SAVAGE VIEWS – WEEK TWO OBSERVATIONS
Feeling
pretty good opening the season with a 6-3 record and a chance to pad our
numbers against the Marlins and the A’s. I’m not sure but I think this might be
the best pitching numbers after 9 games. Now, if we can only start hitting as a
team. My mind is working overtime and here are my latest thoughts.
VLAD
HAS SIGNED AN EXTENSION
I am
delighted to hear that Vlad Guerrero has agreed to remain a Blue Jay with a
modest 14 year contract worth $500M. At last, we can drop the premise that he would
join the Mets in 2026. If Alonso decides to leave, I’d hope to fill the opening
with either Mauricio or Ryan Clifford. Time to stop paying exorbitant contracts
and develop our own.
SO-SO SOTO
Will the
real Juan Soto show up this week? The version we have seen through the initial
nine games leaves a lot to be desired. Still think either Nimmo or Vientos
should be inserted into the number two slot with Soto number three and Alonso
cleanup. Really hate Nimmo batting fourth.
CLAY
HOLMES
I remain
bullish on Holmes and think he is still adjusting to the starter’s role.
However, his performance to date has been pedestrian.
BRETT
BATY
While Brett is driving
me batty, I strongly believe that he will eventually be a solid major leaguer.
Clearly, his performance to date has been lackluster. I wish that Mendoza would
bat him higher up in the lineup and leave him in everyday for the next couple
of weeks. Sending him down would be the wrong message.
A
BOLD PREDICTION
The season is early and the Yankees are on
pace to break all kinds of hitting records. With the loss of Cole, their pitching
lacks a true ace. Eventually, their hitting will revert back to norms and the lack
of solid starting pitching and bullpen depth will do them in. I see them
struggling to make the playoffs.
MINORS
ARE LOOKING GOOD
The only
reason to follow Syracuse is to track the performances of Blade Tidwell, Brandon
Sproat and Dom Hamel. There’s a good chance we will see some or all of them
this year given the inevitable injuries.
The Rumble
Ponies have at least ten solid prospects many of whom should graduate to
Syracuse by June 1st. A bunch of exciting prospects ranging from
Tong and McLean to Williams and Clifford.
Brooklyn’s
lineup looks scary with the likes of Boston Baro, Carson Benge. Eli Serrano and
a bunch of other good-looking prospects. At this time, I’m not sure About the
quality of the pitching staff with the exception of Jonathan Santucci.
The St.
Lucie Mets have a number of young intriguing prospects with unlimited
potential. Expect Matt Allan to have a cup of coffee in warm Florida before moving up.
Ray
April 8,
2025
16 comments:
I like Soto in the two spot - his great ability to work the count allows the leadoff batter an opportunity to steal. His high OBP increases the probability that either the leadoff batter or himself will be on the bases for the heart of the lineup.
Ray, I agree with you top to bottom of this article.
I am so Vlad that the Guerrero discussion has been stomped on. It was a ludicrous folly to believe the Mets would employ another half-billion dollar player destined for the DH spot.
I think Soto will warm up a bit more with the weather. I also have been screaming (ok, writing - more than once) that the line-up should be Lindor - Nimmo - Soto - Alonso. Paul's second sentence in the previous comment applies as much to Nimmo as it does to Soto. If you look up stats, Soto has hit better as the #3 hitter in his career than the #2 guy. In fact he never hit #2 much until he got to the Yankees last year and was hitting ahead of that Judge guy. IMO, this team would be better to do as you say.
Holmes: I agree - I think the best is yet to come from him.
Baty. You 100% hit the nail on the head. Put him someplace and leave him there for 2 months! And move him up behind Vientos. It's not like anybody else is hitting a ton down in the lower third of that lineup. If he is still hitting below .200 by June 1, then figure it out, but give the guy the one last decent chance.
Yankees. I agree with your premise that their hitting is not sustainable and their pitching cannot lead them. They have given up 51 runs in 10 games - that will not win pennants.
Minors. Just getting started. I like AAA pitching, not AAA hitting. I like AA everything - Binghamton has a pretty good squad. Brooklyn looks decent. I would love to see Matt Allan progress upwards this year.
I'm from the old school where you're best hitter bats third. As good as Pete has started, he is a clean-up hitter.
Unfortunately, I am losing faith in Nimmo. I loved the version of him with the .380 OBP. This version is a bottom of the order hitter.
My ideal line-up is
1. Jet Williams
2. Lindor
3. Soto.
4. Pete
I would love the old Nimmo batting lead-off for now.
As I was sitting here at Dunkin’ Donuts, I was thinking about should Veintos be moved up to the second spot. Could the kid benefit from Soto batting third? Is Nimmo a more established player to be able to bat fifth with the current production of 6 through 9?
My grandson has been texting me about going to Binghamton to see a game. Have to drive by Syracuse to get there. Agree they have the prospect pool. Unless you catch the right game in Syracuse, not much to see there.
I would hit Vientos second against lefty starters. Nimmo is not a clean-up hitter. Lindor should remain at the top, but Nimmo's OBP strengths play well at #2.
Not this version of Nimmo. Too many strikeouts, lower OBP. I'm not a fan of Vientos batting second. When he's hot, it looks good. But in the long run he should be batting fifth.
I reserve most judgments on hitters until the weather warms up, including Soto. The ball ain’t carrying. Sadly, today and tomorrow continues the cold
Hey, Ray, we already have the world's best pitching, with Sproat, McLean, Tong and Tidwell bearing down. Should we trade Manaea and Montas back to the Yankees for some killer prospects (I have no idea what prospects they have)> I say this only half facetiously.
Due to forecasted evening wind chills in the teens and other weather considerations, Tuesday’s Rumble Ponies home opener against the Hartford Yard Goats has been postponed. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader (two seven-inning games) on Wednesday.
Hi Tom, glad to see you are still around commenting.
Ray, the Yanks have scored 43 more runs in 10 games than the Mets, but the Mets lead them by one game. That .700 winning percentage? I can get used to it.
Is Nimmo's hitting approach (aka version) different when he is in the clean-up slot? I could argue that this is not using his skills effectively and he would be a much better hitter ahead of Soto than behind him. His job would be to get on base, not clear them.
Yanks are coming down to earth very quickly.
69, he is trying to hit for power now. The old version was patience, OBP. He would work the count like Soto. The new version is looking for home runs, with a much lower OBP. That version needs to hit sixth.
My take is he needs to revert back to his old version and hit second. If he is going to remain new version, I agree that lower is better.
Matt Allen has been down forever with his injuries. I don't think he will have the stamina or arm strength to move up rapidly like many predict. I think he will put in a short season and get shut down some time in August with arm fatigue. You just can't go from zero to 100.
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