Springer/Reddick vs Tucker/Straw

With Josh Rojas blossoming into a MLB player, I wouldn't mind looking at the other marte either. He's mainly a 2nd baseman but has played SS and cf. Should be sellers at the deadline.

 

He's the best batter, perhaps in the world, to have at the plate against a really terrible pitcher.

 

You put these 4 guys shirtless on an iconic beach volleyball court in scorching heat, with cool nicknames, and a cool soundtrack, who wins? And who leaves early in white undershirt and leather bomb jacket to go get the girl? There's a lot more at stake here if you dig deeper. Never leaver your wingman.

 

Seattle and Colorado pitching staffs thank you for this compliment.

 

Strucker has performed better than Springdick this season, so far.

 

Straw has a .341 OBP in May, Tucker has a 1.051 OPS. Maldy/Castro lead MLB in catcher OPS in May.

This is good.

I'll add that Tucker and Straw are both playing quite good defense recently. Straw still has his moments, but Tucker's been great.

 

Between recent improvements from Straw and the lack of pedigree all the AAA OF came into the season with, I would be very surprised if Siri, Meyers, or Dawson displaced Straw this season. That said, all 3 of those guys are off to incredible starts and if they sustain it over 200+ pa, they will basically force Click to find a place for them.

 

Is Tucker a better player than CC?

 

Yes... on another team in a trade for a CF or reliever....

 

No. But it wouldn’t shock me if Tucker posts more fWAR than Correa over the next 5 seasons.

 

Kyle Tucker has played 148 regular season games in his MLB career and just turned 24. We don't know how good he can be yet.

 

You never know.

Fun fact, name the 2 players, through 148 games, age 24:

403 PA: .248 .290 .416 .706
526 PA: .238 .303 .457 .760

 

His forward-looking slash line projections are in the .260/.320/.480 range. I am optimistic he ends the season with an ops around .830.

Straw, I’m not as stoked about, even though his offensive production has improved recently. His projections are ~.245/.320/.315. I think that’s realistic but I would still probably take the under, slightly.

 

Tucker's xwOBA this season is equivalent to Springer's in 2017. He looks to be in the middle of a breakout that's disguised by poor BABIP luck.

 

Tucker does have a problem with the shift so I would expect him to run a lower BABIP than Springer. Also, I am not sure how well xwOBA is calibrated for the new ball. Tucker has 3 warning track outs that may have been homers in 2017, would have been homers if not hit to center (one was to left and died about 40 feet short of normal), and/or without a strong wins blowing in for April.

Edit: Overall, I do agree with your point and I am only trying to add more detail.