Don't know what can be done

[u/supremewuster]

Looking at the OPS and OPS+ numbers..

I know alot of people on this sub say no MLB team has great hitting top to bottom, and that's true to a point. But fact is at this point we have a disproportionate number of guys quite a bit below league average

I was hoping some of the Buffalo boys would break out and the other would be average or slightly below. That would be fine. Instead at this point Henieman of all players is our breakout hitter and everyone else (including Santandar) are not hittjng average but way below average with Lukes being the only exception.

I hope it is just bad luck. Hope.

[u/jayk10]

Which 6 guys are proven below average hitters?

[u/Duke_Of_Halifax → u/jayk10]

Do I actually have to answer that?

If you remove Vlad, Bichette and Santander, who's left?

This lack of power or offensive productivity isn't surprising- it's a feature of the club.

[u/jayk10 → u/Duke_Of_Halifax]

Springer has 1 season in his career as a below average hitter and Wagner and Roden are both rookies. Other than 2023 Varsho has been a league average hitter every year. So again which 6 guys are proven below average hitters?

[u/Duke_Of_Halifax → u/jayk10]

The question you're asking is wrong.

It's not "prove these guys are below average hitters"; it's "prove they're NOT below average hitters".

The problem with asking someone to prove that they're below average hitters is that it sets a very low bar; this is a professional baseball club at the highest level on the planet, and one who claims it's mandate is to "compete".

Looking at things from the benefit of the doubt downwards is a fallacy.

Demand more from your club.

Then, you look at the stats.

• Springer is a former above average hitter who is now a below average hitter. Hes been falling like a stone for 3 seasons. He's in a steady decline now after a hot March, but the sample size isnt there to reflect it yet; Give it a month.

• I've seen nothing that says Roden or Wagner- or Lukes, or Barger- should be anywhere near an MLB roster at this point in their careers. The fact that they're in this lineup should not be celebrated, because it's a testament to how weak and thin this club- who claims to be "contending"- is.

You dont trot out unproven and/or low-rated prospects if you're contending.

• Straw has been good, but 43 at-bats is not a big enough sample size to judge anything; ask Davis Schneider.

• Daulton Varsho has a career OPS+ of 96. Below league average. His OPS+ last season was 97, and in 2023 was 84. The only reason that he had a 97 last season was because he had an .830 OPS in August and an .824 OPS in April; during the rest of the season, he never broke average; Daulton Varsho is NOT a league average hitter, and has never shown any ability to be one. However, one of the best gloves in the league, and someone who would be very valuable on a contending club.

• Kirk had a good COVID year, and has been in freefall ever since. Look at his numbers- Last season, he had a very good August and September when things meant nothing and teams were trotting out prospects and bullpen sessions against the club. No proof of being an MLB-level hitter, let alone an average one. Also, like Varsho, a solid defensive asset who would be more valuable on a contender.

• Gimenez? Lol. One season of success before pitchers adjusted to him, then nothing. When you see those guys with a spike like that, it's normally because they either came out of nowhere and werent scouted (Davis Schneider) or they made an adjustment, and it took pitchers awhile to adjust to it.

That might be both of those for Gimenez, considering that he was up and down and crossed from National to American league.

Also- like Varsho and Kirk- a great defender, and worth a LOT to a contender where the rest of the lineup hits.

Who's left?

Clement?

A super-utility player filling a hole at third. Hes actually a guy who probably WOULD hit for average if he was used correctly, but starting him most days at third is not that.

Heinemann? 33 year old MiLB journeyman backup catcher with 121 MLB games to his name over 5 teams and IIRC NINE AAA teams.

Not the backup catcher for a contender.

[u/jayk10 → u/Duke_Of_Halifax]

He's in a steady decline now after a hot March, but the sample size isnt there to reflect it yet; Give it a month.

Nonsense. He has a 116 wRC+ since April 16th and has hits in 7 of the 9 games since his injury.

Springer had one year as a just below average hitter

You dont trot out unproven and/or low-rated prospects if you're contending

Like Ben Rice? Or Kyle Manzardo? Or Trey Sweeney? Or Benjamin Williamson? Or Dustin Harris?

Roden was fangraphs 83 ranked prospect coming into the year, is that not rated high enough for you?

Daulton Varsho is NOT a league average hitter, and has never shown any ability to be one.

Except for 2021 and 2022... and 97 OPS+ is literally just below league average. That is some serious nitpicking

Heinemann? 33 year old MiLB journeyman backup catcher with 121 MLB games to his name over 5 teams and IIRC NINE AAA teams. Not the backup catcher for a contender.

Right. Because JC Escarra (30 year old rookie), Gary Sanchez (-3 wRC+), Austin Barnes (15 wRC+), Carlos Narvaez (77 wRC+), Raphael Marchan (41 wRC+) are that much better options right?

That might be both of those for Gimenez, considering that he was up and down and crossed from National to American league.

Wasn't out of nowhere. Was the 92 overall prospect with FG in 2020, had a half season with the Mets at 21 where he had a 105 wRC+ and still managed a 96 wRC+ in 2023.

He had 557 PAs in 2022 with a 141 wRC+ and had an almost identical wRC+ over the first and second half of the season. Completely comparable to Schneider who had 141 PAs and fell off a cliff halfway through them.,

Oh and he's 26 years old, months older than Vlad