4/27 Gameday Thread: Wikelman Wednesday? Two Doubleheaders!

Honestly wondered the same thing - hence the question mark. Seems they want to run a 6 man rotation but the Cruz injury has affected that, maybe? Encarnacion started on 5 days rest on Sunday, so who knows. Maybe TBD is better?

Casas hits a towering fly ball to center, which looked like it got knocked down by the wind. I guess it's not all Polar Vortex in Worcester. Downs tagged up to second on the play which was interesting aggressive baserunning. Then he got thrown out trying to steal third as the shift pulled the third baseman further from the bag. Nice throw from the Mets top prospect who's catching.

As I type that Seabold gives up a very wind-assisted hr to right field.

edit: also, now more than half of Downs' at bats are ending with a walk or K.

Spectacular sprinting, diving catch going towards shallow left by Jeter Downs. The bat hasn't convinced many more people so far this season, but he's been an impressive defender so far at short.

His K rate is under 30% in the last 10 games. Baby steps...

In spring training Cora said Duran needed to learn to utilize his speed better. I took it as encouraging him to work on contact and discipline. With a GO/AO of 8.0, has he reverted to the slap and run approach from his LB State days that he utilized in his early minor league career? Perhaps someone who has scouted him this year could chime in.

Fun with arbitrary endpoints: Jeter Downs edition. 

First 6 games: 5-27 (.185), 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 15 Ks (50% K rate, 10% BB rate)

Since: 11-36 (.305), 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 BB, 12 Ks (27% K rate, 18% BB rate)

Not saying he's turned a corner or anything, but he's been much better since an ice cold start. 27% is still way too high and it's still too small a sample size with only 3 teams played against so far, but it's progress. He's still only 23. 

I feel like a broken record on this one, but the thing that made Duran go from a slot-value 7th round pick to a top 100 prospect in two years was moving AWAY from the Long Beach slap-happy approach and more toward one that taps into his strength and natural power. More ground balls is not good, even if it's on purpose. He's fast, but being fast doesn't make him Willie McGee. Most guys don't have the bat control to play that way.

Given Duran's defensive abilities and never spectacular contact skills, it's tough for me to imagine him providing much value to a major league team unless he's able to bash a lot of homers

Salem broadcast actually has a standard OF camera view for once this year!

No Marcelo today, last played on Saturday

Now this is a Polar Vortex homer...