Spike

His BABIP was .318 last year and his WRC+ was still 91. There's also a big difference between his xSLG and xISO. I would guess its because while he does barrel the ball decently but he makes such soft contact. He is an objectively awful hitter.

Again, there are only 16 hitters in MLB worse than Lopez. He is not a "good hitter". He is objectively awful.

There are only 16 players with worse OPS+ and WRC+ than Lopez. He is objectively one of the worst hitters in baseball. The only thing he does halfway decently is not chase pitches. He also makes some of the softest contact in the game. And to piggyback a later point, he had an above average BABIP last year and was still one of the worst hitters in baseball. He has a nice glove but his bat is beyond awful. Edwards is also below average with a high BABIP. Its not just power. He also doesn't draw BBs or work counts. I like him as a player, but more as a utility guy. There are only 25 players worse. You can get by with one of these guys in a lineup. Both is brutal. And when you factor in Wagaman, the Marlins have 3 of the bottom 30 hitters in baseball in the lineup. I never dismissed Marsee. But his BABIP is right at. 400 and he is showing a lot more power then he ever had. I just said he "could" be a 4th OF if that normalizes. My only issue with Ramirez is that he might not stick at C. His bat as a C is special. Its just OK otherwise. There are pieces to like. I consider Ramirez and Marsee promising and hope Stowers heals up and can continue his good production. But this lineup has a lot of holes.

What part do you disagree with?

The issue with everyone being content with an Edwards and Lopez pairing is you are basically committing 2 spots in the lineup to very poor hitters. Edwards probably works best as a super utility guy. He is a below average hitter even with an insanely high BABIP. Lopez is one of the worst hitters in baseball. Like bottom 20 bad. Their value is basically all defense which is nice but it really strains the offense to have both of them in the lineup at the same time. Augustin Ramirez splits as a catcher v 1B/DH are unfortunate. As is his defense. If he could hit like he does as a 1B/DH while becoming at least average defensively you are talking about an All Star. His bat is only special as a C though. He would be underwhelming a full time 1B/DH. Johnston is what he is. An older bat who can fill in and not be terrible but nothing to write home about. Norby, Sanoja, and Pauley are all whatever. Their bats have not been impressive in the least. Which is weird with Pauley as he was supposed to be a good hitter and poor glove but it's been the opposite. Marsee has been fun but his BABIP is hovering around .400. Quite possible he ends up being a 4th OF type when it normalizes. There are some things to like but it doesn't look like there is much starting caliber MLB talent on this squad.

The analytics they use has batted Otto Lopez in the heart of the lineup all season so I have my doubts.

Otto Lopez hitting in the heart of the lineup continues to be absurd. I know he had that small stretch where his bat was borderline serviceable but even then him soaking up the most ABs on the team made no sense.

I mean he turns 30 in less than a month lol. And "stuff is still there" isn't really a flex because his stuff has never really been anything to write home about. Not that it was bad by any means, but he has always kind of pitched above what his stuff and peripherals say he should be. And people kind of forget because of the injury but he wasnt particularly good in 2023 before the injury. His ERA, xERA, FIP, and xFIP were all over 4 and his K rate, which has never been particularly good anyway, was even lower. He was a pitch to contact guy with a very good sinker. The pitch clock and shift ban really took away his strengths.

I still thinking hanging onto Alcantra was a mistake. And not this game. A rare good game against San Diego and a mediocre game against St. Louis where he labored through 5 IP and was lucky not to give up likely changed their mind but... Hes just not good anymore.

I remember the lady who posted quizzes...Holly? Ramp of course. I think we were the same age. And I am afraid to ask but what happened to and why does everyone hate Larry?

I had forgotten my password and I tried to retrieve it and it wouldn't send me anything or verify it. Same for just trying to re-register under a new name, it wouldn't send me a confirmation email.

Ive tried off and on for years to post here again because of how much of a hassle it was. Id been a member here since like 2004 lol

I am still not working myself good. Ignore trading Sanchez. That move is irrelevant. I think not making the other moves was a mistake, especially with the premium other teams were trading this deadline.

I didn't word it well. I was meaning Sanchez being the only move was dumb. I am pretty indifferent to moving him.

That is my issue. There were two options. Keep and add for next year. Or trade and add for next year. They took the only, non viable option.

Only trading Sanchez and keeping Alcantra, Cabrera, Quantril, and Bender is beyond stupid.

I would demand Sasaki back.

Hopefully Alcantra too.

Inclusion of Gusto makes me think a SP is going to be moved.

His BABIP isn't in the 400s anymore. He's a pretty nothing hitter when he isn't one of the luckiest hitters in baseball.

You think? Because if you are doing things off analytics you don't bat Otto Lopez 3rd to 5th. He is firmly in the 8th spot of the lineup at best. Wagaman isn't hitting in the heart of the order, he is the spot that gets the 2nd fewest ABs. The lineups that have been ran out there make no sense if you are putting them together off of spreadsheets.

Zalupski is 44 and worth $1.5 billion. Still small compared to some owners but 3 times as wealthy as Sherman.

His only value is his glove. Batting him in the heart of he lineup is already dumb as hell but like...taking his one positive attribute away but leaving him in the lineup is astoundingly stupid.

You can say what you want about the Marlins offense but it isn't terrible. There are a few bats. Otto Lopez is not one of those bats. His OPS+ is 85. His WRC+ is 87. The vast majority of his starts he has hit 3rd, 4th, or 5th. 63% of his ABs has come in one of those spots. In those spots he has a .218/.316/.345 slash. On his savant page the only things that matter one ice blue. He has never been a good hitter at any level. He is currently one of the worst hitters in baseball. Why does the Marlins manager insist on putting a bat this is well below replacement level in the most import spots in the lineup?

It's weird you mention Otto Lopez. His OPS+ is 84. WRC+ is 86. He is literally one of the worst hitters in baseball. McCulloughs insistence on batting him in the middle of the lineup is maddening.