Randy Winn’s job 1 is to look at this failure and figure out why. A good start is not having a “type” that you try to squeeze everyone into.
Watching Bart and then Luciano lost at the plate because it’s all about controlling the zone was painful. These are power hitters. Take away their aggressive approach and you get what we’ve seen.
Matos was, at one time at least from what I read, a high contact guy. Now watching him hit, he’s got this massive pull happy swing. Cause they wanted more power. Unless and until he can take an outside pitch and drive it to RC, forget it. 5th OF or AAAA.
I wonder about Meckler. He isn’t at the same prospect level. And last year was unfortunate as he got hurt just before the season and is essentially out most of the year. But when he came back all of a sudden, he has this power surge. Do any of you out there see Wade Meckler as a power hitter? I sure as hell don’t. So what’s that gonna get him? A whole lot of 300 foot flyballs.
But he is a guy with speed and contact skills. He needs to do better on breaking balls – but that’s been true of minor league hitters forever. Assuming he can improve there – this is a guy who could have a high on base percentage hit for a high average, steal some bases and use his speed. Those are his skill sets. They have value.
At the end of the day, it seems to me that in developing these players you first look at what they do best and make sure you do no harm. Sure, you work on things that they have issues with. But first and foremost, with the exception of those very rare 4 or 5 tool players you figure out what’s gonna get them to the major leagues and push that.
There is no better example than Luciano. What was and hopefully still is getting him to the major leagues is his power. It certainly is not his defensive acumen. It certainly is not his ability to take walks and have a LaMonte Wade OBP. It’s his ability to hit the ball over the friggin fence. That should’ve been nurtured as much as possible. Instead , they pushed to keep playing shortstop, which basically every other organization who looked at him said was not gonna happen. (And for those of us who saw him play shortstop, it was pretty easy to see why) and then sent him down with instructions to be more patient learn the strike zone more, etc. The result was a totally lost 2024.
Winn and company have to do better. Hopefully they will.
If the LLC’s attitude is based on we are a 4th place team, so we don’t want to spend, we are screwed. There is not enough in the system to turn things around anytime soon.
Alonso adds a lot. Plus he can move to DH when and if Eldridge is ready.
IB/DH/bench is incredibly weak, And if Ramos and Fitz don’t repeat, they are in huge trouble.
Great conversation. There is definitely a rivalry, but you two are spot on that as far as these two teams go (SF vs LA), the talent is lopsided. Still, talent alone doesn't always win championships. It's the grit, the competitive red assitude, the team chemistry and a bit of luck that does it. Grant McCray, who grew up as a Dodgers fan, was recently on Skaters on Baseball podcast (Cooper & Schmitty) and he's extremeley pumped up about Giants baseball now and was all in on the whole BEAT LA thing. I hope he and the other young guys bring excitement to this team and give us fans something to really cheer for.
They screwed up Matos. Luciano. Bart.
Randy Winn’s job 1 is to look at this failure and figure out why. A good start is not having a “type” that you try to squeeze everyone into.
Watching Bart and then Luciano lost at the plate because it’s all about controlling the zone was painful. These are power hitters. Take away their aggressive approach and you get what we’ve seen.
Matos was, at one time at least from what I read, a high contact guy. Now watching him hit, he’s got this massive pull happy swing. Cause they wanted more power. Unless and until he can take an outside pitch and drive it to RC, forget it. 5th OF or AAAA.
I wonder about Meckler. He isn’t at the same prospect level. And last year was unfortunate as he got hurt just before the season and is essentially out most of the year. But when he came back all of a sudden, he has this power surge. Do any of you out there see Wade Meckler as a power hitter? I sure as hell don’t. So what’s that gonna get him? A whole lot of 300 foot flyballs.
But he is a guy with speed and contact skills. He needs to do better on breaking balls – but that’s been true of minor league hitters forever. Assuming he can improve there – this is a guy who could have a high on base percentage hit for a high average, steal some bases and use his speed. Those are his skill sets. They have value.
At the end of the day, it seems to me that in developing these players you first look at what they do best and make sure you do no harm. Sure, you work on things that they have issues with. But first and foremost, with the exception of those very rare 4 or 5 tool players you figure out what’s gonna get them to the major leagues and push that.
There is no better example than Luciano. What was and hopefully still is getting him to the major leagues is his power. It certainly is not his defensive acumen. It certainly is not his ability to take walks and have a LaMonte Wade OBP. It’s his ability to hit the ball over the friggin fence. That should’ve been nurtured as much as possible. Instead , they pushed to keep playing shortstop, which basically every other organization who looked at him said was not gonna happen. (And for those of us who saw him play shortstop, it was pretty easy to see why) and then sent him down with instructions to be more patient learn the strike zone more, etc. The result was a totally lost 2024.
Winn and company have to do better. Hopefully they will.
.
If the LLC’s attitude is based on we are a 4th place team, so we don’t want to spend, we are screwed. There is not enough in the system to turn things around anytime soon.
Alonso adds a lot. Plus he can move to DH when and if Eldridge is ready.
IB/DH/bench is incredibly weak, And if Ramos and Fitz don’t repeat, they are in huge trouble.
Spot on.
Great conversation. There is definitely a rivalry, but you two are spot on that as far as these two teams go (SF vs LA), the talent is lopsided. Still, talent alone doesn't always win championships. It's the grit, the competitive red assitude, the team chemistry and a bit of luck that does it. Grant McCray, who grew up as a Dodgers fan, was recently on Skaters on Baseball podcast (Cooper & Schmitty) and he's extremeley pumped up about Giants baseball now and was all in on the whole BEAT LA thing. I hope he and the other young guys bring excitement to this team and give us fans something to really cheer for.