Why is Mullins starting games at this point?

[interloper]

He has a worse line than Jorge Mateo and his contact has been exceedingly weak other than running into the occasional home run. He has not been able to sustain a good stretch of any note other than the first few weeks of the season. 

I see no reason why he's getting more run than even Hays right now. Put Cowser in CF, play Hays/Stowers/Kjerstad more, and Mullins becomes a sensible 5th OF/PR/bunt specialist.

[Allan Bryant]

I really like Cedric as our CF . His defense and skills as an CF speaks for itself . As as batter , he displayed power and speed as lead off player . His batting struggles perplexes me and am concerned for his future career . 

[OnlyOneOriole]

I really feel bad for the guy because he does have talent and you can see how much his suckage is bothering him. 

Every time he comes to the plate I expect him to hit like a few years ago but he is just struggling so much it is is painful to watch at times. 

Edited July 20 by OnlyOneOriole

[wildcard]

Cowser is not exactly pushing Mullins off the field.  Mullins also brings the steal factor.

[interloper]

2 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Cowser is not exactly pushing Mullins off the field.  Mullins also brings the steal factor.

While I agree about Cowser, he is about as fast as Mullins at this point and at least makes hard contact when he manages to make contact.

[OnlyOneOriole]

5 minutes ago, wildcard said:

Cowser is not exactly pushing Mullins off the field.  Mullins also brings the steal factor.

I still think Cowser is going to be really really good.  He flashes. 

[interloper]

I just think at some point Hyde has to stop forcing it. 

Mullins has good defensive skills but if you can bench an All Star like Hays you can bench a struggling Mullins. I don't see a whole lot of difference between the two players other than speed. Hays at least has a reasonable chance to start hitting well with consistent playing time. The same is not true for Mullins. 

But really neither of them should be starting much. 

Edited July 20 by interloper

[Rbiggs2525]

Only because Cowser wasn’t hitting too. I also think Hyde is loyal to his veteran players almost to a fault. If the lineup was Cowser in CF and Stowers in LF tonight it wouldn’t surprise me.

[The B&G]

11 minutes ago, Rbiggs2525 said:

Only because Cowser wasn’t hitting too. I also think Hyde is loyal to his veteran players almost to a fault. If the lineup was Cowser in CF and Stowers in LF tonight it wouldn’t surprise me.

Hopefully Heston, not Stowers, but either one would be preferable to Mullins

[forphase1]

43 minutes ago, interloper said:

He has a worse line than Jorge Mateo and his contact has been exceedingly weak other than running into the occasional home run. He has not been able to sustain a good stretch of any note other than the first few weeks of the season. 

I see no reason why he's getting more run than even Hays right now. Put Cowser in CF, play Hays/Stowers/Kjerstad more, and Mullins becomes a sensible 5th OF/PR/bunt specialist.

Veteranosity.  Next question. 

[Bemorewins]

49 minutes ago, interloper said:

He has a worse line than Jorge Mateo and his contact has been exceedingly weak other than running into the occasional home run. He has not been able to sustain a good stretch of any note other than the first few weeks of the season. 

I see no reason why he's getting more run than even Hays right now. Put Cowser in CF, play Hays/Stowers/Kjerstad more, and Mullins becomes a sensible 5th OF/PR/bunt specialist.

Because Cowser hasn't really performed up to a full-time starter level either. Cowser was great in April after that, not so much.

Mullins is starting because we don't have anyone better.

PS - there is no such thing as a "bunt specialist" in 2024 MLB. Rarely do teams even bunt anymore for several reasons.

[Rbiggs2525]

15 minutes ago, The B&G said:

Hopefully Heston, not Stowers, but either one would be preferable to Mullins

Didn’t know if Heston was coming off IL today. That would be preferred.

[interloper]

8 minutes ago, Bemorewins said:

Because Cowser hasn't really performed up to a full-time starter level either. Cowser was great in April after that, not so much.

Mullins is starting because we don't have anyone better.

PS - there is no such thing as a "bunt specialist" in 2024 MLB. Rarely do teams even bunt anymore for several reasons.

While I agree Cowser hasn't wowed, I'm not sure you can say we don't have anyone better than Mullins. Cowser is absolutely better, if only marginally. 

Mullins might be a better option if you need to make sure you make contact, but it's not a huge difference at this point. 

 

[eddie83]

Mullins has an .849 OPS in June. In July it’s .411. His strong June is buying him at bats and Cowser hasn’t exactly been hot either. 

[Orioles0615]

A mix of Hyde refusing to put out the best lineup and favoring declining  veterans and Elias refusing to leave/ call guys up who belong here.