Dbacks sign OF Kole Calhoun

[82CardsGrad]

I’ve read Calhoun is a good defensive OF which if so makes this a good signing.

He won a Gold Glove 4 years ago...

 

[Sun Devil Mania]

He won a Gold Glove 4 years ago...

That was for only one year. I am an ASU guy and have watched Kole play for years in college and the pros.. He is just fair defensively. As far as offense, he will hit some HR's, but strike out a ton and hit for a low batting average. I was not in favor of this signing but love and trust Hazen, so I am hoping for the best!

 

[1Sun]

That was for only one year. I am an ASU guy and have watched Kole play for years in college and the pros.. He is just fair defensively. As far as offense, he will hit some HR's, but strike out a ton and hit for a low batting average. I was not in favor of this signing but love and trust Hazen, so I am hoping for the best!

So, in other words, another Steven Souza...

 

[82CardsGrad]

So, in other words, another Steven Souza...

Souza never hit a lot of HR’s.... Let’s hope Kole does. [emoji106]

 

[JerkFace]

That was for only one year. I am an ASU guy and have watched Kole play for years in college and the pros.. He is just fair defensively. As far as offense, he will hit some HR's, but strike out a ton and hit for a low batting average. I was not in favor of this signing but love and trust Hazen, so I am hoping for the best!

I highly disagree that he is only "fair defensively". He only won 1 golden glove four years ago but in each subsequent year he has been a runner up to perennial winner Mookie Betts. If it wasn't for Betts he could concievably have won 5 golden gloves in a row.

 

[1Sun]

Calhoun is good defensively, gold gloves or not. My concern is that he a typical American League indiscriminate swing for the fences, poor contact, low on base percentage hitter.

 

[AZCB34]

Calhoun is good defensively, gold gloves or not. My concern is that he a typical American League indiscriminate swing for the fences, poor contact, low on base percentage hitter.

Doesn't that seem like almost every player these days?

 

[BC867]

Doesn't that seem like almost every player these days?

I keep hoping the D-backs will think outside the box and make winning a higher priority.

I know! I know! It's not going to happen until an innovator on some team comes along.

I keep picturing the game when a lefty hitter on the D-backs could have tied the score
in the bottom of the 9th by poking a single into the wide open left side, but stubbornly
hit it into the shift and the D-backs lost.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Calhoun was ranked 100th in baseball in OBP percentage at .325 because he was 36th in walks. He is 35th of all outfielders in MLB which puts him in the upper 3rd of all starters.

None of that is "Poor"

Can we make it a rule to only quote actual facts not make things up to fit our narrative?

 

[Dback Jon]

Calhoun was ranked 100th in baseball in OBP percentage at .325 because he was 36th in walks. He is 35th of all outfielders in MLB which puts him in the upper 3rd of all starters.

None of that is "Poor"

Can we make it a rule to only quote actual facts not make things up to fit our narrative?

That's no fun

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I personally am floored that Hazen got a top 1/3rd pitcher and a top 1/3rd outfielder for basically Zac Wheeler money.

Jon told me to be patient on the Goldy trade to see what he could do if he could spend and right now everyone who wanted to trade him was dead on.

 

[1Sun]

Calhoun was ranked 100th in baseball in OBP percentage at .325 because he was 36th in walks. He is 35th of all outfielders in MLB which puts him in the upper 3rd of all starters.

None of that is "Poor"

Can we make it a rule to only quote actual facts not make things up to fit our narrative?

In my opinion, a corner outfielder needs an OPS greater than .800 in order to be starting caliber. While Calhoun came close last year at .792, his was a putrid .652 in 2018 (with a horrible .283 OBP), and he has eclipsed .800 only once in his career, in 2013 in a part-time role.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

In my opinion, a corner outfielder needs an OPS greater than .800 in order to be starting caliber. While Calhoun came close last year at .792, his was a putrid .652 in 2018 (with a horrible .283 OBP), and he has eclipsed .800 only once in his career, in 2013 in a part-time role.

Don't move the goal posts. You were shooting from the hip and were wrong.

But using the new metric of OPS, he was 32nd of all outfielders last year or still in the upper 1/3rd of starters.

 

[1Sun]

Don't move the goal posts. You were shooting from the hip and were wrong.

But using the new metric of OPS, he was 32nd of all outfielders last year or still in the upper 1/3rd of starters.

And last year was a career year for him...at Age 31. For the balance of his career, he has proved to be a borderline starter at best, and really better suited to a 4th outfielder or platoon role.

The only point I am making is my belief that if anyone is counting on Calhoun to he even an average regular starting outfielder for us, that person is going to be very disappointed.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I am fine if they platoon him though. 400 ABs killing righties for pennies is a steal

 

[Chris_Sanders]

He will start at minimum 61% of the time because that is how many righties there are.

We aren't even accounting into how much better he will be with the death of the left handed pitching specialist. Cole would be a guy they would bring in the lefty specialist for. Now with the 3 batter rule starting this year that isn't going to happen.

Edit: BTW teams aren't even talking about how big that rule change is. Power lefty bats will be better this year and more valuable in 2021 when the impact of no lefty specialist becomes felt.

 

[1Sun]

He will start at minimum 61% of the time because that is how many righties there are.

We aren't even accounting into how much better he will be with the death of the left handed pitching specialist. Cole would be a guy they would bring in the lefty specialist for. Now with the 3 batter rule starting this year that isn't going to happen.

Edit: BTW teams aren't even talking about how big that rule change is. Power lefty bats will be better this year and more valuable in 2021 when the impact of no lefty specialist becomes felt.

And if we can find a good right handed bat to start the other 39% of the time or so, not to mention a starting CF or 2B to play wherever Ketel Marte doesn't, I am very much on board.

The only thing I don't want to see is Lovullo having an excuse to play musical line-ups and switching several players around every day or even within a game due to not having players who are good enough to occupy regular spots in the line-up.

While Lovullo has done remarkably well in some respects, his extensive line-up and pitcher shuffling has really hurt the team, in my opinion.

 

[82CardsGrad]

And last year was a career year for him...at Age 31. For the balance of his career, he has proved to be a borderline starter at best, and really better suited to a 4th outfielder or platoon role.

The only point I am making is my belief that if anyone is counting on Calhoun to he even an average regular starting outfielder for us, that person is going to be very disappointed.

So rather than just toss stuff up against a wall and have none of it stick... Put a GM hat on and try to live it in reality. When you state what you would "like to have," be specific. Who? Which players and how would you get them??

 

[1Sun]

So rather than just toss stuff up against a wall and have none of it stick... Put a GM hat on and try to live it in reality. When you state what you would "like to have," be specific. Who? Which players and how would you get them??

I have already answered that question. With MadBum signing the team friendly contract, thereby giving us $20-25 million to use, I would have either signed Castellanos or Garcia or traded for Starling Marte, possibly two of the three, since we really need two outfielders, if we plan to move Ketel Marte back to 2B.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

It's probably about 25-30% where you would platoon him. I expect he will face the occasional lefty depending on the SP because he is a strong defender in the outfield. Locastro has decent numbers against righties.

 

[82CardsGrad]

And if we can find a good right handed bat to start the other 39% of the time or so, not to mention a starting CF or 2B to play wherever Ketel Marte doesn't, I am very much on board.

The only thing I don't want to see is Lovullo having an excuse to play musical line-ups and switching several players around every day or even within a game due to not having players who are good enough to occupy regular spots in the line-up.

While Lovullo has done remarkably well in some respects, his extensive line-up and pitcher shuffling has really hurt the team, in my opinion.

You and BC parrot this meme consistently... yet, the reality is that just about every team in MLB has adopted a flexible roster filled with interchangeable pieces. The days of "set lineups" are long gone.
As an example, the Nats had 9 position players who appeared in more than 90 games. The Dbacks had 10. I haven't dug deeper to see if the Nats contended with the injuries the way Lovullo had to, but I think it's fair to say that the Dbacks do not alter their lineup in any sort of meaningfully different manner than most other MLB teams.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I have already answered that question. With MadBum signing the team friendly contract, thereby giving us $20-25 million to use, I would have either signed Castellanos or Garcia or traded for Starling Marte, possibly two of the three, since we really need two outfielders, if we plan to move Ketel Marte back to 2B.

And you know Hazen didn't attempt any of those options?

 

[1Sun]

You and BC parrot this meme consistently... yet, the reality is that just about every team in MLB has adopted a flexible roster filled with interchangeable pieces. The days of "set lineups" are long gone.
As an example, the Nats had 9 position players who appeared in more than 90 games. The Dbacks had 10. I haven't dug deeper to see if the Nats contended with the injuries the way Lovullo had to, but I think it's fair to say that the Dbacks do not alter their lineup in any sort of meaningfully different manner than most other MLB teams.

Perhaps, but in my opinion Lovullo has taken it to the opposite extreme, tinkering excessively, and it has clearly taken its toll on the team.

 

[1Sun]

And you know Hazen didn't attempt any of those options?

It has already been reported that despite initial interest, he ultimately did not pursue Castellanos or Garcia. Reports on Marte have varied.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Good article here

https://halohangout.com/2019/06/29/la-angels-kole-calhoun-plays-game-one-way-110-time/

It helps explain the 2018 season and then why his 2019 season has been so improved.