Last week, we started the discussion about the roster battles in all 4 areas – starting pitching, the bullpen, infield and outfield. On Wednesday, we focused the question marks surrounding 2B.
Today, let’s stay in the infield and address the SS concerns.
As everyone knows, there are significant worries about Javier Baez’s continued poor performance at the plate. Despite yet another off-season attempt to remedy his struggles, he is having an incredibly bad spring training.
He is 1-for-22 (through Friday’s games) and continues to strike out at a 50% rate. He has not played SS now for a number of days. His slash line is .045/.080/.045/.125 and it’s now drawing national attention.
With Eddys Leonard now being re-cast as an outfielder, that leaves Ryan Kreidler as the next viable shortstop. He missed most of last year with 2 surgeries but in 2022, he was a plus defender.
Currently, he’s playing the SS position very well and has put up a slash line of .286/.483/.429/.911 (through Thursday). He has been the starting SS for the last 3 days in a row.
Baez was a +2 DRS in 2023 and he does serve as a veteran presence in a very young infield. He is also owed $98 mill for the next 4 years.
But he will hurt a lineup that is starving for runs. Kreidler on the other hand has only 37 games of experience at the MLB level.
How should the Tigers handle the SS position?
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I would consider taking Kreidler up north over Vierling (who has now become a fifth wheel). I would start him over Javi if he out-hit him against MLB season rather than spring training pitchers. Let the best performer get the most playing time at shortstop regardless of pay check.
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I can’t see Kriedler making the 26 over Vierling who has more potential power which is sorely needed. So, I’m in the wee majority who will take Javy’s D and hope for the best offensively. He has shown some signs, a couple of good sac Flys, a hit today in Dunedin, and I’m willing to see how AJ will get the best out of him.
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I don’t see Kreidler making the team, more likely is Baez may sit against righties with great sliders in favor of Zach McKinstry. ZMcK played 23 games at SS last year (I don’t know how much he has played this spring) and is having an even better spring at the plate than Kreidler. Kreidler has a good stat line but he also has 10 Ks in 27 ABs, a no-no in Harrisville while ZMcK only has 4 Ks in 20 ABs.
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Hi, Spartan – McKinstry has played 0 games at SS this spring. He’s only played RF while Kreidler has exclusively played SS – and significantly more than any other player. He’s been starting at SS almost every day now and is viewed by Harris and Hinch as a “pure shortstop.” – Holly
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Kriedler should be brought up north or even Leonard who also can play SS. Start Baez the first 2-3 games if he doesn’t show progress start game 4 with one of the others. Play your best players.
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What’s the impact on team culture if Baez performs poorly, but remains in the lineup? Miggy still had a positive impact on the team as he chased history on bad teams. Does Baez fall into the beloved category, or will his spot on the 26 man roster be negatively viewed by teammates?
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From the Moderators – Please remember that today’s blog is about the shortstop position. Please save your comments about other positions for next week when the OF will be addressed.
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I voted for Kreidler with tongue in cheek because I don’t think Kreidler makes the opening day lineup. Baez will be given a chance to fail. How long this arrangement lasts depends on how bad Baez is with the bat to start the season so it shouldn’t take long for Kreidler to be called up and Baez to be benched.
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Javy Baez may be traded early for peanuts; his presence on the 26 player roster will be intolerable. Kreidler has the job of 3rd base, and the utility infielder–Vierling? Leonard?–will back him up.
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Well we know the hittng coaches were working wth Baez while he wasn’t playing and perhaps Miguel Cabrera was as well. Spring Traning doesn’t determne too much about how his season will go but of course the Tigers are concerned as are the fans. I don’t how long the lease they wll gve hm wll last,but $98 millon smackers is tough to lose.
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well guess all that off season work with Javy didn’t pay off, still the same as he was in the last two seasons except worse so far this spring. What an awful signing/contract (thanks again AA)
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I will go with Javy because I still think Illitch is more about making money than winning. Illitch doesn’t want to waste his $98M and if Javy can start hitting again, he can make Illitch some money by selling his jerseys. Javy’s uni used to be in the Top 10 of sales when he was with the Cubs.
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If I were AJ Hinch I would be ready to pull the plug on Baez very quickly. Hinch isn’t close to being on the hot seat, but yet another slow start would raise questions.
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