Pickles

My "vigorous" defense amounts to: He's very likely better than Stowers right now, thus it makes perfect sense he should be playing over Stowers.

I'm not sure why. They have similar offensive output, one is based on power and one is based in on-base ability. Neither is a good defender, but Vavra is certainly more versatile. To my eye, he looks better than Stower in the outfield., although that is a small sample I've observed.

What I really think happened is Hays had a great spring, and Vavra outperformed Stowers and leapfrogged him on the depth chart. Nobody is making evaluations using spring performance in a vacuum but it is certainly something that is taken into consideration.

Right, but it's still the same OPS+. You can call it 770 or 715 but over the last few years Hays has shown himself to be a slightly above average major league hitter. The 715 isn't as damning as you seem to think it is.

I think your first point is more than fair. If they were going to just send Stowers down in a week, why even break camp with the club? The Bemboon thing is not as big a deal as you're making it out to be. That will resolve itself in 3 days.

You're not really saying anything I disagree with here. Stowers vs. Hays is largely an opinion matter. I don't even take umbrage with the idea that Stowers could outperform Hays right now. I don't agree with it. There's no real evidence of it. But as an opinion, I don't think it is completely out there. I DO take umbrage with the idea that playing Hays or Santander over Stowers is "stupid" (not your words) or somehow indefensible.

What do you think Hays would have OPS'd last year in Norfolk?

Wny not use the 2021 number 770? It's relatively the same OPS+ as last year. You're gaming numbers to make your argument look better. It's a normal thing to do, but let's not act like that's not exactly what you were doing, hotshot.

Again, his OPS was 1000 two days ago. Would you be so quick to bolster your argument using his current OPS two days ago?

It's fair to say they're not infallible. It's fair to say they're not perfect. It's fair to disagree with individual moves, even while overall supporting the direction of the franchise. But we should be willing to admit our own infallibility and imperfection at the same time. "I think" or "I bet" Stowers is better than Hays is an opinion that isn't based on much besides "feelings." There's no real proof of that. And, all the people paid to make that evaluation, clearly don't agree.

Those people have turned a 47 win team into an 83 win team with a very bright future. Everybody makes mistakes. Not everybody does that.

There's a lot of "I bet" and "I believe" in this thread. That's great. That's what message boards are for and the kind of discussions we all enjoy. However, as I said earlier in the thread, the people who make the decisions clearly have very different opinions on these matters than their critics. And frankly, they're in much better position to know. P.S. I'll add that yeah, Hays' OPS is 715 now. Two days ago it was close to 1000. Would your bet seem so reasonable then?

I'd say as of today, that is extremely unlikely. And the people who would be in the best place to know- those with the most information who are paid a lot of money to make such determinations- clearly don't think so.

When things are ridiculous you don't need to rebut them. Pointing out their ridiculousness is enough.

This is ridiculous.

Get a new adjective, bro.

I see now. It's too early for posting for me. Trying to stay out of the Stowers thread.

I'll add: Vavra made a great diving catch on a ball in front of him in RF. Henderson made a diving pick up the middle and got the runner at first to end an inning. Hays made a good attempt on a diving catch in front of him in LF, missed by about 6 inches, but Mullins backed him up and kept the batter to a double.

Worked out ok for Eddie.

Eye of the beholder! LOL

Sometimes a pickle is just a pickle.

Just downloaded and ready to go!

I didn't know you were a redhead.

He laid one down the other day iirc.

Sure, but it's the first week of the season. Your starters are going to play virtually every day, because nobody is tired and nobody is hurt.