Valaika makes a bid to become an everyday player

[wildcard]

Valaika now has a  805 OPS after going 4 for 4 yesterday.   He is 7 for his last 12.   He had 771 OPS in August in 66 at bats.   His big problem has been hitting right handed pitching.  All 4 hits yesterday were against right handers.   If he continue to hit when Alberto returns Hyde may want to find a way to keep Valaika in the lineup.

Valaika may find some at bats at SS since Iglesias continues to have some problem with his quad.

Ruiz is currently has a 686 OPS and a .284 OBP.  When Alberto returns he may play a lot more 3B opening  2B for Valaika.

Interesting that Herrera gets called up and Valaika going 4 for 4 that evening.

 

 

 

[Sanfran327]

Nice to have a super utility guy that's capable of playing all over the infield and isn't a liability at the plate.

[Moose Milligan]

Ah, wildcard looking at a small sample size and a hot streak and projecting every day status.  Never thought I'd see the day.

Even if he can get it done with the bat, dude needs to field better.  He's had some really costly errors this year.

[CallMeBrooksie]

Whoa, there. Right now, he's just working to prove he's worth a roster spot, period. It's safe to say he's not going to be an every day player on a decent team. 

[BohKnowsBmore]

52 minutes ago, wildcard said:

 He is 7 for his last 12.  

 

23 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

Ah, wildcard looking at a small sample size and a hot streak and projecting every day status.  Never thought I'd see the day.

Even if he can get it done with the bat, dude needs to field better.  He's had some really costly errors this year.

Meanwhile, Mike Trout is only 5 for his last 13... 

[Moose Milligan]

Just now, BohKnowsBmore said:

 

Meanwhile, Mike Trout is only 5 for his last 13... 

Trade Valaika for Trout!  Quick! 

[luismatos4prez]

Valaika is hitting the ball well right now. What's interesting to me is he struck out 22.5% of the time in the minors and 29% of the time with the Rockies. This year, he's only struck out 17% of the time with the Orioles. Even in just 86 PAs, that's a notable trend and might be indicative of an approach change. Or just a hot streak, we'll see.

[BohKnowsBmore]

4 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

Trade Valaika for Trout!  Quick! 

The question becomes "where do you play him?"

We have  a CF in Mullins who is 2 for his last 4

[ChrisP]

Yeah, but what's his exit velocity, BABIP, and OPS+ for the position he'll play?

 

FYI..that Trout guy only has a .960 OPS. It's the lowest of his career. Buy low?

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml

[CarrRun49]

8 minutes ago, ChrisP said:

Yeah, but what's his exit velocity, BABIP, and OPS+ for the position he'll play?

 

FYI..that Trout guy only has a .960 OPS. It's the lowest of his career. Buy low?

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml

2014 was .939

[joelala]

1 hour ago, BohKnowsBmore said:

The question becomes "where do you play him?"

We have  a CF in Mullins who is 2 for his last 4

Post of the day  

[joelala]

2 hours ago, wildcard said:

Valaika now has a  805 OPS after going 4 for 4 yesterday.   He is 7 for his last 12.   He had 771 OPS in August in 66 at bats.   His big problem has been hitting right handed pitching.  All 4 hits yesterday were against right handers.   If he continue to hit when Alberto returns Hyde may want to find a way to keep Valaika in the lineup.

Valaika may find some at bats at SS since Iglesias continues to have some problem with his quad.

Ruiz is currently has a 686 OPS and a .284 OBP.  When Alberto returns he may play a lot more 3B opening  2B for Valaika.

Interesting that Herrera gets called up and Valaika going 4 for 4 that evening.

 

 

 

I like Valaika, he’s a great filler during the lean years of this rebuild. As long as he’s not blocking anyone else, I’m fine with him being a regular this year. Rio is what he is at this point so as long as Pat is hot and Rio isn’t, you may be right

[HowAboutThat]

7 for 12 is as foolish as Bordick or Hunter saying,”he’s got a two-game hitting streak.” It’s silly. It’s not even enough to be called a streak, much less a trend, nor a new normal. I’m annoyed that he’s been working with Tim Beckham on how to improve his  ability to commit, “terrible errors at the worst possible time” but I’m happy for now with anyone who doesn’t embarrass himself. 
if we made a list of the guys on this team who would be welcome on a .500 team, he wouldn’t be on it, and not many of the current roster would be.

but he’s fine for now. I just wish we’d call up more of our pitching prospects.

[interloper]

I like Pat the Bat aka Nate McStout.

That he's giving us anything at the plate plus some versatility defensively is great. 

Would I play Alberto at 3B over Ruiz right now? Probably, although Rio has woken up a little bit recently.  

[wildcard]

After whirlwind offseason, Valaika settles in with Orioles

https://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2020/09/after-whirlwind-offseason-valaika-settles-in-with-orioles.html