Robert Neustrom 2021

[Yossarian]

3 hours ago, RZNJ said:

It is getting to the point of having guys at AAA who are ready for the majors and guys pushing them from behind for time at AAA.   I suspect Hays and Santander get time to increase value/hold onto job next spring, with Mckenna likely factoring in as well, with Neustrom, Stowers, Watson, Diaz all at Norfolk competing for the next opportunity.   

I think McKenna is showing just how much difference and how big of a jump it is from AAA to MLB.  McKenna struggled mightily hitting the baseball in his time in Baltimore.  He was very obviously overmatched at the plate.  He goes back down to AAA and hits like a prospect that is ready for the major leagues - I believe he had 3 homers in two games recently, right?  This makes me take success in AA and AAA with a grain of salt.  It is a big jump to major league pitching.  I worry that all of these guys we are so eager to see in Baltimore will be just more iterations of McKenna.

[Aristotelian]

10 minutes ago, Yossarian said:

I think McKenna is showing just how much difference and how big of a jump it is from AAA to MLB.  McKenna struggled mightily hitting the baseball in his time in Baltimore.  He was very obviously overmatched at the plate.  He goes back down to AAA and hits like a prospect that is ready for the major leagues - I believe he had 3 homers in two games recently, right?  This makes me take success in AA and AAA with a grain of salt.  It is a big jump to major league pitching.  I worry that all of these guys we are so eager to see in Baltimore will be just more iterations of McKenna.

Then again some guys hit in MLB way better than could have been projected, like Yaz and Mullins. Baseball is a funny game. 

[Frobby]

45 minutes ago, Yossarian said:

I think McKenna is showing just how much difference and how big of a jump it is from AAA to MLB.  McKenna struggled mightily hitting the baseball in his time in Baltimore.  He was very obviously overmatched at the plate.  He goes back down to AAA and hits like a prospect that is ready for the major leagues - I believe he had 3 homers in two games recently, right?  This makes me take success in AA and AAA with a grain of salt.  It is a big jump to major league pitching.  I worry that all of these guys we are so eager to see in Baltimore will be just more iterations of McKenna.

They made an interesting point on TV yesterday.  Because they played a partial major league season last year, but there was no minor league season, the gap between AAA and the majors has grown this year.   

[MurphDogg]

45 minutes ago, Yossarian said:

I think McKenna is showing just how much difference and how big of a jump it is from AAA to MLB.  McKenna struggled mightily hitting the baseball in his time in Baltimore.  He was very obviously overmatched at the plate.  He goes back down to AAA and hits like a prospect that is ready for the major leagues - I believe he had 3 homers in two games recently, right?  This makes me take success in AA and AAA with a grain of salt.  It is a big jump to major league pitching.  I worry that all of these guys we are so eager to see in Baltimore will be just more iterations of McKenna.

McKenna is also playing every day at Norfolk. He started 3 consecutive game once each in May, June and July with the Orioles and only started 2 games in a row on 2 other occasions.

[Tony-OH]

Just now, MurphDogg said:

McKenna is also playing every day at Norfolk. He started 3 consecutive game once each in May, June and July with the Orioles and only started 2 games in a row on 2 other occasions.

He also is not facing 94+ mph heat like the kind he was dominated by at the major league level.

[Tony-OH]

The pitching quality I've seen in AAA this year is down a bit. Haven't seem them face too many studs there this year which makes that jump to the big league very big for the hitters this year. 

[Aristotelian]

3 hours ago, Tony-OH said:

I wonder if Neustrom and Hays could be another Roenicke and Lowenstein?

That is an idea. Would be a shame if Hays turns out not to be an every day player but you are right, his splits are pretty bad. 

[Legend_Of_Joey]

3 hours ago, Tony-OH said:

The pitching quality I've seen in AAA this year is down a bit. Haven't seem them face too many studs there this year which makes that jump to the big league very big for the hitters this year. 

Combine that with them playing the same teams every few weeks and it does seem to skew the numbers a bit.

Not that they were huge stars, but Wynns and Wilkerson were putting up some good (for them) numbers in AAA before coming up and…Well, not. McKenna was the same way too. 
 

I couldn’t grade Tyler Nevin since he wasn’t up long. Martin wasn’t in AAA that long. The only one who seems to have brought his bat was Urias, but even he wasn’t down long.

[Yossarian]

11 minutes ago, Legend_Of_Joey said:

Combine that with them playing the same teams every few weeks and it does seem to skew the numbers a bit.

Not that they were huge stars, but Wynns and Wilkerson were putting up some good (for them) numbers in AAA before coming up and…Well, not. McKenna was the same way too. 
 

I couldn’t grade Tyler Nevin since he wasn’t up long. Martin wasn’t in AAA that long. The only one who seems to have brought his bat was Urias, but even he wasn’t down long.

Even Pat Valaika is hitting .323 (albeit in 31 at bats) for Norfolk.  He wasn't doing much of that in the majors.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

11 minutes ago, Yossarian said:

Even Pat Valaika is hitting .323 (albeit in 31 at bats) for Norfolk.  He wasn't doing much of that in the majors.

I actually totally forgot about him still being in the Orioles org.

[RZNJ]

After a strong start at Norfolk, Neustrom's OPS was actually under .800 at one point.  Today's 3-3 game with a walk, and 2 homers has him back up to .840.  Good to see.

[wildcard]

6 hours ago, RZNJ said:

After a strong start at Norfolk, Neustrom's OPS was actually under .800 at one point.  Today's 3-3 game with a walk, and 2 homers has him back up to .840.  Good to see.

Left-handed hitting Neustrom has an 898 OPS vs righties at AAA.  He doesn't play much vs lefties because he does not hit them. (628 OPS).  He is a possible platoon OF with Hays.

[Triple Crown]

Both HR's yesterday were versus lefties, maybe he's figuring things out a little

[wildcard]

11 minutes ago, Triple Crown said:

Both HR's yesterday were versus lefties, maybe he's figuring things out a little

That is great news.

I see Parke is a 26 year old 21st rounder and Turley is a 31 year old 50th rounder.  Maybe not the toughest pitchers.

[Frobby]

41 minutes ago, wildcard said:

That is great news.

I see Parke is a 26 year old 21st rounder and Turley is a 31 year old 50th rounder.  Maybe not the toughest pitchers.

Once they’re in AAA their draft pedigree is kind of out the window, yeah?   Their ERAs suggest they’re nothing special.   

Neustrom has certainly done enough to earn a hard look next spring.   I’m not 100% sold on him but he’s had a breakout season without a doubt.