You’re right. Baseball savant is the end all be all. playing the game means nothing. What I clearly said is that you have to react faster and run further in CF. It definitely changes the metrics you are talking about. Also, way to ignore the affects of a hamstring injury and just assume a player in his prime has just naturally lost a step instead.
I just think the idea that you react and run/move slower because you are in the corner OF instead of CF is ridiculous. Maybe you do have to react faster in CF than LF/CF though it makes no sense. They are actually further from home. That doesn't mean that a player automatically will and so his metrics will be reduced. If said ball is the same distance away, the idea that Chas would and could react faster and run further to make a catch simply because he's in CF and not LF/RF makes no sense. I didn't dispute anything else you said.
The CF covers more ground. And you did dispute that Chas has lost a step. That’s where this all started. You said Chas, at 29, had lost speed and range in the outfield. You didn’t even consider his hamstring injury or the fact that he doesn’t play CF very much at all anymore compared to last year. You just said that he’s on the natural decline and again, of course, that he’s an untalented overachiever. It just goes with your anti Chas stance, so I called it out. If Chas was 4 or 5 years older, you would probably have a better argument. I will say Chas has backed himself into a wall. I think if he doesn’t get red hot in the next 1-2 games, it will be Leon. In fact, Chas didn’t get a hit last game so Leon may have already bumped him. But lost a step at 29? No way
I showed actual measured facts that he is covering less ground than 2 years ago. You said that is because he doesn't have to cover as much in LF ( and RF) than in CF. But the idea that he will actually run slower, covering less ground based on which position he is playing is ridiculous. He is not slower because he is playing LF and RF. He is playing LF and RF because he is slower.
I’m not saying that he’s slower because he’s playing corner OF. You are saying that he has lost a step at 29 years old, which is ridiculous.
I get that Chas is slower. I'd just like to point out that walls exist and come into play a lot more in RF/LF than CF. Chas has to slow down when he's around walls (this shouldn't affect his speed measurements on savant, but it limits opportunities versus a CF). Regarding plays not at walls, Chas has missed one ball this season he should have gotten and he's gotten quite a few tough ones...though less than 2021 and 2022. Chas's success added is still average starting CF (i.e., there are a lot less playable balls in the corners, but given a distance and time to catch a ball, he's as likely to catch a ball as the average CF). Chas is not in CF because Meyers is a better CF, and he had a bad slump to start the season limiting time. Take away Meyers with Chas not having a bad slump in late April-May, and Chas is in CF....well unless the manager wants someone that covers less ground in CF.
I pointed out that baseball savant showed his range as 1.3 ft less than 2 years ago. You said it was because he plays corner OF and not CF and not because he is really slower. But you are right, it's impossible to be slower at 29 than you were at 27. Losing a step at 29 is ridiculous.
Truce In any and every way that matters, Chas has been among the best 9 position players on this team and needs to play every day, at least until Tucker returns. Then either he, Leon, or Meyers needs to sit. Everyday audition starting tomorrow. Dubon and Cabbage have been TERRIBLE. Jake has been less than good but still among the top 9.
