Official Game Thread - 5/28 - Bucs @ Mariners
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 10:58 pm
I don't dislike Hayes. He was just miscast as a franchise player. He's very good defensively. Makes all the routine plays look easy. Strong, accurate arm. But he's not an offensive player. Consistently weak bat. There have been plenty of MLB players who are outstanding defensively but didn't play regularly because of their bat. If he hadn't been hyped as a savior, Hayes might be a part time player seeing a lot of late inning defense work. His amazing start in 2020 was based on only 85 ABs. Jason Delay is hitting .318 in 66 ABs. Hayes is no more a great hitter based on 85 ABs than Delay is based on 66 ABs.
I saw Brooks Robinson play most of his career. He not only made the routine plays easily but was a human highlight reel. Countless diving plays to rob batters of hits. If you check their defensive metrics, Hayes doesn't begin to compare in runs saved. We take Hayes for granted at 3B because he's so smooth and efficient. But I don't recall him making many sensational plays to rob hits. I don't say this to demean Hayes. He's one of the best defensive 3Bmen in MLB today. But if he's going to be a weak bat, he needs to be even better defensively and make the sensational as well as the routine plays. I'd rather have a Richie Hebner: a steady hitter who doesn't make all the plays at 3B than Hayes who is a hole in the lineup despite his fielding prowess.
I saw Brooks Robinson play most of his career. He not only made the routine plays easily but was a human highlight reel. Countless diving plays to rob batters of hits. If you check their defensive metrics, Hayes doesn't begin to compare in runs saved. We take Hayes for granted at 3B because he's so smooth and efficient. But I don't recall him making many sensational plays to rob hits. I don't say this to demean Hayes. He's one of the best defensive 3Bmen in MLB today. But if he's going to be a weak bat, he needs to be even better defensively and make the sensational as well as the routine plays. I'd rather have a Richie Hebner: a steady hitter who doesn't make all the plays at 3B than Hayes who is a hole in the lineup despite his fielding prowess.