Seattle or Bust wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 8:11 pmDisagree.bpj wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 7:45 pmSounds like a lot of double plays.Donn Beach wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:56 pm
I really don't see Arraez as that valuable a leadoff hitter. He's slow, doesn't steal bases, doesn't walk. And actually a single with nobody on base isn't that valuable. He's really got one outstanding tool, an ability to put the ball in play. I think that could work better as a two hitter than leadoff. Particularly with an ability to hit behind the runner
Guess it depends what you want from your leadoff hitter. I think stolen bases are incredibly overvalued because most of these guys get thrown out too much anyways.
Over the last three years Arraez has one of the best OBP's in baseball.
I just want my leadoff hitter getting on base, I don't care if he can steal or draw a walk personally.
The M's offense took a big leap when Robles was leading off and causing chaos on the base paths. I think slow, OBP guys work at the top of lineups that have serious hitters behind them.
The M's are not that. I prefer the pitcher to have to think against an offense like ours.
I've been thinking a lot about that exact thing tonight. I hate to bring up the '01 or '95 seasons for obvious reasons, but having Dan Wilson as the manager, I suspect he'll draw on his experience with Lou Piniella. The 2001 season was fun—I'm just talking about the regular season here—because of the way they played baseball. These guys weren't mashers, although Brett Boone had a hell of a season and Edgar had a really good one too. Lou recognized that losing Rodriguez meant losing a massive amount of production from the lineup, so he had to find a way to get that production back.
Ichiro obviously played a big role in putting the game in motion, and that's exactly what Lou did. They put the ball in play, didn't strike out a lot, moved runners along when needed, and were excellent at situational hitting. They didn't blow you away with their pitching staff, but they kept it close. Ultimately, the reason that team was so successful was because they played small ball beautifully.
That is precisely what I want to see from this team. We know they are not going to make any significant moves through free agency, and at the rate they're going, it doesn't look like the trade route either. This essentially means the team as it stands right now is pretty what we're going to have when season starts, with a couple of tweaks here and for 3rd base. Dan will have to utilize the park and take advantage of its dimensions so they can be a really good home team. With the tutelage of Kevin Seitzer and Edgar Martinez, I believe this team will be more productive and able to put the ball in play more consistently Because if they don't, they are in trouble. They have to do it this way. They're gonna have to utilize the sacrifice bunt. They're gonna have to utilize the sacrifice fly. They're gonna have to put the game in motion with some hit and runs and they are gonna have to steal some bases. They have to put pressure on the opposing team with what they have to work with. This team is not gonna mash you to death they don't have the capability, but they can paper cut you to death and that's what they're gonna have to do.
