Reds August Game Thread 2024

[CJD]

(08-07-2024, 01:20 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: EDLC can't be the SS in 2025, he's going to have 30 errors this season. He needs to kick over to 3B. They desperately need to find a way to offload Candelario this offseason to make that space. McLain to SS and unless you have a significant upgrade, keep India at 2B.

Fraley they have firmly stuck into a platoon role, so he's not a starter on his own, he only has 260 PA so far this year compared to Steer and EDLC's 460-480 right now so only ~55%, so need someone to match with him. Maybe that's Hinds?

Friedl is such a weird one. I think he ultimately might be a 4th OF type for us in 2025 because he just keeps getting hurt, he's not hitting now, and he'll be in his age 29 season next year so there's not really anymore upwards for him. It's probably the start of the decline. I guess he could also be the vs LHP OF paired with Fraley as that's been his career split leaning.

Using the DH to let Marte be an offensive black hole just can't be allowed to happen. Doesn't have the same "juice" as last year.

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So I think we have potential full-time upgrade spots at... 
CF and DH.
Or 3B and DH if EDLC moves to CF instead of 3B.
Or 1B and DH if EDLC moves to CF instead of 3B and CES moves to 3B instead of 1B.

If we're talking a proper good signing and just going ahead and assuming we're not going to get Juan Soto (or realistically probably not anyone good, but going that far probably defeats the purpose/fun of discussion) some good/interesting options include...
Pete Alonso: 1B or DH
JD Martinez: DH
Tyler O'Neill: LF, moving Steer to DH
Teoscar Hernandez: RF, which lets you put Fraley at DH and then platoon him with Tyler Stephenson when he's not catching
Joc Pederson: DH

Assuming we're just talking FAs and not any trades I think you could go....
OF - Steer, EDLC, Teoscar Hernandez (Friedl and Hinds as 4th and 5th OF)

1B - Pete Alonso
2B - India
SS - McLain
3B - CES
C - Stephenson/Backup Catcher
DH - Fraley vs RHP/Stephenson vs LHP when not catching

And that sounds like a lineup that could be pretty decent.

Elly is 91st percentile in fielding run value. He is 97th percentile in range/outs above average (10) and 91st percentile in arm strength. 

Relative to other players, he is 5th overall in the majors at shortstop in fielding run value and Outs above average.

The only shortstops who are better fielders than him this year are Bobby Witt Jr, Dansby Swanson, Anthony Volpe, and Francisco Lindor. 

He needs to cut down on errors, but the upside he provides FAR outweighs his occasional mistake.

I wouldn't mind seeing him at 3B because I think having an elite 3B/SS combo is generally better than an elite SS/2B combo, but it's close. Do you want to protect the middle of the infield or the far side of the infield? That's how I would decide where I would put McLain and Elly. But Elly is comfortably capable (and some may even call him elite) at either 3B or SS.