September 2019 Game Thread

[emkayseven]

Not sure I would use this years Cardinals as an example. They will probably be one of the worst hitting teams to ever win a division or even make the playoffs.

1969 Mets: .242/.311/.351; 84 OPS+


1995 Braves: .250/.326/.409; 91 OPS+


1988 Dodgers: .248/.305/.352; 90 OPS+

2019 Cardinals: .248/.322/.412; 91 OPS +

First 3 won the World Series, forget just making the playoffs.

[Lee Stone]

I am curious as to what you consider to be 15 bigger problems. I don't consider pitching to be a problem because the system is full of arms regardless of whether C Smith, Alcantara, and Lopez pan out or not. I assume Marlin management concurs with that given the deadline trades. I believe CF belongs to Harrison in the near future. Same for Chisholm at SS. Isan Diaz will settle in (or not), but the team seems committed to him. Anderson is the third baseman. Harold Ramirez is an acceptable option in LF until one of Bleday, J. Sanchez or some other takes his place. Berti is a strength at multiple positions. I can't come up with 15 bigger problems than a sub par defensive catcher that pitchers never have to throw a strike.

[Namaste]

The Marlins are 9-27 since August 3rd.

I remain in the camp of “you can never have enough good pitching”.

We still don’t have enough good pitching.

I think our current pitching depth is a bigger problem than Alfaro swinging at almost every pitch thrown at him.

[lou]

I am curious as to what you consider to be 15 bigger problems. I don't consider pitching to be a problem because the system is full of arms regardless of whether C Smith, Alcantara, and Lopez pan out or not. I assume Marlin management concurs with that given the deadline trades. I believe CF belongs to Harrison in the near future. Same for Chisholm at SS. Isan Diaz will settle in (or not), but the team seems committed to him. Anderson is the third baseman. Harold Ramirez is an acceptable option in LF until one of Bleday, J. Sanchez or some other takes his place. Berti is a strength at multiple positions. I can't come up with 15 bigger problems than a sub par defensive catcher that pitchers never have to throw a strike.

This is very easy:

1B
2B
SS
LF
CF
RF
Bench (2+ better players)
SP1
SP2
Relievers (minimum 5 players. It would be 8, but I think Garcia is a keeper as a 2nd/3rd lefty, and I like Stanek and Steckenrider enough to think they are average relievers as floors)

So when they fix those 15 things, I think we can start talking about a catcher upgrade.

Sure, they have good prospects everywhere, but as we know, Brinson happens. Hermida happens. I like what is happening, but I'm not counting chickens before they hatch. Until they start producing better than Alfaro at the MLB level (who I consider the 5th best player on the team after Anderson, Pablo, Alcantara, and Caleb), it's a problem until someone takes the spot. You can't put Diaz above Alfaro today.

If we want to talk about minor league depth, after 3B, C is probably 2nd most needed. They have absolutely no 3B in the system, and Banfield/Fortes inspire less confidence than every other position group even if they are "pretty OK" prospects for who they are.

- - - - - - - - - -

We still don’t have enough good pitching.

I think our current pitching depth is a bigger problem than Alfaro swinging at almost every pitch thrown at him.

This too. A 2 WAR catcher controlled for 4 years is a blessing. Not a liability.

Why is this a thing?

[fauowls44]

The Marlins are 9-27 since August 3rd.

And still somehow still 8.5 games up on Detroit for worst record. The #2 pick is still in play though. The Orioles are 5 games ahead right now, but they have 3 against Detroit, 6 against the Blue Jays, and 3 against the Mariners remaining.

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This too. A 2 WAR catcher controlled for 4 years is a blessing. Not a liability.

Why is this a thing?

Agree. Alfaro has basically been as advertised this year. We'd all like less Ks, but he has done his job. I have no issue with him as the starter going forward the next few years.

[lou]

Also to note Lee, I do understand this can happen:

1B - Lewin is good
2B - Isan is good
SS - Jazz is good
LF - Bleday is good
CF - Monte is good
RF - Bleday is good
Bench (2+ better players) - Cooper holds up, Sierra becomes a poor man's Dyson/Hamilton
SP1 - Sixto
SP2 - Garrett
Relievers (minimum 5 players. It would be 8, but I think Garcia is a keeper as a 2nd/3rd lefty, and I like Stanek and Steckenrider enough to think they are average relievers as floors) - Guzman, Cabrera, Rogers, literally 10 other names

*Above not including Free Agency and indulge me on RP placements for discussion's sake

Where maybe Alfaro is one of the weaker starters on the team and it's worth investing to upgrade. But we are WELL WELL WELL away from that point. WELL WELL WELL. YEARS.

[Todd]

I literally said Alfaro is fine for right now in an earlier post. Just that his value is essentially entirely all on his defense.

[lou]

Drafting a catcher in their top 5 picks is pretty much all they should be doing at the position right now to add a third guy to Banfield/Fortes. And, opportunistically securing a better backup catcher than Wallach if possible. This could be a young guy or a veteran.

If you remove Anderson and Cooper from the OF, the Marlins OF is negative 4.6 WAR on the year. NEGATIVE. 1544 PA plate appearances and a NEGATIBVE 4.6 WAR.

Alfaro is POSITIVE 1.4 WAR in 400 PA. Catcher production is just not even remotely an issue.

[Lee Stone]

You've left Jon Berti out of your discussion. I consider him to be "the find" of the year (along with former Marlin Nick Anderson). Leads the active roster in OBP and tied for OPS lead with Garrett Cooper. And his speed/versatility is a huge asset. A lineup of eight Jon Bertis would be a joy to watch.

[Nick]

You've left Jon Berti out of your discussion. I consider him to be "the find" of the year (along with former Marlin Nick Anderson). Leads the active roster in OBP and tied for OPS lead with Garrett Cooper. And his speed/versatility is a huge asset. A lineup of eight Jon Bertis would be a joy to watch.

He should have the utility position on lock for at least next year.

[Lee Stone]

I would hope so, if not a starting job. At SS for example, he has a higher OPS than names like Saeger, Dejong, Ahmed, Swanson, Segura, Gregorious, Mondesi, and Rojas. His OPS tops at least a dozen major league starters at 2B as well. Fangraphs has Berti as a 1.6 WAR contributor, behind only Anderson and Rojas on the Marlins despite a mere 217 PA. As Miami goes, he's a real star.

[Nick]

Well, you're not going to play him over Anderson, Rojas or Diaz next year, so the infield is pretty much out. Maybe he sees significant time in CF until Harrison is ready, but that's about it.

[Lee Stone]

If the rest of the season plays out as it has thus far for I Diaz, I could definitely see Berti at 2B, leading off, and Diaz at New Orleans again. Let's face it, Diaz has made the least of 125 trips to the plate.

[Nick]

If the rest of the season plays out as it has thus far for I Diaz, I could definitely see Berti at 2B, leading off, and Diaz at New Orleans again. Let's face it, Diaz has made the least of 125 trips to the plate.

And you would be wrong. Diaz has nothing left to prove in AAA. He's gotta sink or swim. We're not trying to make the playoffs next year. Time to find out what Diaz has.

[Lee Stone]

Well, Milwaukee only needed to see 55 plate appearances from Brinson in 2017 to decide he couldn't swim. His debut was scarily similar to what Diaz has shown.