OnlyBucs

It might be too early to talk about but I just thought I would bring up the dilemma the Bucs might have in 2020 if Josh Bell returns to 2017 form and Will Craig continues his power and RBI output of 2018 at Altoona in Indianapolis this year coupled with his higher average so far this season.



Bell will be 27 and in his 4th yr in MLB. He will be a more proven power and RBI guy. A switch hitter will make him a better player to avoid a platoon. His major weakness though will remain his defense, especially his throwing motion on the 3-6 3 DP and his lack of real range. He is not a statue at 1B but if he does develop a bit better range his throwing to a pitcher covering 1B is a weakness.



Craig, and I want to say, I have never seen him play so I base my thoughts on articles about his games from P2, following box scores, and data from Baseball-Reference.

Craig will be 25 yrs old in 2020. He should be providing similar power and RBI stats as Bell and maybe a slightly higher BA and OBP. Although Craig swings from the right side he has slightly better splits vs RHP. Stats show that Craig is much better defensively than Bell as it should be since Craig was a 3Bman when drafted. Would probably be there if it were not for Hayes the MiLB Gold Glover.



So what it all boils down to is which do you prefer for the 2020 season at 1B. Bell the proven MLB player or Craig the highly touted but unproven prospect? And tell us what you would do with the one you do not prefer.

Assuming both Bell and Craig impress this year, the answer should depend on the direction of the team. If the team is built to contend in 2020, the proven player (Bell) should play over an unproven rookie. If the team is being constructed to be a legit contender in the next few years, Craig might be the choice. Bell is due arbitration 2020, 2021, 2022 and FA in 2023. If by 2020 Bell is seen as a power hitting, switch-hitting run producer at 1B, the market value at arbitration will be a nightmare for Nutting. And it will only increase each year. So if the future isn't now, it's doubtful they sink more and more money into Bell when they could be paying the minimum to Craig. If they feel they can contend, then Bell plays 1b and Craig can be his backup and late inning defensive replacement in 2020. Either way, Bell's time is limited. If he fails again this year and Craig is knocking at the door, Bell would be traded to an AL team as a DH. If Bell is too good, his corresponding pay increases would grease the skids to his exit anyway, so Craig would be kept as his backup until taking over 1B.



Unfortunately, the Archer trade demonstrates the randomness and lack of foresight by NH. Trading good prospects for a proven player makes sense when you're going all in to win it now. But that wasn't the case. The Pirates didn't have the hitting or defense to be a legit contender with or without Archer. And they did nothing to get better in the off season. So now they have a pretty good pitcher in Archer on a team that is unlikely to accomplish anything in the next few years while they have him while forever losing prospects who could be productive and under control beyond that time. So while we can speculate on the most rational decision regarding Bell vs Craig in upcoming seasons, NH could always do something totally random.

We can solve this easily by bringing the designated hitter to the national league. ;D

Will this be the first instance of a forum administrator being suspended for five games?

6163797F690C0 wrote: Will this be the first instance of a forum administrator being suspended for five games?


Why should I be? After all, I am the smartest and most knowledgable Forum Adm there ever was! With people like you towing my Admin line we can make OBN Great Again!

If I remember, Bell was an outfielder when he was signed. If he has a very productive year, I can see the following: 1. Not signing Dickerson 2. Moving Bell to right field 3. Moving Polanco to left field. Craig will then be the everyday first baseman. What do you think?

Not you, Possum - wvbucco for suggesting we bring the DH to the National league.

585A404650350 wrote: Not you, Possum - wvbucco for suggesting we bring the DH to the National league.


wvbucco is my friend and confidant. We have no idea what the DH is all about in baseball. I am the Smartest Forum Admin in the world and I would not allow him to say such things. I am certain that his account has been hacked by the purveyors "Fake" posts.

5775627D717E447F677E63787960100 wrote: If I remember, Bell was an outfielder when he was signed. If he has a very productive year, I can see the following: 1. Not signing Dickerson 2. Moving Bell to right field 3. Moving Polanco to left field. Craig will then be the everyday first baseman. What do you think?


Bell has a terrible throwing arm. You won't see him in the outfield.

What about Moran, he may be the future first-baseman, I'm beginning to like what I see.