Saladino could be getting more time at SS

[chw42]

Why would you sit Saladino after he just had a great game?

[Chicago White Sox]

Ugghhh. Tooo many meatheadddssss!!!!!

Hey look, Vance Law is back to calling the board meatheads for not agreeing with illogical decision-making. Keep fighting the good fight bro, Robin definitely needs you during these trying times.

[Bob Sacamano]

Seriously. If you're going to play both, play Saladino against righties in the 2 spot and play Rollins against lefties. That way Saladino at least gets majority time.

Edited June 1, 2016 by soxfan2014

[MEANS]

There's one positive for the Mets. They had the opportunity to lustily boo Chase Utley over the weekend when the Dodgers were in town, now they can boo and heckle another former Phillie all game long in Jimmy Rollins.

 

 

They did that on monday.

[Panerista]

Ugghhh. Tooo many meatheadddssss!!!!!

Pot calling the kettle black.

 

You don't reward play like that by benching a guy.

[Special K]

I was on the Rollins train as much as anyone... but at this point, Saladino has proven himself to be the better player. We don't know where Saladino's ceiling is, but we know exactly where Rollins is. Moreover, Saladino is outhitting and outdefending Rollins. He should be getting all of the starts. It's ridiculous that Robin doesn't have the guts to sit to Rollins just because he's a decorated veteran. I can't say enough bad things about Ventura.

[lasttriptotulsa]

I was on the Rollins train as much as anyone... but at this point, Saladino has proven himself to be the better player. We don't know where Saladino's ceiling is, but we know exactly where Rollins is. Moreover, Saladino is outhitting and outdefending Rollins. He should be getting all of the starts. It's ridiculous that Robin doesn't have the guts to sit to Rollins just because he's a decorated veteran. I can't say enough bad things about Ventura.

 

Saladino hasn't proven anything. Before the last 3 games he was a negative fWAR player and had a whopping .571 OPS. More than 50 points less than Rollins on the season. He didn't all the sudden become a good Major Leaguer because he had 3 straight good games.

[Hatchetman]

Saladino just had one of the best games by anyone on the team this year. He deserves to start the next day. Simple as that.

[GreenSox]

Saladino hasn't proven anything. Before the last 3 games he was a negative fWAR player and had a whopping .571 OPS. More than 50 points less than Rollins on the season. He didn't all the sudden become a good Major Leaguer because he had 3 straight good games.

He's also superior defensively, and he's also young so always could improve (v. 37 and in rapid decline). And Rollins' numbers while better at the time, were still terrible.

 

This veteran/patchwork/band-aid mindset is one of the reasons why there are 2 playoffs in 16 seasons.

Edited June 1, 2016 by GreenSox

[southsider2k5]

He already has been playing more.

 

He started:

 

7 of the first 24 games

12 of the last 24 games

 

This is the best post in this thread. Managers aren't going to cold turkey a player for the most part. Ventura has been moving more and more towards Saladino, and getting him into the line up more and more often.

[Lillian]

This issue should be relatively simple to resolve. Here are the reasons to let Saladino play:

1) SS is a defense first position and, at this stage of his career, Rollins cannot provide even average defense. Saladino is a plus defender, with better range and a better arm.

 

2) Platooning them doesn't make sense because Rollins can no longer hit RHP and Saladino is actually a better hitter vs. RHP. If Robin insists on platooning them, it should be reversed, with Rollins facing lefties and Tyler the right handers. At least that would get him the majority of the bats.

 

3) There is little doubt about what can be expected from Rollins, at his age. There is always the potential for a young guy like Saladino to evolve into a pretty good player.

 

4) Management should be trying to find out what they have in Tyler, going forward. Although he can play several positions, he is probably best suited to SS or 2ND and

those two positions could belong to Anderson and Lawrie, next year. If Tyler can establish himself as a regular, they could trade Lawrie, or at least not try to resign him.

Or, they might even consider Lawrie as Frazier's replacement at 3RD, when both of them become eligible for free agency, at the end of next year, and giving 2ND to Tyler. Rollins does not enter into that future equation, therefore playing him accomplishes nothing, going forward.

 

5) At least according to Harrelson, Saladino has a very high baseball acumen, which along with his speed and versatility make him a very useful utility player, at the very least.

 

What am I missing here, aside from some preference for "veteran leadership," or some other dubious notion?

 

 

[caulfield12]

This issue should be relatively simple to resolve. Here are the reasons to let Saladino play:

1) SS is a defense first position and, at this stage of his career, Rollins cannot provide even average defense. Saladino is a plus defender, with better range and a better arm.

 

2) Platooning them doesn't make sense because Rollins can no longer hit RHP and Saladino is actually a better hitter vs. RHP. If Robin insists on platooning them, it should be reversed, with Rollins facing lefties and Tyler the right handers. At least that would get him the majority of the bats.

 

3) There is little doubt about what can be expected from Rollins, at his age. There is always the potential for a young guy like Saladino to evolve into a pretty good player.

 

4) Management should be trying to find out what they have in Tyler, going forward. Although he can play several positions, he is probably best suited to SS or 2ND and

those two positions could belong to Anderson and Lawrie, next year. If Tyler can establish himself as a regular, they could trade Lawrie, or at least not try to resign him.

Or, they might even consider Lawrie as Frazier's replacement at 3RD, when both of them become eligible for free agency, at the end of next year, and giving 2ND to Tyler. Rollins does not enter into that future equation, therefore playing him accomplishes nothing, going forward.

 

5) At least according to Harrelson, Saladino has a very high baseball acumen, which along with his speed and versatility make him a very useful utility player, at the very least.

 

What am I missing here, aside from some preference for "veteran leadership," or some other dubious notion?

 

 

Then you would have to give Lawrie an extension now or wait until after 2017 and see if he'll test the FA market...since both Frazier and Lawrie are leaving at the same time. Not quite understanding your point here. There's also the possibility of Trey Mich. and Delmonico being able to contribute at that position as well.

 

 

[Lillian]

"Caulfield", that is precisely my point. They should try to explore the various options, and playing Rollins provides no added insight.

If Tyler could be counted upon to fill one of the holes created by the departure of Frazier and, or Lawrie, the front office might have a better idea of how to proceed.

Edited June 1, 2016 by Lillian

[caulfield12]

Saladino is in the line-up after all today, hitting behind JB Shuck.

[Chisoxfn]

I told everyone this a month ago.. What do I know though?

Preaching to the choir. I've liked what I've seen from him for a while and want to see what he can do with more regular at bats (find out if he can be a starter or if he's better served as a good bench guy).

[Jose Abreu]

I told everyone this a month ago.. What do I know though?

I told everyone this the day we signed Rollins

 

But in all seriousness, the fact that we all knew that Saladino > Rollins so early is pretty sad.

[chw42]

Saladino is in the line-up after all today, hitting behind JB Shuck.

 

My god...Robin is obsessed with splitting the righties up in the middle of the lineup isn't he? I don't think that even matters when the guy doing it is JB Shuck.

Edited June 1, 2016 by chw42

[Panerista]

I told everyone this the day we signed Rollins

 

But in all seriousness, the fact that we all knew that Saladino > Rollins so early is pretty sad.

Rollins for $2 million was a gamble, but you can't give him to an idiot like Robin. Period.

[Jose Abreu]

We talk about his superior defense, surprisingly good hitting, etc. but how about his baseball IQ? I'm not saying that Rollins has a bad baseball IQ, as his is high, but Saladino's is pretty damn good too. He always makes the right play, hits the ball where the fielder's aren't, lays down good bunts... him stealing second and then third on back to back pitches last night is another pretty good example.