Cruz has quietly been horrible since June 1st

[tntoriole]

Those numbers are pretty bad. There are basically 3 to 4 automatic outs in the lineup. Not good for a team looking to win the AL East.

Record since June 1, 33-20. Not too bad for team looking to win AL East.

[terps19]

When all you see are pitches from Oakland, LAA and Seattle its hard to get out of the slump. That's all the O's hitter have seen since the break.

thread winner... I'd rep you but for some reason by rep button is gone.

[TonySoprano]

Those numbers are pretty bad. There are basically 3 to 4 automatic outs in the lineup. Not good for a team looking to win the AL East.

The team is 33-20 (.623) in that timeframe. It's been Jones and Manny carrying the offense. Pearce had a strong June (1.099 OPS) and a weak July (.681 OPS). He was not alone. It's counter-intuitive that as a team they hit worse in July (.681 OPS) than in June (.784 OPS, best month in the season to date) and yet had a much better July record than June.

July numbers

PLYR	G	AB	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPSManny	17	69	4	10	0.333	0.356	0.565	0.921Jones	25	100	6	18	0.250	0.287	0.470	0.757Joseph	15	48	1	4	0.271	0.321	0.375	0.696Pearce	22	78	2	6	0.231	0.322	0.359	0.681Cruz	25	95	4	9	0.211	0.292	0.379	0.671NickM	25	104	1	8	0.231	0.292	0.317	0.609Davis	22	78	4	10	0.167	0.250	0.333	0.583Hardy	25	96	2	12	0.208	0.255	0.323	0.578Flash	14	50	1	3	0.200	0.273	0.300	0.573Schoop	20	67	2	6	0.179	0.191	0.269	0.460

[cacavolante]

I mentioned this in the game thread last night.

How do you feel about giving Cruz a QO?

If he doesn't heat back up then I get worried he takes it this time.

I really don't want him back next season at twice the AAV.

I don't either. I'm really hoping he can put it together enough to reject the QO but I'm doubting it more by the day. After his start it would be painful to lose him for nothing but if this keeps up I wouldn't take the chance of offering it.

[tntoriole]

The team is 33-20 (.623) in that timeframe. It's been Jones and Manny carrying the offense. Pearce had a strong June (1.099 OPS) and a weak July (.681 OPS). He was not alone. It's counter-intuitive that as a team they hit worse in July (.681 OPS) than in June (.784 OPS, best month in the season to date) and yet had a much better July record than June.

July numbers

PLYR	G	AB	HR	RBI	BA	OBP	SLG	OPSManny	17	69	4	10	0.333	0.356	0.565	0.921Jones	25	100	6	18	0.250	0.287	0.470	0.757Joseph	15	48	1	4	0.271	0.321	0.375	0.696Pearce	22	78	2	6	0.231	0.322	0.359	0.681Cruz	25	95	4	9	0.211	0.292	0.379	0.671NickM	25	104	1	8	0.231	0.292	0.317	0.609Davis	22	78	4	10	0.167	0.250	0.333	0.583Hardy	25	96	2	12	0.208	0.255	0.323	0.578Flash	14	50	1	3	0.200	0.273	0.300	0.573Schoop	20	67	2	6	0.179	0.191	0.269	0.460

Counter intuitive except that I have heard that when that pitching thing gets even a little better, it can win you some games. lol.

[weams]

Right here, right now, you give him a QO?

No one ever accepts them. Ever.

[tntoriole]

If they were hitting at the same OPS in July as in June with the better pitching they have had, then they would have run off one of those

long win streaks and likely have been 22-3 in July rather than 17-8.

[weams]

thread winner... I'd rep you but for some reason by rep button is gone.

Rep button is there.

[weams]

So...play Davis, but bench Cruz?

Unfortunately, if the O's benched everyone who isn't hitting well, they'd only have five guys playing at any given time. And not the ones with delicious, heart-destroying burgers.

Play Lough. Play Davis . Pinch hit Cruz against left handed closers.

[cacavolante]

No one ever accepts them. Ever.

I think at this point enough players have been burned that there's a good chance one will accept it soon.

[weams]

I think at this point enough players have been burned that there's a good chance one will accept it soon.

After I get burned for a 4 million dollar undervalue the first time, I'll get scared. Not until then.

[terps19]

Is Delmon a butcher in the OF? Might like to see him get a few more starts. Although throw him sliders and he cant hit em...

[terps19]

Rep button is there.

I only see the rep button at the bottom of my OWN posts.

[Guest]

Is Delmon a butcher in the OF? Might like to see him get a few more starts. Although throw him sliders and he cant hit em...

Young playing the field tonight.

[TonySoprano]

Play Lough. Play Davis . Pinch hit Cruz against left handed closers.

Lough has done well in the very small sample size of opportunities the last two months. Davis has been off the interstate (0.167 BA), well below the Mendoza line. All the hype about how well Nick has done in the leadoff spot, he's been hitting .231 since June. Hardy says, "I wish I was doing that well." In short the focus is on Cruz because of his redonkulous start, and the resultant expectations, but he is not the only one struggling badly.