OnlyBucs

I can't believe we are going to continue to have Newman at Short. He has shown no ability to hit big league hitting, he's not a exceptional defensive SS so why can't we bring up someone and give them a shot. Anyone but Gonzo, Tucker. We saw several SS in Spring training why can't we try any one of these guys might be a better option. How in the world can a major league team not have an average SS for several years in a row. A complete failure of NH among many others. Tucker would be a better option than Newman. At least he has speed and an above average defense. But I don't like Tucker bring up Cruz now.

How in the world can a major league team not have an average SS for several years in a row. A complete failure of NH among many others


This has become a sickness now. If Newman had hit .200 under NH and .300 this year it would be a triumph of the new regime. Because it's the opposite it just never happened.

4D555750504756514C4D5B3E0 wrote: I can't believe we are going to continue to have Newman at Short.  He has shown no ability to hit big league hitting, he's not a exceptional defensive SS so why can't we bring up someone and give them a shot.  Anyone but Gonzo, Tucker.  We saw several SS in Spring training why can't we try any one of these guys might be a better option.  How in the world can a major league team not have an average SS for several years in a row.  A complete failure of NH among many others.  Tucker would be a better option than Newman.  At least he has speed and an above average defense.  But I don't like Tucker bring up Cruz now.
Newman has arguably been the best defensive SS in the NL this year. He is the only starting SS in the NL without an error and is also near the top of the NL in modern defensive metric stats. His hitting this year is very disappointing but 2 years ago he batted .308 with 12 HRs.



Cruz is currently on the IL at Indy with a forearm muscle strain and is expected to be out 2-3 weeks. Bringing him up at this time is not an option.

Newman has been steady in the field, though his lack of range is a bit of a problem. I just don't understand how a guy can hit a record-setting. 600 in Spring training then turn to rubble. I still expect him to hit .250 before it's all over but I'm not as confident as I was.

062C27172036363A550 wrote: Newman has been steady in the field, though his lack of range is a bit of a problem. I just don't understand how a guy can hit a record-setting. 600 in Spring training then turn to rubble. I still expect him to hit .250 before it's all over but I'm not as confident as I was.
I don't think range has been a problem. His zone defensive metrics place him among the NL leaders at SS. I think he gets labeled with poor range because he's steady and not flashy. But he has speed. He was a good base stealer in the minors. So he's fast and very sure-handed. He was also a good hitter in the minors with several .300+ seasons. So his .308 season in 2019 did not look like an aberration. But he needs to start hitting. Even sure handed SSs don't last long if they hit .210.

We need >.210, but your overall point's spot on.



Our issues are many, IMO.  SS is not one.  If it is, it's not high on the list.  I'd keep an eye on it, of course, but I wouldn't focus on it.



Even if it was high on the list, Cruz can't answer the problem in 2021.

What's the league BA right now, something in the .230's? I was kind of hoping his ST would translate to .250 range, which wouldn't be too far out of the top 10 in BA right now for qualifiers. We were just playing a team where one of the guys was 10th in the league with a .268.



I think he's been fabulous defensively. I don't think he gets much credit because he doesn't have a handful of dazzling hilights.

7E4B5C5C576E5C5C57505C390 wrote: We need >.210, but your overall point's spot on.



Our issues are many, IMO.  SS is not one.  If it is, it's not high on the list.  I'd keep an eye on it, of course, but I wouldn't focus on it.



Even if it was high on the list, Cruz can't answer the problem in 2021.
I didn't mean to imply that >.210 would be acceptable. I meant that Newman currently seems like about a .210 hitter and that won't do. Cruz' defense at SS has been a real problem this year and now he's hurt his arm. So he's far from a sure thing as the answer.

0C212C3D3A2B3C7C7F4E0 wrote: We need >.210, but your overall point's spot on.



Our issues are many, IMO.  SS is not one.  If it is, it's not high on the list.  I'd keep an eye on it, of course, but I wouldn't focus on it.



Even if it was high on the list, Cruz can't answer the problem in 2021.
I didn't mean to imply that >.210 would be acceptable. I meant that Newman currently seems like about a .210 hitter and that won't do. Cruz' defense at SS has been a real problem this year and now he's hurt his arm. So he's far from a sure thing as the answer.
I believe that Jackie Hernandez kind of fit in the same category. If Newman was playing in a similar lineup we probably wouldn't be having this discussion. BUT, HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN't!

644944555243541417260 wrote: Newman has been steady in the field, though his lack of range is a bit of a problem. I just don't understand how a guy can hit a record-setting. 600 in Spring training then turn to rubble. I still expect him to hit .250 before it's all over but I'm not as confident as I was.
I don't think range has been a problem. His zone defensive metrics place him among the NL leaders at SS. I think he gets labeled with poor range because he's steady and not flashy. But he has speed. He was a good base stealer in the minors. So he's fast and very sure-handed. He was also a good hitter in the minors with several .300+ seasons. So his .308 season in 2019 did not look like an aberration. But he needs to start hitting. Even sure handed SSs don't last long if they hit .210.


Newman, to me, is much like Jordy Mercer. Both are good enough at what they do as long as they play in a strong line-up. Mercer was an important piece in that 2013-15 team because he fielded his position well but was never asked to carry the load offensively. I think Newman can be the same way: steady, reliable fielder who shouldn't be counted on to produce much offensively if the line-up is productive at least through the first six hitters.