Biggest disappointment and biggest pleasant surprise

[D-train]

White made some adjustments last season that produced a lower rate of groundballs than he had over his first year-plus in pro ball. That's a promising sign if he's going to tap into his above-average raw power and deliver more than 10 to 12 home runs annually. He's employed a more patient approach against big-league pitching than one might expect he would based on his Double-A walk rate (7.2 percent), and it's possible he has his eyes on making a trade, and swapping in some power and patience at the cost of more strikeouts and a lower average.

It would be overstating things to write that White's offensive production doesn't matter this season. It's more fair to write that he should be graded with context in mind. He's coming almost directly from Double-A; he's trying to alter his game; and he's doing all that during an odd, tenuous season that could be scrapped at any given time.

If White can overcome all that, then more power to him; if not, well, he should be given a mulligan. And he's still likely to be fun to watch on defense.

Jesus, that's crazy. He hit 18 HRs in just 92 games last season. That projects to almost 30 for a full season for a guy that plays great D. Why would you mess with that approach while trying to adjust to big league pitching???????

and he's doing all that during an odd, tenuous season that could be scrapped at any given time.

What an absolute BS excuse.

[D-train]

Wow, I didn't realize Paxton was off to such a "surprising" start!

2 starts 4 IPs 12 hits 8 runs and a 13.50 ERA

[IStillLoveTheMs]

The thing I'm frustrated about with White is when he was drafted we heard he had a very disciplined bat... We heard he had a great approach, extended at bats, didn't swing at crap, walked a lot and struck out little... We've seen the exact opposite.

I'd rather White hit .290 with 10-15 HR's and a high OBP versus him hit .250 with 20-25 HR's a strike out a fuck ton. There was nothing wrong with Joe Mauer.

[Freespeech]

For me Vogelbach. 27 yo, spent 8 years in the minors. Was handed the DH position here and just does not look up to it. Unless he turns it around pretty quick it will be hard to rely on him for the future.

[DavidGee24]

I don't take a lot of stock either way in the first couple weeks of a rookie playing.... Arod wasn't much his first year... and Vogelbach had a great half-season till the league developed book on him.... so White and Lewis are still question marks for me although I like both their defense and the demonstrated power and speed. Let's see about their development the rest of the season and next year.

For me, greatest disappointment is Vogelbach.... clearly very little offensive value and zero defensive value since mid-season 2019. As for improvement and biggest pleasant surprise, it would be Crawford... his patience and bat control at the plate, his throwing arm, his defense, his leadership...it seems to have all started to come together for him... I think we may have found our shortstop for the next 5-6 years at least.

Got to remember Terry, we can't really use A-Rod or for that matter Junior as comparisons in the present unless we're talking about a Juan Soto or Ronald Acuna type. And even with his early struggles, before A-Rod reached his 20th birthday he was the best ballplayer on the planet. Even Kelenic and J-Rod aren't prospects at the level Soto and Acuna were, I'd be surprised if either of those two reach the show and come out on fire.

[D-train]

The thing I'm frustrated about with White is when he was drafted we heard he had a very disciplined bat... We heard he had a great approach, extended at bats, didn't swing at crap, walked a lot and struck out little... We've seen the exact opposite.

I'd rather White hit .290 with 10-15 HR's and a high OBP versus him hit .250 with 20-25 HR's a strike out a fuck ton. There was nothing wrong with Joe Mauer.

That's why I can't believe he decided to change his approach.......NOW. If he can hit 18 HRs in 92 games at Dickey Stephens which has about the same dimensions as the Caspian Sea, then he can hit at least 20-25 in the bigs in 155 games.

[D-train]

I don't take a lot of stock either way in the first couple weeks of a rookie playing.... Arod wasn't much his first year... and Vogelbach had a great half-season till the league developed book on him.... so White and Lewis are still question marks for me although I like both their defense and the demonstrated power and speed. Let's see about their development the rest of the season and next year.

For me, greatest disappointment is Vogelbach.... clearly very little offensive value and zero defensive value since mid-season 2019. As for improvement and biggest pleasant surprise, it would be Crawford... his patience and bat control at the plate, his throwing arm, his defense, his leadership...it seems to have all started to come together for him... I think we may have found our shortstop for the next 5-6 years at least.

Got to remember Terry, we can't really use A-Rod or for that matter Junior as comparisons in the present unless we're talking about a Juan Soto or Ronald Acuna type. And even with his early struggles, before A-Rod reached his 20th birthday he was the best ballplayer on the planet. Even Kelenic and J-Rod aren't prospects at the level Soto and Acuna were, I'd be surprised if either of those two reach the show and come out on fire.

Yeah guessing if they kept ARod in the minors another 6 years until he was 24 yo like White, he would have had a pretty hot start as a rookie.

[D-train]

Soy boy alert........

Tom Gialanella replied
Dick Fain
@dickfain
·
23m
So the Storm have 6 wins in 7 games and the Ms have 5 wins in 16 games.
Well I guess 2020 isn’t unique in every sense.

[Captain 97]

I am not disappointed in Vogey because he is doing exactly what I expected. I would say Evan White is the biggest disappointment. We knew he wasn't likely to light the world on fire with his bat but at least we were pretty certain that he would have some plate discipline and give us decent at bats. The batting average is alarming but the 27 K's to 5 BB is even more disappointing.

Biggest surprise to me has to be Dylan Moore. He doesn't even get a whif of a mention in the rebuilding discussion but he is looking like he has the potential to be a valuable utility guy in the mold of a Mark Maclemore or Ben Zobrist. Also Austin Nola Hitting .324 and leading the team in OPS. has to be up there on the list of surprises.

[D-train]

I am not disappointed in Vogey because he is doing exactly what I expected. I would say Evan White is the biggest disappointment. We knew he wasn't likely to light the world on fire with his bat but at least we were pretty certain that he would have some plate discipline and give us decent at bats. The batting average is alarming but the 27 K's to 5 BB is even more disappointing.

Biggest surprise to me has to be Dylan Moore. He doesn't even get a whif of a mention in the rebuilding discussion but he is looking like he has the potential to be a valuable utility guy in the mold of a Mark Maclemore or Ben Zobrist. Also Austin Nola Hitting .324 and leading the team in OPS. has to be up there on the list of surprises.

Yep, and will be nice to have two healthy MLB caliber catchers when we return from the road trip.