tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post4024925848996492753..comments2024-03-27T10:29:44.159-07:00Comments on Raising Matt Cain: BCraw's BluesM.C. O'Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12258035192484655635noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-25613907774484916242017-06-26T12:28:25.805-07:002017-06-26T12:28:25.805-07:00Yeah it's like he never really got on track fo...Yeah it's like he never really got on track for 2017. One could say the same about the whole team.<br />M.C. O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258035192484655635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-19692511401307741612017-06-26T11:25:53.531-07:002017-06-26T11:25:53.531-07:00Before we get too carried about Crawford's dow...Before we get too carried about Crawford's down year, let's not forget that he endured a tragic loss in his Family soon after the Season started. This not only caused him to miss several games, but clearly wore him down emotionally for several weeks - I think that it is still weighing on him. Then, there were some injuries, too.<br /><br />I am making no judgments at all about his Season. Given the hopelessness of the 2017 Giants, it would probably be best to scrub this year, & re-look at Crawford, when he bounces back in a big way next Season.Ronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-58546163395282833652017-06-26T11:20:23.292-07:002017-06-26T11:20:23.292-07:00Posey is not a normal player. I don't think he...Posey is not a normal player. I don't think he will see the same decline even with the catching duties. Not that he won't decline, but his hitting skills are so much higher than most I think he'll be producing with the bat longer than others in his age bracket. BCraw at his peak is an above-average hitter. Posey at his peak is an MVP/batting champ. But like Crawford his fielding is also a huge part of his game. The question for me, is what is the minimum level of hitting needed for BCraw to stay productive. He obviously can't hit like he's doing now, that's not enough even with his stellar defense. He has to be at some threshold, which I've always assumed to be at or near league-average. The current MLB mean is .255/.324/.426 (.750 OPS) which blows my mind. How many Giants are slugging .426 or getting on base at a .324 clip?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />M.C. O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258035192484655635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-2554120243786001652017-06-26T09:47:24.849-07:002017-06-26T09:47:24.849-07:00Krukow always talks about how line drives are cont...Krukow always talks about how line drives are contagious, as are errors. I have to wonder if there is some truth to that, and, if the players around Crawford were hitting better, he would be, too. If that is correct, the surprising thing is how well Posey is doing, not how poorly the other players are. It just seems like the drop in OPS+ is too great to be accounted for by one year of age, unless, as you say, he has an injury. Maybe his vision is changing. That happens, and tends to happen at certain times in life (although, I don't think 31 is typical) and tends to happen quickly, although it can be hard to discern for the individual. Zonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-21660736892493168872017-06-26T06:31:24.106-07:002017-06-26T06:31:24.106-07:00Turner is a late-bloomer. He didn't become a f...Turner is a late-bloomer. He didn't become a full-time player until he was 29/30. He's definitely an anomaly. I remember Bob Brenly was late-arriving to the bigs and hit his 'true talent level' about age 30.<br /><br />I think Craw has life left--if he can hit near league-average he's still very valuable. I'm going to give him a pass on this season and assume his drop-off is physical, that he's got some nagging injuries, not to mention the rest of the lineup sucks and that brings everyone down.<br />M.C. O'Connorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12258035192484655635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7941261488380355005.post-74740270480476382132017-06-26T00:44:35.478-07:002017-06-26T00:44:35.478-07:00The sample size is about half a season. If he can...The sample size is about half a season. If he can have a decent hot streak he could start to approach his career norms. How at this age did Turner get to be such a good hitter for the Dodgers? nomisnalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08297640472949764321noreply@blogger.com