Terrin Vavra Bandwagon

[Brooks The Great]

1 hour ago, jamalshw said:

I like the names and positions, not so much the order (given the L/R). I'd go with: Mullins (L), Adley (S), Mountcastle (R), Santander (S), Hays (R), Stowers (L), Urias (R), Vavra (L), Mateo (R). 

I would love to get Vavra higher in the order and might switch Stowers and Vavra. I also don't like Mountcastle as high in the order as I have him, but I also don't see the Orioles going with two lefties and two switch hitters atop the order before the first righty bat.  

Righty/lefty/righty is extremely overrated, especially now that relievers are required to face a minimum of 3 batters. We need to get our best OBP hitters and most productive hitters the most at bats we can. Period.

[RZNJ]

47 minutes ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

Wouldn't Vavra be better as a corner outfielder than as a center fielder?  I admit I don't know much about his defense. 

I don't think we know much about Vavra at any position.  There have been a lot of assumptions.    You could very well be solid average at 2B.  You could be a good CF.   I could be a good LF.     The Orioles have given us some tips by where they've played Vavra in the minors and from scouting reports.   His arm is supposedly average at best if not below average, hence why 2B, CF, and LF are his most likely destinations.    As Cedric Mullins has shown us, you can get by in CF even with a well below average arm although he's gotten it close to average this year.    No idea how Vavra's reads and instincts are in CF.   

[jamalshw]

5 minutes ago, Brooks The Great said:

Righty/lefty/righty is extremely overrated, especially now that relievers are required to face a minimum of 3 batters. We need to get our best OBP hitters and most productive hitters the most at bats we can. Period.

I disagree. I would argue the 3 batter minimum makes the alternating more important not less. If we line up three lefties in a row, then it's quite easy to make the decision to go to a lefty reliever for those three batters. Whereas, if we go L/R/L and that R in the middle is a good hitter, you then force a lefty specialist to either walk a guy or face a righty. 

I do agree that you shouldn't throw a guy that should be batting 8th in the 3-hole just for the sake of alternating, and I could buy into alternating being a bit overrated, but the 3-batter minimum makes it a wiser decision to alternate rather than making it more overrated. 

[IPlayGM]

3 hours ago, Frobby said:

Your recollection of Zobrist’s defense is a bit off.   Over a five year period, his Rfield was +25, +16, +19, +5, +9.   The guy was good wherever you put him.  He tailed off in his mid-30’s, but then, who doesn’t?

Dang you Frobby!! Stop replying to my insightful conjecture with your factual information………unless it SUPPORTS my claim!!!!

[nvpacchi]

RE the Vavra at 2nd defense, I had the chance to see him a few weeks back in Durham. Loved the plate discipline, just looked like a professional hitter from 100 feet away, but the arm worried me a bit.

Granted its a sample size of one, but there was a groundball hit into the shift, one that Westburg was ready to gobble up and make the play at first.  Vavra likely didn't realize Westburg was ready to make the play, so he cut it off moving to his right, and made a clunky across the body throw that took Greiner off the bag, even though he was only about 50 feet away from 1st base.  Westburg was visibly frustrated at the play, but the lack of zip on that specific throw really stood out to me.

He also had another few throws where he had the internal clock was a bit too close for comfort for routine 2B plays.  Of course if he's rangy with an at worst 45 arm, I'd still love to give him a go just to get his bat in the lineup.

[OriolesMagic83]

Sounds like Vavra should be leading off soon if his OBP is for real.  I assume his speed is above average, but not Mateo/Mullins fast?  Ideally, Vavra and Adley should be 1,2.

[The B&G]

37 minutes ago, OriolesMagic83 said:

Sounds like Vavra should be leading off soon if his OBP is for real.  I assume his speed is above average, but not Mateo/Mullins fast?  Ideally, Vavra and Adley should be 1,2.

I was just thinking about this the other day...there's a realistic possibility we see Cedric hitting at the bottom of the order in the not so distant future. 

[RZNJ]

2 minutes ago, The B&G said:

I was just thinking about this the other day...there's a realistic possibility we see Cedric hitting at the bottom of the order in the not so distant future. 

More likely, Mullins stays in the #1 or #2 spot and Adley takes his rightful spot in the #3 spot.   Vavra could be a good #1 or #2 but Mullins probably stays #1 for his veteranosity and his speed.

[interloper]

I love him. Every time he gets on base, it's like he's chipping away at Odor's "veteran" armor. Worming his way into Hyde's mind. Keep it up buddy. 

He's also proving me wrong because I wasn't really a believer. But now that he's here I want him playing as much as possible. Small sample, but I like what I see so far. 

Edited August 4, 2022 by interloper

[Filmstudy]

13 minutes ago, RZNJ said:

More likely, Mullins stays in the #1 or #2 spot and Adley takes his rightful spot in the #3 spot.   Vavra could be a good #1 or #2 but Mullins probably stays #1 for his veteranosity and his speed.

I want as many Rutschman ABs as possible, but the 3 spot is not ideal.  Why?  It leads off the fewest innings, so it would be better to have him in the 4 spot to take advantage of his high OBP.

Vavra is ideal to hit leadoff with his OBP and Mullins has been a clutch hitter, so I could see him in the middle of the order (5th or 6th) where he would have more RISP opportunities.  The #5 spot actually leads off the 3rd most innings, so he'd be able to take advantage of his speed there.

Edited August 4, 2022 by Filmstudy

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

 

[Roll Tide]

On 8/4/2022 at 1:30 PM, nvpacchi said:

RE the Vavra at 2nd defense, I had the chance to see him a few weeks back in Durham. Loved the plate discipline, just looked like a professional hitter from 100 feet away, but the arm worried me a bit.

Granted its a sample size of one, but there was a groundball hit into the shift, one that Westburg was ready to gobble up and make the play at first.  Vavra likely didn't realize Westburg was ready to make the play, so he cut it off moving to his right, and made a clunky across the body throw that took Greiner off the bag, even though he was only about 50 feet away from 1st base.  Westburg was visibly frustrated at the play, but the lack of zip on that specific throw really stood out to me.

He also had another few throws where he had the internal clock was a bit too close for comfort for routine 2B plays.  Of course if he's rangy with an at worst 45 arm, I'd still love to give him a go just to get his bat in the lineup.

MLB.com has his arm as a 50

[Jagwar]

I want Vavra getting as many ABs as possible. I don't care who has to sit. 

[Hank Scorpio]

On 8/4/2022 at 9:48 AM, Frobby said:

Your recollection of Zobrist’s defense is a bit off.   Over a five year period, his Rfield was +25, +16, +19, +5, +9.   The guy was good wherever you put him.  He tailed off in his mid-30’s, but then, who doesn’t?

I doesn’t.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

7 minutes ago, Jagwar said:

I want Vavra getting as many ABs as possible. I don't care who has to sit. 

cough cough ... Odor... cough cough