TT: A timeshare with Castillo and Joseph may be good for Orioles

[Tony-OH]

http://www.orioleshangout.com/2017/04/06/timeshare-castillo-joseph-may-good-orioles/

[Frobby]

I'd like to see Joseph start 60ish games, provided he hits a little.   He looked pretty good with the bat in spring training.   

As to whether his poor hitting was due to sporadic playing time last year, it's a bit hard to say.    Buck actually started him 30 times in April, May and July (he missed June with his injury), so he was playing twice a week or more.    He didn't hit, and so he rode the pine down the stretch (10 starts in August/September).    It's not like Buck was riding Wieters that hard in the first part of the season.   

[sportsfan8703]

I definitely hope Castillo starts vs Sabathia.  I'm thinking we see Castillo on Friday.  Joseph on Saturday.  Then Castillo on Sunday vs the LHP Sabathia.  

[BohKnowsBmore]

6 hours ago, Frobby said:

I'd like to see Joseph start 60ish games, provided he hits a little.   He looked pretty good with the bat in spring training.   

As to whether his poor hitting was due to sporadic playing time last year, it's a bit hard to say.    Buck actually started him 30 times in April, May and July (he missed June with his injury), so he was playing twice a week or more.    He didn't hit, and so he rode the pine down the stretch (10 starts in August/September).    It's not like Buck was riding Wieters that hard in the first part of the season.   

For what it's worth:

• BABIP tanked last year.  It was .221, down from .246 and .269 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
• GB rate was up (33.5% -> 41.3%).
• FB rate (43.1% -> 39.4%) and LD rate (23.4% -> 19.2%) were both down.
• Walk rate and K rate both decreased.
• Medium contact % increased at the expense of hard contact %.
• Pulled the ball way less (32% vs. 38% and 48% in prior years).  Up the middle stayed consistent.  Oppo field way more.

This all combines to paint a picture of Caleb doing a much worse job of squaring up on the ball I would think, which conforms with what we saw I guess.  Whether or not that was driven by irregular playing time is really anybody's guess.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

3 minutes ago, BohKnowsBmore said:

For what it's worth:

• BABIP tanked last year.  It was .221, down from .246 and .269 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
• GB rate was up (33.5% -> 41.3%).
• FB rate (43.1% -> 39.4%) and LD rate (23.4% -> 19.2%) were both down.
• Walk rate and K rate both decreased.
• Medium contact % increased at the expense of hard contact %.
• Pulled the ball way less (32% vs. 38% and 48% in prior years).  Up the middle stayed consistent.  Oppo field way more.

This all combines to paint a picture of Caleb doing a much worse job of squaring up on the ball I would think, which conforms with what we saw I guess.  Whether or not that was driven by irregular playing time is really anybody's guess.

I know it doesn't always mean anything, but he was squaring up pretty good during his rehab in the minors and his time after being optioned to Norfolk, including several home runs and solid hits (and a game winning rbi.) It might have just been "one of those years."

[BohKnowsBmore]

Just now, Legend_Of_Joey said:

I know it doesn't always mean anything, but he was squaring up pretty good during his rehab in the minors and his time after being optioned to Norfolk, including several home runs and solid hits (and a game winning rbi.) It might have just been "one of those years."

No doubt, it certainly may have been just "one of those years."  None of this was supposed to be revealing of true cause.  More of identifying that it wasn't simply poor luck with a bunch of hard hit liners right at defenders.  Further, this was only in-game at ML level.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

Just now, BohKnowsBmore said:

No doubt, it certainly may have been just "one of those years."  None of this was supposed to be revealing of true cause.  More of identifying that it wasn't simply poor luck with a bunch of hard hit liners right at defenders.  Further, this was only in-game at ML level.

Agreed. Last year was a year he should not buy a lottery ticket. I remember the last game of the season, he *just* missed hitting the foul pole in left. What made it so bad was, there was no wind until the second he made contact, then the wind came in from right to left and pushed it foul.

[Matt Bennett]

Joseph was an average major league catcher in 2015. Basically Wellington Castillo in a bad year. If he produced anything close to that at all, Castillo probably wouldn't be in Baltimore right now. But, then 2016 happened, and even a significant improvement from that would mean Joseph is not a productive offensive player. His 2014 production is probably what we can expect moving forward. If that does turn out to be true, his current role on the team of a back-up and on the bench 4 of 5 nights is appropriate. Castillo is actually younger, plus obviously getting paid more.

[BohKnowsBmore]

9 minutes ago, Matt Bennett said:

Joseph was an average major league catcher in 2015. Basically Wellington Castillo in a bad year. If he produced anything close to that at all, Castillo probably wouldn't be in Baltimore right now. But, then 2016 happened, and even a significant improvement from that would mean Joseph is not a productive offensive player. His 2014 production is probably what we can expect moving forward. If that does turn out to be true, his current role on the team of a back-up and on the bench 4 of 5 nights is appropriate. Castillo is actually younger, plus obviously getting paid more.

He's also just a better player.  He's had a 4.5 WAR season in 2013.  Career OBP is about 50 points higher.

[VeveJones007]

44 minutes ago, BohKnowsBmore said:

For what it's worth:

• BABIP tanked last year.  It was .221, down from .246 and .269 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
• GB rate was up (33.5% -> 41.3%).
• FB rate (43.1% -> 39.4%) and LD rate (23.4% -> 19.2%) were both down.
• Walk rate and K rate both decreased.
• Medium contact % increased at the expense of hard contact %.
• Pulled the ball way less (32% vs. 38% and 48% in prior years).  Up the middle stayed consistent.  Oppo field way more.

This all combines to paint a picture of Caleb doing a much worse job of squaring up on the ball I would think, which conforms with what we saw I guess.  Whether or not that was driven by irregular playing time is really anybody's guess.

Great numbers. Using the eye test, Caleb looked weaker last year at the plate. He wasn't getting around on pitches like he did in prior seasons.

It wouldn't surprise me if he was dealing with injuries that led to his problems. Hopefully his body is right and he shows that 2016 was just a blip.