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Buck: Nellie will Play LF Against Lefties, At least

BillySmith

By BillySmith
in Orioles Talk

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Jonesy10 Hangout Veteran Council

Jonesy10

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Cruz and Young both put up all star caliber slash lines against left handed pitching. Plus, Lough can always be substituted back in as a defensive replacement late in the game if needed. I'm fine with this scenario

Don't see why some people think Young is so great against LHP's. His career OPS against lefties is not even 10 points higher than Steve Pearce's. I would much rather have Pearce on the roster than young considering he can also hit righties at a respectable rate and is a much better overall player.

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Number5 Hangout Grand Counsel

Number5

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Last season Cruz was -3 RS and Lough was +15. Assuming those are accurate descriptions of their relative defense, then combined in a platoon we would still be getting about 9 RS over all. Considering the offensive boost we get from Cruz facing LHP 33% of the time it seems well worth the marginal loss in defense.

This doesn't make sense. Cruz would be facing the LHP if he were DHing, wouldn't he? The question is whether the boost we would get from Pearce/Young/Reimold batting over Lough vs. LHP would mean more than the drop-off in the field from Lough to Cruz in thoe games. Cruz's bat would be in the lineup either way.

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canonfaz All-Star

canonfaz

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I'll take Cruz in the outfield before Nolan. Nolan has never looked smooth out there, and I doubt that another round of surgeries has improved that. I would prefer Lough being the full-time LF and Cruz the full-time DH, but it is what it is. If playing Cruz in the field against lefties keeps him happy and productive, then I'm good with it.

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Redskins Rick Hangout Grand Counsel

Redskins Rick

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Not that it would happen, but how would you like this outfield?

LF: Jones

CF: Lough

RF: Markakis/Cruz platoon

The presumption here is that Markakis/Cruz would be replaced by Urrutia next season.

I rather Nick regain his old form and, Jones, Lough and Nick could be one heck of an outfield this year.

BTW, I keep hearing about backup CF, they said on the radio in the Tampa Game. Urrutia actually played CF for his Cuban team.

They said he is a better fielder than people think, just a matter of the coaches working him on his first steps, and making better first reads of balls hit.

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weams Hangout Grand Counsel

weams

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Not that it would happen, but how would you like this outfield?

LF: Jones

CF: Lough

RF: Markakis/Cruz platoon

The presumption here is that Markakis/Cruz would be replaced by Urrutia next season.

But why. Adam is great in center.
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olehippi Veteran All-Star

olehippi

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Did Buck previously say something about Cruz not playing the outfield. if so, why did he change his mind? Or did we just assume that he would go with Lough and his defense? The only thing I can remember Buck saying is that he would like to have a full-time DH.

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Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

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End of argument.

Back on topic: Cruz is below average, but not quite the butcher some are suggesting. If he starts 45-50 games in LF it's no big deal. He'll be out of there in the late innings if we're leading.

I will go ahead and make an early prediction. If Cruz plays in the outfield against lefties he will get hurt and he will go on the DL.

In which case it may very well become a big deal.

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Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

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But playing LF could have nothing to do with him getting hurt. I think you, or someone, pointed out that he's only played more than 128 games once. He's had hamstring injuries among other things. I could make the case that sitting on the bench as the DH and then running the bases gives you just as good a chance as pulling a hamstring as playing the field. Predicting he will get hurt is an easy bet if you look at his history.

How many of his injuries are the result of playing the field? That might help make your case.

It isn't a case, it is just a prediction.

BTW, for the record, Lough has a higher OPS vs LHP then RHP in his ML career. (sss obv).

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Can_of_corn Hangout Grand Counsel

Can_of_corn

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You are predicting he gets hurt as a result of playing LF. So he has to injure himself while playing LF. Right? I'll take that bet. I'd say he's just as likely, if not moreso, to get injured while batting or running the bases, if he gets hurt at all.

Or taking fly balls, that would count as well.

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Number5 Hangout Grand Counsel

Number5

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I rather Nick regain his old form and, Jones, Lough and Nick could be one heck of an outfield this year.

BTW, I keep hearing about backup CF, they said on the radio in the Tampa Game. Urrutia actually played CF for his Cuban team.

They said he is a better fielder than people think, just a matter of the coaches working him on his first steps, and making better first reads of balls hit.

How do you coach that? Of everything about outfield play, it seems to me that making a good read on the ball off the bat is probably the least coach-able thing. I think that is pretty much something that comes naturally.

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Redskins Rick Hangout Grand Counsel

Redskins Rick

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How do you coach that? Of everything about outfield play, it seems to me that making a good read on the ball off the bat is probably the least coach-able thing. I think that is pretty much something that comes naturally.

Something they said Kirby Puckett has been doing for the team and they claim is probably one of the most under-rated OF coaches in MLB.

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