Spring training is a time for players to ease back into the new season as well as work on new offensive and defensive skills. It is a time of experimentation and risk taking to see what works…
totallytigers.wordpress.com
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers
Spring training is a time for players to ease back into the new season as well as work on new offensive and defensive skills. It is a time of experimentation and risk taking to see what works and what doesn’t. Stats that are created are taken only half-seriously.
Javier Baez has spent yet another off-season trying to regain his hitting skills. This past winter was an intensified program designed by the Tigers. Part of his work was modifying his swing. It is expected that new habits won’t be ingrained immediately but may take a little bit of time.
However, scouts are still not happy with what they see. And so far, through Wednesday’s games, Baez is the team’s worst hitter by far. His slash line is 0.00/0.00/0.00/0.00. He has struck out half of his entire at-bats.
On Thursday, he got a single hit. And struck out more.
In stark contract, Ryan Kreidler is getting more and more time at the SS position. He is also currently one of the team’s best hitters. He has surpassed Javy in games played so far.
And then there’s Eddys Leonard, whom the Tigers acquired last August. He was the Dodgers #14 prospect and plays SS.
And once again, Baez is not in the lineup for Friday’s game. Leonard is taking his place.
Baez has 4 more years on his contract which is guaranteed for $98 million dollars and a 10-team no-trade clause that changes every year.
But given that Ryan Kreidler is getting more playing time, combined with the acquisition of another SS, could the Tigers be getting ready to pull the plug on Baez should he continue his nosedive?
Can the Tigers improve their offensive numbers if Baez continues to flail away at the plate?
Will his status as a plus-defender keep him on the roster?
Will he start losing playing time to Kreidler and/or Leonard at some point this year?
Given that the Tigers have a completely new Front Office and decision-makers, what do you think they will do should Javier Baez continue to struggle significantly at the plate?
What do you believe the Tigers will do if Javier Baez continues to struggle mightily at the plate?
1. They will keep him at the SS position no matter what.
2. They will gradually platoon him with Kreidler or Leonard, cutting his playing time more and more.
3. If they are playing above .500, they will either trade/DFA him before the end of the year.
VOTE
