Struggling Rookie advice

[rickpersak]

Hey guys,

How much leeway do you give your rookies when they first come up?

I have a stud first baseman rookie who’s 22 years old and already is a 76 overall with 81 power vs lefties and 76 power vs righties. Only problem is that he’s barely hitting .200 and he’s 1 for his last 21 at bats.

I actually have plenty of depth at first base so I can easily send him back down but I’d have to hurt his progress in the majors.

Any advice?

[jmcole33]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

How many AB does he have this season?

It would have to be 100 to consider sending him to the minors. If he's had at least 100 ABs and I really feel like he's overmatched, I'll send him down but only if I feel like I actually have a better option. Sounds like you do, so I'd give him a couple weeks in the minors.

I don't like the idea of giving playing time to a worse/underperforming player just because he's a highly touted prospect.

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

usually about a month. I feel that if they go a month without getting any real traction, some time back down in the minors is probably going to do more good than harm.

Also I never consider ratings. Only results. Don't keep a guy up just because he has some good numbers in those attributes.

[rickpersak]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice.

He’s had well over 100 at bats, I believe closer to 150. 2 more games last night and he was 1 for 8 in those two at bats with multiple strikeouts.

Hitting .201 with 6 hr and 16 rbis with close to 150 at bats. The power is there obviously but a lot of those homeruns were solo shots when I was already up so the rbis don’t mean much to me. He kind of reminds me of Joey Gallo a bit in terms of hitting. Monster power but the average and strikeout ratio is something to be desired.

I have about 10 or so days left before the end of June so I’ll see if he gets out of the slump before the end of the month and if he doesn’t, I’ll send him down and call up the other guy.

I sometimes have the same problem with bullpen guys. Not really sure when I should kick them back to the minors. Do you guys base it off of ERA or something else?

[kinsmen7]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

I've sent guys down after around 100-150 PA's, and then I'll wait until they get on a hot streak in AAA before calling them up.

I've also adjusted some of my draft picks batting stances before, because there's a few that I absolutely struggle to hit with.

[jmcole33]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice.

He’s had well over 100 at bats, I believe closer to 150. 2 more games last night and he was 1 for 8 in those two at bats with multiple strikeouts.

Hitting .201 with 6 hr and 16 rbis with close to 150 at bats. The power is there obviously but a lot of those homeruns were solo shots when I was already up so the rbis don’t mean much to me. He kind of reminds me of Joey Gallo a bit in terms of hitting. Monster power but the average and strikeout ratio is something to be desired.

I have about 10 or so days left before the end of June so I’ll see if he gets out of the slump before the end of the month and if he doesn’t, I’ll send him down and call up the other guy.

I sometimes have the same problem with bullpen guys. Not really sure when I should kick them back to the minors. Do you guys base it off of ERA or something else?

I'd say a combination between ERA and WHIP. I'm not afraid to use those last bullpen slots as a revolving door if I don't feel like any single guy stands out above the rest. If players have minor league options I'll be pretty flexible bringing them up and down

[TheWarmWind]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

I sometimes have the same problem with bullpen guys. Not really sure when I should kick them back to the minors. Do you guys base it off of ERA or something else?

Always WHIP, especially for the bullpen. ERA really only matters over larger sample sizes, and IMO bullpen guys don't really get those kind of numbers until late in the season.

WHIP is my top pitching stat.

[rickpersak]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

What about FIP? I've heard that's a pretty important stat as well

[Caulfield]

Re: Struggling Rookie advice

If a player is under 65 overall I wont hesitate one bit but somebody over 75 I'd give a lot of leeway. I'd just figure its not him, its me.