Is Austin Hays Just an OF Version of Jorge Mateo?

[Frobby]

1 minute ago, wildbillhiccup said:

I just Googled their ages (again) and they're both 28 (both were born in 1995). And you'll get no argument from me that Hays hasn't been more consistent. At least for the the last three years. 

This is one of those cases where a gap in “baseball age” is a year but the actual age gap is two weeks.  They’re the same age for all practical purposes.  

[Spy Fox]

2 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

I just Googled their ages (again) and they're both 28 (both were born in 1995). And you'll get no argument from me that Hays hasn't been more consistent. At least for the the last three years. 

Ah, you're right that they are almost exactly the same age. They show up as a year apart despite really being ~two weeks apart since both are right near the July 1 cutoff that stats pages use. 

[Sanity Check]

I don't see how anyone would answer "yes" to this.

[wildbillhiccup]

1 minute ago, jabba72 said:

I dont know what kind of trade value Hays has but Cowser is coming for his job that is for sure. Its going to be an interesting storyline for the season, the OF position battle. Kjerstad in right and Cowser in left, trying to unseat veterans.

See this is the problem. I really don't get the sense that the team has any intention of taking significant ABs away from Hays in 2024. Therein lies the problem (for me at least). With Kjerstad you can at least make the argument that his defense might negate his bat, but Cowser projects to be at least a serviceable defender. WIth that in mind and knowing that the ceiling he has to beat is a realtively hollow 16 HRs, why aren't we collectively pushing for Cowser to play (over Hays) as much as we are for Westburg and Holliday? 

[wildbillhiccup]

Just now, Sanity Check said:

I don't see how anyone would answer "yes" to this.

My post was intended to spark much more than a yes or no answer. 

[Sanity Check]

1 minute ago, wildbillhiccup said:

See this is the problem. I really don't get the sense that the team has any intention of taking significant ABs away from Hays in 2024. Therein lies the problem (for me at least). With Kjerstad you can at least make the argument that his defense might negate his bat, but Cowser projects to be at least a serviceable defender. WIth that in mind and knowing that the ceiling he has to beat is a realtively hollow 16 HRs, why aren't we collectively pushing for Cowser to play (over Hays) as much as we are for Westburg and Holliday? 

Because Hay still puts up respectable numbers.  The other two guys still need to prove themselves.

As for Westburg and Holliday, we weren't getting much from Frazier and Mateo, so change was definitely needed there.

That's the difference that I see.

[wildbillhiccup]

5 minutes ago, spleen1015 said:

ROFL. No.

Mateo is a scrub. Hays isn't.

Did you actually read more than the title of the thread? Because it really doesn't seem like you did. 

[Frobby]

2 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

See this is the problem. I really don't get the sense that the team has any intention of taking significant ABs away from Hays in 2024. Therein lies the problem (for me at least). With Kjerstad you can at least make the argument that his defense might negate his bat, but Cowser projects to be at least a serviceable defender. WIth that in mind and knowing that the ceiling he has to beat is a realtively hollow 16 HRs, why aren't we collectively pushing for Cowser to play (over Hays) as much as we are for Westburg and Holliday? 

Because Cowser played like a deer in the headlights when he was in the majors last year.  I’m not saying I don’t expect him to improve, I’m explaining why people aren’t “clamoring” for him.  He’ll have to earn it on the field.  

[spleen1015]

3 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

See this is the problem. I really don't get the sense that the team has any intention of taking significant ABs away from Hays in 2024. Therein lies the problem (for me at least). With Kjerstad you can at least make the argument that his defense might negate his bat, but Cowser projects to be at least a serviceable defender. WIth that in mind and knowing that the ceiling he has to beat is a realtively hollow 16 HRs, why aren't we collectively pushing for Cowser to play (over Hays) as much as we are for Westburg and Holliday? 

Because Cowser looked like poop last year when Hays did alright. Had Cowser out performed Hays like Westburg did Frazier/Mateo then we just might have that situation.

[spleen1015]

1 minute ago, wildbillhiccup said:

Did you actually read more than the title of the thread? Because it really doesn't seem like you did. 

I really didn't need to.

[wildbillhiccup]

Just now, spleen1015 said:

Because Cowser looked like poop last year when Hays did alright. Had Cowser out performed Hays like Westburg did Frazier/Mateo then we just might have that situation.

So your entire opinion of Cowser changed afer 61 ABs? That sure seems like recency bias to me. 

[Billy F-Face3]

Austin Hays is an All Star. Mateo is not.

Hays is one of the best defensive left fielders in baseball. He also happens to be a good hitter.

[wildbillhiccup]

4 minutes ago, Frobby said:

Because Cowser played like a deer in the headlights when he was in the majors last year.  I’m not saying I don’t expect him to improve, I’m explaining why people aren’t “clamoring” for him.  He’ll have to earn it on the field.  

And what happens if Holliday or Westburg post similar numbers in their first 61 ABs this season? Are we giving up on them like we are with Cowser and settling for medicority over upside? 

[Sanity Check]

1 minute ago, wildbillhiccup said:

And what happens if Holliday or Westburg post similar numbers in their first 61 ABs this season? Are we giving up on them like we are with Cowser and settling for medicority over upside? 

Sadly, many on here will give up on them until they turn it around.  It's what Hangouters tend to do.

[spleen1015]

2 minutes ago, wildbillhiccup said:

So your entire opinion of Cowser changed afer 61 ABs? That sure seems like recency bias to me. 

Do you know what my opinion of Cowser was before those 61 ABs?

Cowser needs to show it on the field. That's all that matters.