Arizona Diamondbacks off season thread 2017-2018

[overseascardfan]

White Sox not offering their big guns.

https://sports.yahoo.com/white-sox-reportedly-not-offering-175710551.html

Smart, they did a lot of work to build their farm into the best in baseball. Why blow 3 to 4 top prospects for a guy who could bolt after this year? They aren't contenders even with Machado.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Let's do this. Go all out one more year then trade Goldy next winter and rebuilt. Hazen has shown he can draft.

I don't get all of the buzz over Machado... Yes, he's still young (he'll be 26 next year), but he's never put up "great" numbers. Never had an OPS above 900. Never had more than 96 RBI... and he's a high strikeout guy. He's a nice player for sure... but man, I don't see him anywhere close to the level of player as a Goldy... or even JD Martinez.

 

[DWKB]

I don't get all of the buzz over Machado... Yes, he's still young (he'll be 26 next year), but he's never put up "great" numbers. Never had an OPS above 900. Never had more than 96 RBI... and he's a high strikeout guy. He's a nice player for sure... but man, I don't see him anywhere close to the level of player as a Goldy... or even JD Martinez.

Machado is considered a great defensive 3B (possibly tops in MLB). The two years before last year he was top 3 in fWAR for 3B. Really only behind Donaldson and Bryant.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Machado is considered a great defensive 3B (possibly tops in MLB). The two years before last year he was top 3 in fWAR for 3B. Really only behind Donaldson and Bryant.

Yea... saw that. Still think the fanfare over him is dramatically overblown, but hey, in todays' MLB where .260 hitters, SP's pitchers who can pitch 4-5 innings and RP's who can save a few games here and there make gazillions, I shouldn't be surprised...

 

[Ronin]

Buster Olney
@Buster_ESPN

The Yankees have been digging into background/scouting on Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin, one of the starting pitching options they've considered. He had a strong second half in 2017; eligible for FA after 2018.

 

[Ronin]

Fernando Rodney
@F_Rodney56

I want to thank @dbacks Mgr Torey Lovullo, GM Mike Hazen, coaches and my teammates for a great 2017 season, you are a great organization. Muchisimas gracias mis hermanos!

You must be registered for see images

 

[Matt L]

Yea... saw that. Still think the fanfare over him is dramatically overblown, but hey, in todays' MLB where .260 hitters, SP's pitchers who can pitch 4-5 innings and RP's who can save a few games here and there make gazillions, I shouldn't be surprised...

If he's playing shortstop, those numbers on offense are really impressive.

 

[GatorAZ]

Corbin in the AL East would be a disaster. Not buying the interest in him or Drury.

 

[Dude]

Corbin in the AL East would be a disaster. Not buying the interest in him or Drury.

I like Drury and think he should get more time.

 

[DWKB]

Corbin in the AL East would be a disaster. Not buying the interest in him or Drury.

I don't think so, Corbin had a pretty good year last year. He's not going to carry a rotation into the playoffs by himself, but he can certainly help a club get there.

 

[Dback Jon]

I don't think so, Corbin had a pretty good year last year. He's not going to carry a rotation into the playoffs by himself, but he can certainly help a club get there.

Like he did for the Dbacks

 

[overseascardfan]

Like he did for the Dbacks

He had an up and down year but I hope ARZ does not just give him and Drury away, we need to get at least one significant piece, maybe Chance Adams.

 

[BC867]

I like Drury and think he should get more time.

Unfortunately, Drury needs to be at his natural position -- 3B. And that's not going to happen while Jake Lamb is (having his great 1st-half seasons) with the D-backs.

Drury has been a disappointment at both part-time LF and regular 2B. He just isn't one of those players whom you can drop into any position and not affect his hitting.

And he is not the kind of power hitter that most teams want at a corner position. If only they could have cleared his head in the transition to 2B, but it didn't happen.

 

[Dude]

Unfortunately, Drury needs to be at his natural position -- 3B. And that's not going to happen while Jake Lamb is (having his great 1st half seasons) with the D-backs.

Drury has been a disappointment at both part-time LF and regular 2B. He just isn't one of those players whom you can drop into any position and not affect his hitting.

And he is not the kind of power hitter that most teams want at a corner position. If only they could have cleared his head in the transition to 2B, but it didn't happen.

Ok and don't kill me this is just coming out. Move Lamb to RF?

 

[BC867]

That would still have Drury at a corner (power) position.

 

[Dude]

That would still have Drury at a corner (power) position.

Ok but does it matter where the power plays as long as you have it? Or are you saying we need power in RF as well as 3B? Power spots?

 

[BC867]

Ok but does it matter where the power plays as long as you have it? Or are you saying we need power in RF as well as 3B? Power spots?

The more corner positions manned by power hitters, the more competitive we will be next season. Especially with losing JD and our starting Catcher and the power he displayed.

I still feed that RBI's is the most important stat on offense. Players who can drive in as many runners as possible.

 

[DWKB]

I still feed that RBI's is the most important stat on offense. Players who can drive in as many runners as possible.

I had hope that by now we'd have grown you out of this perspective. We still have time I suppose.

 

[BC867]

I had hope that by now we'd have grown you out of this perspective. We still have time I suppose.

Why? How many times during D-backs games last season did we listen to the announcers keep repeating how many runners were left on base as the games progressed?

What could be more important on offense than a batter coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base? The pressure was not on the runners. When they get on, they get on. But when a batter comes up with runners on base, they have a singular opportunity to drive them in.

That is the number that goes under the "R" on the scoreboard and, ultimately, that is all that matters on offense. Not hits, not errors. Runs (or the opposite -- runners left on base, especially if they were in scoring position).

So rather than post about me "growing out" of my perspective (unnecessary), tell us what could be more important for a team (when they are on offense) than driving in runner(s) on base. Or the opposite -- not leaving them on base. A lot has changed in baseball, but not that.

RUNS.....HITS.....ERRORS.....LEFT ON BASE
..+.............................................-...........

Offensively, that's what it's all about. Those who deliver when they have the opportunity.

 

[DWKB]

Why? How many times during D-backs games last season did we listen to the announcers keep repeating how many runners were left on base as the games progressed?

What could be more important on offense than a batter coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base? The pressure was not on the runners. When they get on, they get on. But when a batter comes up with runners on base, they have a singular opportunity to drive them in.

That is the number that goes under the "R" on the scoreboard and, ultimately, that is all that matters on offense. Not hits, not errors. Runs (or the opposite -- runners left on base, especially if they were in scoring position).

So rather than post about me "growing out" of my perspective (unnecessary), tell us what could be more important for a team (when they are on offense) than driving in runner(s) on base. Or the opposite -- not leaving them on base. A lot has changed in baseball, but not that.

RUNS.....HITS.....ERRORS.....LEFT ON BASE
..+.............................................-...........

Offensively, that's what it's all about. Those who deliver when they have the opportunity.

Simple question here:

Who is the better MLB baseball player offensively, Rickey Henderson (Avg 59 RBI/162 Games) or Dante Bichette (Avg 108 RBI/162 Games)

If you choose Henderson, you kinda kill your "RBI's is the most important stat on offense". If you pick Bichette, you kinda kill your "I can judge baseball talent".

 

[GatorAZ]

Simple question here:

Who is the better MLB baseball player offensively, Rickey Henderson (Avg 59 RBI/162 Games) or Dante Bichette (Avg 108 RBI/162 Games)

If you choose Henderson, you kinda kill your "RBI's is the most important stat on offense". If you pick Bichette, you kinda kill your "I can judge baseball talent".

Bruh, Jake Lamb >>>>>>>>>>> Kris Bryant

 

[BC867]

Simple question here:

Who is the better MLB baseball player offensively, Rickey Henderson (Avg 59 RBI/162 Games) or Dante Bichette (Avg 108 RBI/162 Games)

If you choose Henderson, you kinda kill your "RBI's is the most important stat on offense". If you pick Bichette, you kinda kill your "I can judge baseball talent".

C'mon. Of course you need all types of hitters in a batting order. And I didn't say anything about "better MLB baseball player". Or "judging baseball talent".

I stated my opinion, "What could be more important on offense than a batter coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base?" Any batter throughout the lineup. All through the game. They either drive in the run(s) or they don't. Because runs are what matter most at the end of each game. Nothing else determines the standings and who goes into the post-season or wins championships.

Bruh, Jake Lamb >>>>>>>>>>> Kris Bryant

Again, it is not about "who is the better player".

I didn't say "who", I said "what". What could be more important on offense than a batter (not just the stars) coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base ... They either drive in the run(s) or they don't.

That would make Jake Lamb's RBI's an important factor, except for his meltdown during the 2nd half of the past two seasons. Terrible inconsistency.

And now, with JD (who was the difference maker getting us into the post-season) gone, we will probably be back to leaving too many runners on base and missing the post-season.

DWKB and GatorAZ, I'd like to hear your responses to these opinions I've given, rather than unrelated issues like ... who is the better player among Rickey Henderson, Dante Bichette, Jake Lamb or Kris Bryant. Again, my point is based upon "what" -- driving in runners on base. Not "who".

 

[unseenaz]

C'mon. Of course you need all types of hitters in a batting order. And I didn't say anything about "better MLB baseball player". Or "judging baseball talent".

I stated my opinion, "What could be more important on offense than a batter coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base?" Any batter throughout the lineup. All through the game. They either drive in the run(s) or they don't. Because runs are what matter most at the end of each game. Nothing else determines the standings and who goes into the post-season or wins championships.


Again, it is not about "who is the better player".

I didn't say "who", I said "what". What could be more important on offense than a batter (not just the stars) coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base ... They either drive in the run(s) or they don't.

That would make Jake Lamb's RBI's an important factor, except for his meltdown during the 2nd half of the past two seasons. Terrible inconsistency.

And now, with JD (who was the difference maker getting us into the post-season) gone, we will probably be back to leaving too many runners on base and missing the post-season.

DWKB and GatorAZ, I'd like to hear your responses to these opinions I've given, rather than unrelated issues like ... who is the better player among Rickey Henderson, Dante Bichette, Jake Lamb or Kris Bryant. Again, my point is based upon "what" -- driving in runners on base. Not "who".

RBIs aren’t pointless, they are just irrelevant when measuring a players value. 15 years ago that wasn’t the case, and RBIs were probably the king offensive stat. Now RBIs are right there with pitching wins and saves - can’t tell a players value by those numbers.

Players who bat 3 or 4 have a better chance of leading the team in RBIs than the 1 or 2 guy, even when they are the better hitters. Managers control the lineup.

Someone who comes to bat with runners in scoring position 75% of the time is going to have more RBIs than someone who comes to bat with RISP 25% of the time, even if the 75% guy is a much worse hitter.

RISP would be a better way to measure whether a player is producing runs in opportunities provided. Goldy hitting a double with no one on base vs Goldy hitting a double with a man on 2nd. He still did his job, but he adds one into the RBI column just because his teammate in front of him did his job? Seems a little asinine doesn’t it? Good hitters hit statistically regardless of the situation, so surround them with other good hitters.

 

[BC867]

RBIs aren’t pointless, they are just irrelevant when measuring a players value. 15 years ago that wasn’t the case, and RBIs were probably the king offensive stat. Now RBIs are right there with pitching wins and saves - can’t tell a players value by those numbers.

Players who bat 3 or 4 have a better chance of leading the team in RBIs than the 1 or 2 guy, even when they are the better hitters. Managers control the lineup.

Someone who comes to bat with runners in scoring position 75% of the time is going to have more RBIs than someone who comes to bat with RISP 25% of the time, even if the 75% guy is a much worse hitter.

RISP would be a better way to measure whether a player is producing runs in opportunities provided. Goldy hitting a double with no one on base vs Goldy hitting a double with a man on 2nd. He still did his job, but he adds one into the RBI column just because his teammate in front of him did his job? Seems a little asinine doesn’t it? Good hitters hit statistically regardless of the situation, so surround them with other good hitters.

A very reasonable explanation. But I am curious what has made RBI's (especially concerning runners on base) irrelevant over the past 15 years, vs. the whole history of MLB baseball. Especially in the National League without a DH adding batting skill to the #9 spot.

Another question. I agree with you about pitching wins (not being as meaningful as ERA) for starting pitchers. But why would a closer's saves (vs. blown saves) not be a direct measurement of his performance? He comes in to pitch the 9th with a lead and gives it up. Isn't that pretty clear cut? Yes, some teams take leads into the 9th inning more or less than others, but that has always been the case.

 

[GatorAZ]

Why? How many times during D-backs games last season did we listen to the announcers keep repeating how many runners were left on base as the games progressed?

What could be more important on offense than a batter coming to the plate with a runner or runners having gotten on base? The pressure was not on the runners. When they get on, they get on. But when a batter comes up with runners on base, they have a singular opportunity to drive them in.

That is the number that goes under the "R" on the scoreboard and, ultimately, that is all that matters on offense. Not hits, not errors. Runs (or the opposite -- runners left on base, especially if they were in scoring position).

So rather than post about me "growing out" of my perspective (unnecessary), tell us what could be more important for a team (when they are on offense) than driving in runner(s) on base. Or the opposite -- not leaving them on base. A lot has changed in baseball, but not that.

RUNS.....HITS.....ERRORS.....LEFT ON BASE
..+.............................................-...........

Offensively, that's what it's all about. Those who deliver when they have the opportunity.

The Diamondbacks left the 5th most runners stranded in Scoring Position last season. The four teams that left more were the Yankees, Indians, Twins and Dodgers. They all made the playoffs and were top-8 in team RBI's. Great offenses tend to leave runners on b/c they have more base runners. Nobody is saying driving in runs isn't important but regarding individual players I'm more interested in Runs Created than Runs Batted In.