemski/Slater level as Roger says, just that his jumps/routes were really that awful while Meckler had one or maybe two embarrassing plays)
Yeah. I'm aware of the OAA data for both players. I just think It's important to contextualize that defensive metrics are incredibly noisy over small sample sizes and when comparing Matos to Meckler we are comparing a tiny sample size to a microscopic one. By the eyeball test Matos was better and he has won defensive accolades in CF in the minors including winning the best defensive CF in the AZL last year. Meckler, in contrast, has played a majority of his minor league games at the corner spots, so it appears the Giants may disagree with your assessment of who is superior in CF?
Totally agree with your optimism for Matos. To see how impressive his debut was one need only look at his performance relative to his (older) peers. Compare his contact rates, routes and CF play to Meckler (whom I also like a lot long term). Hell, compare his strike out rate to literally any player on the team! Sure, he's not impacting the ball yet, but he's not whiffing either. Sure his defensive metrics look a little rough in SSS, but he's not looking overmatched and is making some spectacular plays in center as a 21 year old rookie! This is a special player whose time in the sun is only beginning.
Yesterday aside, Meckler had been pretty good in centerfield and is still at/slightly above average in the small sample so far. Matos has been MLB's worst defensive center fielder this year per Statcast's Outs Above Average despite just 52 games (which is not say he won't get to Yastrzemski/Slater level as Roger says, just that his jumps/routes were really that awful while Meckler had one or maybe two embarrassing plays)
Yeah. I'm aware of the OAA data for both players. I just think It's important to contextualize that defensive metrics are incredibly noisy over small sample sizes and when comparing Matos to Meckler we are comparing a tiny sample size to a microscopic one. By the eyeball test Matos was better and he has won defensive accolades in CF in the minors including winning the best defensive CF in the AZL last year. Meckler, in contrast, has played a majority of his minor league games at the corner spots, so it appears the Giants may disagree with your assessment of who is superior in CF?
> I don’t need a happy ending to feel satisfied with my experience. There are always pleasures to be had, and disappointments wrapped up in them.
:heart:
I hope you're right about Beck/Winn next with Seymour/Black getting a chance to fill the long innings RP role.
When you go to MLB games, does your credential get you into the press-box?
Have to credential for venues individually. I haven’t submitted for credentials at Citizens Bank today. Coming as a fan
Which means I can cheer!
Great mailbag as ever, Roger. Fingers (toes and everything else) crossed for Kyle's debut - hope expectations aren't set too high.