The case for Austin Slater - Printable Version

The case for Austin Slater - Printable Version

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The case for Austin Slater - Mick - 08-15-2020

Stanford's very own Austin Slater needs more playing time. He's T9 with Hunter Pence for most ABs with 38. Yaz has 70. Why?

1) He's one of three offensive stars on the Giants (with Yaz and Solano). He is hitting .342, which would be 7th in the league if he had enough ABs and 1.076 OPS, which would be 8th.

2) Not to get all melodramatic, but this season he has a higher average HR/AB ratio than Barry Bonds' career HR/AB ratio. And two of this season's three HRs came off of Clayton Kershaw, who's 2-1 this season and given up just 5 earned runs. Two came from Slater.

3) Fun fact: Slater leads the majors in stolen bases with 5 in 14 games. He's tied with Tatis and Pham of the Padres and Gimenez of the Mets who have played 20, 20 and 19 games respectively.

4) He doesn't have an error (not many Giants can say that)

5) Slater is known for having the best arm in the outfield, per Kruk and Kuip.

6) He's not a platoon player. He's hitting .304 vs. RHPs and .400 vs. LHPs.

Dude can play. If he was a full-timer, he'd be an All-Star. SF's last home grown OF All Star was Chili Davis, drafted in 1977.

Maybe the Giants consider making him a regular?

RE: The case for Austin Slater - BobK - 08-15-2020

Agree except he needs to get healthy. Maybe he is got in late last night

RE: The case for Austin Slater - Mick - 08-15-2020

(08-15-2020, 07:48 AM)BobK Wrote: Agree except he needs to get healthy. Maybe he is got in late last night

He has a throwing-arm flexor strain. Kapler says he might DH this weekend.

RE: The case for Austin Slater - Phogge - 08-15-2020

Think he should take over first base when he gets healthy. Belt is toast and obviously not motivated to get any better. Needs a change of scenery like maybe semi-pro ball in the Sacramento night league where Jim Barr flourished past his 50’s.

Also the Giants need some classes where somebody like Robby Thompson can teach them about baserunning, throwing to the correct base, not piping an 0-2 pitch and properly blocking balls in the dirt by using your body rather than the Tromp Move which entails swiping with the glove.

RE: The case for Austin Slater - BobK - 08-15-2020

Sadly the semi pro teams near Sacramento had to shut down. Spaceman Lee vs Jim Barr wasn’t that long ago.

Tito Fuentes son is the Napa Manager

Teaching at the big level is important. But not to the Giants.

RE: The case for Austin Slater - Mick - 08-15-2020

(08-15-2020, 08:51 AM)BobK Wrote: Sadly the semi pro teams near Sacramento had to shut down. Spaceman Lee vs Jim Barr wasn’t that long ago.

I used to work with an accountant who was a pretty good collegiate catcher. He played on a competitive over-30s baseball team in the 1990s that did well. Remember Clay Carroll? Setup guy for the Reds during the Big Red Machine days. Career MLB ERA of 2.94, 96-73 record, 143 saves. Two time MLB all star, led the league in saves once, games pitched twice. Had a 1.39 ERA in three different World Series for the Reds (1970, '72, '75). He was in his early 50s and played on my friend's over 30 team, and did great, as you might imagine.

Carroll's favorite Johnny Bench story? He told the story of Gerry Arrigo, one of the Reds' starters who'd lost his gas. At a Dodger game, Bench kept signaling for breaking balls, and Arrigo shook him off three times. Finally Bench signals for the fastball. Arrigo lets it fly and Bench caught it--barehanded. The Dodgers and Reds were both howling.

lex24 - lex24 - 08-15-2020

Slater is going to get a shot to play everyday. In the past he’s gotten a bit exposed when he’s played long stretches. Hopefully that won’t happen this time.

Hurt. Hopefully not too much of a setback. But he has to stay healthy to stay on the field. Reminds me a bit of Mac Williamson. I wonder what might have been had he not had that horrific concussion. He was so hot. Looked like he was starting to figure it out. He probably would have regressed. But I wish he would have had the chance.

RE: The case for Austin Slater - Mick - 08-20-2020

Slater came back in last night at DH. Two for three with a walk, a homer, two RBIs. Slash line is now .341/.453/.659/1.112.

If Slater had enough ABs, he'd be 5th in MLB in OPS, 10th in BA, 5th in OBP and 10th in slugging average, right behind Yaz.

lex24 - lex24 - 08-20-2020

(08-20-2020, 07:50 AM)Mick Wrote: Slater came back in last night at DH. Two for three with a walk, a homer, two RBIs. Slash line is now .341/.453/.659/1.112.

If Slater had enough ABs, he'd be 5th in MLB in OPS, 10th in BA, 5th in OBP and 10th in slugging average, right behind Yaz.

I like Slater. Next to Yaz and Solano he’s been this teams brightest light. And he’s a bit younger (27). So I hope he’s turned the corner. If he can stay healthy, we may get a chance to see if this is real or if he will regress to his mean. It was also nice to see him pull that pitch. He has a strong opposite field approach. But turning on one once in a while is a good thing.

RE: lex24 - teejers1 - 08-20-2020

(08-20-2020, 09:09 AM)lex24 Wrote:
(08-20-2020, 07:50 AM)Mick Wrote: Slater came back in last night at DH. Two for three with a walk, a homer, two RBIs. Slash line is now .341/.453/.659/1.112.

If Slater had enough ABs, he'd be 5th in MLB in OPS, 10th in BA, 5th in OBP and 10th in slugging average, right behind Yaz.

I like Slater. Next to Yaz and Solano he’s been this teams brightest light. And he’s a bit younger (27). So I hope he’s turned the corner. If he can stay healthy, we may get a chance to see if this is real or if he will regress to his mean. It was also nice to see him pull that pitch. He has a strong opposite field approach. But turning on one once in a while is a good thing.

Also liked Kruk's comment after the blast, along lines of "that's a demonstrative as Slater gets in watching a homer . . ." On the replay, you had to look closely to see the slight pause after the swing . . . before he quickly trotted around the bases. It was a pretty majestic blast. Told my wife before the 3-1 pitch 'no way he takes this pitch. He's looking to hit it hard.' Reasoning was he had already taken a walk; had a hit; and a runner was in scoring position. You could just see his mind working up there.

lex24 - lex24 - 08-20-2020

(08-20-2020, 10:10 AM)teejers1 Wrote:
(08-20-2020, 09:09 AM)lex24 Wrote:
(08-20-2020, 07:50 AM)Mick Wrote: Slater came back in last night at DH. Two for three with a walk, a homer, two RBIs. Slash line is now .341/.453/.659/1.112.

If Slater had enough ABs, he'd be 5th in MLB in OPS, 10th in BA, 5th in OBP and 10th in slugging average, right behind Yaz.

I like Slater. Next to Yaz and Solano he’s been this teams brightest light. And he’s a bit younger (27). So I hope he’s turned the corner. If he can stay healthy, we may get a chance to see if this is real or if he will regress to his mean. It was also nice to see him pull that pitch. He has a strong opposite field approach. But turning on one once in a while is a good thing.

Also liked Kruk's comment after the blast, along lines of "that's a demonstrative as Slater gets in watching a homer . . ." On the replay, you had to look closely to see the slight pause after the swing . . . before he quickly trotted around the bases. It was a pretty majestic blast. Told my wife before the 3-1 pitch 'no way he takes this pitch. He's looking to hit it hard.' Reasoning was he had already taken a walk; had a hit; and a runner was in scoring position. You could just see his mind working up there.

Also had a pretty good bat flip. I bought a t-shirt at a store called something like “Baseballogy” in Scottsdale at spring training several years ago. They now have a shop near Oracle, I believe. It reads: “Live life like it’s a 3-1 count”. Got another one that is a math equation. 6+4+3 =s 2. I’ve had more than one math teacher stop and say “huh”. Great store if you get the chance.

RE: lex24 - Mick - 08-20-2020

(08-20-2020, 10:10 AM)teejers1 Wrote:
(08-20-2020, 09:09 AM)lex24 Wrote:
(08-20-2020, 07:50 AM)Mick Wrote: Slater came back in last night at DH. Two for three with a walk, a homer, two RBIs. Slash line is now .341/.453/.659/1.112.

If Slater had enough ABs, he'd be 5th in MLB in OPS, 10th in BA, 5th in OBP and 10th in slugging average, right behind Yaz.

I like Slater. Next to Yaz and Solano he’s been this teams brightest light. And he’s a bit younger (27). So I hope he’s turned the corner. If he can stay healthy, we may get a chance to see if this is real or if he will regress to his mean. It was also nice to see him pull that pitch. He has a strong opposite field approach. But turning on one once in a while is a good thing.

Also liked Kruk's comment after the blast, along lines of "that's a demonstrative as Slater gets in watching a homer . . ." On the replay, you had to look closely to see the slight pause after the swing . . . before he quickly trotted around the bases. It was a pretty majestic blast. Told my wife before the 3-1 pitch 'no way he takes this pitch. He's looking to hit it hard.' Reasoning was he had already taken a walk; had a hit; and a runner was in scoring position. You could just see his mind working up there.

Minor piece of trivia, but in 2017 Austin Slater had the longest home run hit by a rookie that year. Not sure why I know that, but I do.

RE: lex24 - magnus - 08-21-2020

(08-20-2020, 11:23 AM)Mick Wrote: Minor piece of trivia, but in 2017 Austin Slater had the longest home run hit by a rookie that year. Not sure why I know that, but I do.

Sorry to correct, Mick. Didn't seem right, so i checked on Judge's longest blast that year.

495 ft.

https://www.mlb.com/news/most-extreme-statcast-home-runs-of-2017-c262083742

Quote:LONGEST DISTANCE: 495 feet, Aaron Judge, June 11

Tops what i believe is Slater's long of 461 that year.

Checking other articles, Slater had the distinction for a few days in June before Judge hit his shot.

RE: lex24 - Mick - 08-21-2020

(08-21-2020, 02:05 AM)magnus Wrote:
(08-20-2020, 11:23 AM)Mick Wrote: Minor piece of trivia, but in 2017 Austin Slater had the longest home run hit by a rookie that year. Not sure why I know that, but I do.

Sorry to correct, Mick. Didn't seem right, so i checked on Judge's longest blast that year.

495 ft.

https://www.mlb.com/news/most-extreme-statcast-home-runs-of-2017-c262083742

Quote:LONGEST DISTANCE: 495 feet, Aaron Judge, June 11

Tops what i believe is Slater's long of 461 that year.

Checking other articles, Slater had the distinction for a few days in June before Judge hit his shot.

Righty-o. https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-slater-hits-longest-2017-hr-by-rookie-c235190102