There have been few players who are as polarizing to Dodger fans as Yasmani Grandal. After all, he was traded for a fan favorite by those who valued style over substance and was a locker room cancer to say nothing of his poor defense. It seems that some value primma donnas and the fact that Yasmani Grandal can not walk on water has hurt his perception. Well, that and the fact than many oldtimes do not believe that pitch-framing is a “thing.”
Even Ray Charles can see what pitch framing accomplishes. I refuse to engage in a debate about it because, as much as you may not believe or like it, until electronic balls and strikes is implemented, it will continue to be a “Thing.” It’s reality, and, that infuriates the Grandalaphobes who are, coincidently also FAZaphobes. They think that “framing” is silly and irrational, when in fact, something else is silly and irrational. Get over it. Embrace reality – pitch framing is here to stay… until computers take over baseball… which is close!
Fangraphs says this:
Framing pitches is a very important part of catching, and we have an idea that the best catchers are worth 15 to 25 runs above average per season.
Oh sure, you can find an article to support your position that pitch framing is not a thing, but there are fifty that say you are wrong. Next to Buster Posey, Yasmani may be the best framer in the NL… maybe all of baseball. Some think he is the best in baseball.. Sons of Sam Horn rates Grandal the #1 pitch framer in the game. Whether he is, depends upon a lot of things – some objective, some subjective. At least, he is in the conversation.
- Fox Sports Rates him the 6th best catcher in baseball.
- ESPN ranks him the #4 best catcher in baseball.
- Others rank him #10 or lower.
Think what you want, but I believe 2017 will be Yasmani Grandal’s breakout season. Yeah, I know he hit 27 HR last year – he will hit more in 2017!
Yasmani is working on his diet, strength and conditioning (detect a trend?) and has worked on re-tooling his RH swing all winter. He might blast 40 HR this year. He might even hit cleanup! I think he will an All-Star.
Matt who?
By the way: That’s my son with Clayton. Clayton was a rookie (so was my son). This son:
UPDATE:
Bleacher Report rates the Top 100 Players for 2017. Barely missing the Top 100 were Rich Hill and Zack Greinke. Anyone wanna’ bet who has the best ERA this year?
- #100 – Kenley Jansen
- #76 – Yasmani Grandal
- #54 – Joc Pederson (ahead of Ryan Braun)
- #53 – Justin Turner
- #13 – Corey Seager
- #2 Clayton Kershaw
You know who’s #1!
Today’s Music:
Discussion (44)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Dodgers have gone from a 94 win team to a 91 win team in 4 years. Better now? I’m not so sure.
Just got back from my son’s football awards dinner where he got his second State Championship Ring. Unreal!
The 2016 team was better than the 2015 version and the 2017 version is even better.
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A lot of special things have to happen for us to win a World Series, but we are a step closer and certainly in the chase. We are one of the lead dogs!
On Grandal: I’ll leave framing to others. What is important to me about him is: 1) he is a tough dude and will get down and dirty; 2) he is a decent hitter, a switch hitter, at that; 3) he hits with power; 4) I think the pitchers like him. The last point is the most important, and I don’t have much information on that. Maybe one of you does. I don’t think he is a great defensive catcher. In fact, I think that is his big weakness and will eventually cost him his job with the team. If a pitcher doesn’t have confidence that his catcher can block that pitch or react to a bad one, that is a problem. The jury is still out for me on that point.
Toles played outfield last year like he had been out of baseball for a year and then played all over the outfield.
Here is a new lineup that maybe hasn’t been suggested:
RF Puig
CF Pederson
SS Seager
3B Turner
C Grandal
1B Gonzales
LF Thompson
2B Forsyeth
Here is a review of the Dodgers outfield: http://calltothepen.com/2017/02/21/los-angeles-dodgers-sorting-through-the-outfield-logjam/2/
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An interesting discussion of Toles deficiencies. MJ won’t like it.
Great write-up about Walker Buehler:
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http://www.truebluela.com/2017/2/22/14696578/walker-buehler-2017-dodgers-prospects
Update Above
Is your son wearing the freebie Jason Schmidt T-shirt they were giving away in Vero?
Several responses:
1 – I’m not a Grandalophobe but don’t think he’s as good as you do;
2 – Pitch framing is a thing but it can’t really be measured. It’s not objective. “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” (Benjamin Disraeli)
3 – The rest of his defense is so-so. He is awkward behind the plate – he doesn’t block balls in the dirt well and he doesn’t throw particularly well.
4 – He will never be a hitter for high average.
5 – All baseball players are in the “best shape of their lives” every spring! http://grantland.com/the-triangle/mlb-does-best-shape-of-his-life-spring-training-proclamation-matter/
enjoyed the picture
that’s one of the things that makes baseball great — players talking with kids
Last year, the 3 catchers on the NL all star squad were Posey, Lucroy and Ramos. This year, Posey will get the votes to be the starter. Lucroy is in the AL now. I can see Yaz beating out Ramos, but I have this feeling that Wilson Contreras will be in the mix … just because he plays for the Cubs and every position player on the Cubs gets extra all star votes.