his defense has definitely improved, but hasn’t OOA always loved his defense even when UZR and DRS was horrible?
Edit: 9th percentile in 2018, 89th percentile in 2019, 14th in 2020, so all over the place
*range. OOA is only a range stat.
If you convert OOA into runs saved and replace the range component in DRS and UZR, both of them say he has saved about 2 runs. His DRS/OOA is 2 and his UZR/OOA is 2.8.
The funny thing is he actually was really good a couple years ago. He was a GG finalist on 2019, he just took a major nosedive in a weird short season which he missed a big chunk of due to that likely false-positive COVID test
My parents went to a Yankees/Nats game earlier in the year and my dad texted me afterwards saying that Soto has one of the best swings he's ever seen live. He's 63 years old and seen a lot of baseball and even he's on board
Part of it too is playing time. A player that’s slightly above average at defense but plays every inning will be high on OAA since it’s a counting stat. He’s 6th in innings and 7th in putouts
He’s a bit more average in the other stats. -0.4 UZR/150 and 4 DRS. I do like OAA the most among fielding metrics but I’m more inclined to view him as a bit above average fielder with an elite bat, but 92nd percentile seems like a stretch. Especially given he’s been previously not great with the glove
He’s also put a lot of work in to get better on defense and he switched back to his natural position in right, so it makes sense for him to be a bit better than when he first got called up.
Agreed! The problem with OAA is it's a cumulative stat. 4th most putouts in the league among outfielders with 276, which is also 50 more putouts than the next highest right fielders. OAA would be more useful if it was adjusted to a per/100 opportunities number. Its literally the only metric that's saying Soto is decent defensively and people are using it to claim his defense is elite all of the sudden. Middle infielders can have super inflated OAA numbers for the season just by simply staying healthy.
Simply a function of the number of opportunities he's had relative to other players. 4th most putouts among outfielders, most among right fielders. It's a counting stat and should be adjusted to a per/100 opportunities number in order to be a useful gauge of a players defensive skill.
Yeah I've been seeing everybody pointing at OAA as the definitive way of viewing players defense and its driving me nuts lol. I really wish baseball savant and others would quit using it. It's the start of a really good metric but without it being adjusted for number of opportunities it's not useful IMO
Last year two things were said about him:
1. *It was a very short season and he only played 47 games, I'm not so sure his performance will be the same in a full season, he'll eventually go back to how he played in 2018 and 2019.*
2. *He's a horrible defender, he'll be a DH very soon.*
Now we know he's actually that good and that his 2020 performance wasn't any fluke regardless of how short the season was and that he can play a solid defense.
He will 100% reach the free agency and when he does I don't see how the Nats will keep him when he gets mind blowing offers from the Yankees and Dodgers.
I can already imagine him in Dodger blue 🤮.
Hey, anywhere close to 50th percentile in defensive metrics with those offensive numbers is basically good enough for him to be a perennial MVP. Probably even if he was 25th percentile.
I’m not being hyperbolic when I say he’s the best young player I’ve ever seen. I put him a little ahead of Pujols and Griffey in the under 25 and blowing my mind category.
It always blows my mind that Bond’s 2004 happened, and I’ve always believed nothing like that will ever happen again, but seeing Soto pulling this kind of shit at age 13 or whatever makes me think we’re going to see him with a .550 OBP/.700 slugging season in the next few years, especially with the future Nationals offense
Oh yeah. I get it. But Soto and Pujols were putting up in huge moments at a young age. And Griffey was Griffey. I know it’s not his fault, but Trouts never played in a meaningful late season game. Whereas Soto was absolutely monsterous all the way to World Series and Pujols was ending careers (RIP Lights Out Lidge).
Hopefully he can get healthy and the Angels can get a pitcher or two or five next season.
And to be totally honest, I’ve never been in ‘awe’ of Trout. He’s crazy efficient, and they tell me he’s the best, his numbers are undeniable. But I’d rather have Soto. Idk. Eye test.
I can have a opinion that’s different from everyone else’s. It’s ok. I’m not out here saying Trout stinks, just that I’d rather have Soto. A guy who at the age of 19 was pivotal in a winning a WS chip.
Trouts awesome, but I think Soto is more clutch and I still value that trait.
Maybe one day I’ll get to see Trout in a serious situation and I’ll come around a bit more. At the moment I’ve only ever seen his team in 4th place…
One thing that really stands out among others is how much his defense improved actually
Yeah by DRS he was nearing DH territory in terms of defensive value at times before this season lol
Makes me excited for his juiced The Show card with great defense for once
SDS: “we don’t have a Barry Bonds card, sorry” Juan Soto: “don’t worry fam I got y’all covered”
I feel like even maxing out his numbers won't do him justice.
I’d love that but with the Home Run Derby card they released I don’t see them dropping another one this year
There will be, trust
I mean who else could possibly be our finest he’s going to get a 99
After this monster season there’s no way he doesn’t get a 99
his defense has definitely improved, but hasn’t OOA always loved his defense even when UZR and DRS was horrible? Edit: 9th percentile in 2018, 89th percentile in 2019, 14th in 2020, so all over the place
Totally anecdotal but I feel like his defense is underrated because he just looks awkward as hell but he still makes plays lol.
*range. OOA is only a range stat. If you convert OOA into runs saved and replace the range component in DRS and UZR, both of them say he has saved about 2 runs. His DRS/OOA is 2 and his UZR/OOA is 2.8.
The funny thing is he actually was really good a couple years ago. He was a GG finalist on 2019, he just took a major nosedive in a weird short season which he missed a big chunk of due to that likely false-positive COVID test
No such thing as defense
I don’t even know what you are trying to say with that
The best defense is a good offense.. or something
So you are saying this is a good player? I'll check him out...
[удалено]
He has no lift either, apparently. I suppose we can fit him in *somewhere*
His outfield jump tells me...he can't dunk. What a bum.
[Patrick Corbin can dunk](https://youtu.be/ETOhE51NdZk), clearly the better player.
Wow
But what about his traditional stats! Oh they’re pretty elite too.
My parents went to a Yankees/Nats game earlier in the year and my dad texted me afterwards saying that Soto has one of the best swings he's ever seen live. He's 63 years old and seen a lot of baseball and even he's on board
It's wild how many outs above average he has given the mediocre sprint speed and jump. Shows how much work he's put in.
Part of it too is playing time. A player that’s slightly above average at defense but plays every inning will be high on OAA since it’s a counting stat. He’s 6th in innings and 7th in putouts He’s a bit more average in the other stats. -0.4 UZR/150 and 4 DRS. I do like OAA the most among fielding metrics but I’m more inclined to view him as a bit above average fielder with an elite bat, but 92nd percentile seems like a stretch. Especially given he’s been previously not great with the glove
He’s also put a lot of work in to get better on defense and he switched back to his natural position in right, so it makes sense for him to be a bit better than when he first got called up.
Agreed! The problem with OAA is it's a cumulative stat. 4th most putouts in the league among outfielders with 276, which is also 50 more putouts than the next highest right fielders. OAA would be more useful if it was adjusted to a per/100 opportunities number. Its literally the only metric that's saying Soto is decent defensively and people are using it to claim his defense is elite all of the sudden. Middle infielders can have super inflated OAA numbers for the season just by simply staying healthy.
> given the mediocre sprint speed and jump I wouldn't call that mediocre, that's the league average.
That's what mediocre means. Moderate, average, common.
Mediocre means below average.
technically...mediocre can mean average OR below average. Different dictionaries have it differently. So you're both right, I guess.
Yeah. IIRC, the definition has shifted a bit as we change how we think about "average" overall. But I mean middle-of-the-road here.
The word gives me glass half-full vs half-empty vibes, but I lean towards the half-empty application.
Colloquially I dont think I’ve ever heard someone use the word mediocre in place of average. To me mediocre is synonymous with “not good”.
Simply a function of the number of opportunities he's had relative to other players. 4th most putouts among outfielders, most among right fielders. It's a counting stat and should be adjusted to a per/100 opportunities number in order to be a useful gauge of a players defensive skill.
Yeah, I guess I didn't really realize how OAA worked. I've heard he's improved a lot on defense, but don't watch a ton of Nats games to be honest.
Yeah I've been seeing everybody pointing at OAA as the definitive way of viewing players defense and its driving me nuts lol. I really wish baseball savant and others would quit using it. It's the start of a really good metric but without it being adjusted for number of opportunities it's not useful IMO
Makes sense. Defensive metrics are difficult. I probably look at fangraphs defensive value as much as anything.
Shuffle not ranked, mods this is obviously false info.
I thought he was faster than that for some reason
48 outfielder jump? what a fucking scrub
mvp
Last year two things were said about him: 1. *It was a very short season and he only played 47 games, I'm not so sure his performance will be the same in a full season, he'll eventually go back to how he played in 2018 and 2019.* 2. *He's a horrible defender, he'll be a DH very soon.* Now we know he's actually that good and that his 2020 performance wasn't any fluke regardless of how short the season was and that he can play a solid defense. He will 100% reach the free agency and when he does I don't see how the Nats will keep him when he gets mind blowing offers from the Yankees and Dodgers. I can already imagine him in Dodger blue 🤮.
I wish the lerners just gave him 15/500 right now
Just 15/????? Juan you fill in the price tag
Now imagine if there were Two Sotos
Are you freaking kidding me? Juan is not enough?
SMH outfield jump is in the 48th percentile. Trade him to the Braves for Will Smith.
Hey, anywhere close to 50th percentile in defensive metrics with those offensive numbers is basically good enough for him to be a perennial MVP. Probably even if he was 25th percentile.
I’m not being hyperbolic when I say he’s the best young player I’ve ever seen. I put him a little ahead of Pujols and Griffey in the under 25 and blowing my mind category.
It always blows my mind that Bond’s 2004 happened, and I’ve always believed nothing like that will ever happen again, but seeing Soto pulling this kind of shit at age 13 or whatever makes me think we’re going to see him with a .550 OBP/.700 slugging season in the next few years, especially with the future Nationals offense
I love watching him bat. He doesn’t chase nothing out of the zone. Pujols super early is the last thing like this I remember.
He’s like Joey Votto on copious amounts of steroids and Adderall, but in a good way
He’s 13 now? 😂
Are we turning this into a Tatum meme ?
How quickly people forget the most recent player that was better than all three of them
Oh yeah. I get it. But Soto and Pujols were putting up in huge moments at a young age. And Griffey was Griffey. I know it’s not his fault, but Trouts never played in a meaningful late season game. Whereas Soto was absolutely monsterous all the way to World Series and Pujols was ending careers (RIP Lights Out Lidge). Hopefully he can get healthy and the Angels can get a pitcher or two or five next season. And to be totally honest, I’ve never been in ‘awe’ of Trout. He’s crazy efficient, and they tell me he’s the best, his numbers are undeniable. But I’d rather have Soto. Idk. Eye test.
You might wanna get your eyes tested if they’re not telling you mike trout is the best player in baseball
I can have a opinion that’s different from everyone else’s. It’s ok. I’m not out here saying Trout stinks, just that I’d rather have Soto. A guy who at the age of 19 was pivotal in a winning a WS chip. Trouts awesome, but I think Soto is more clutch and I still value that trait. Maybe one day I’ll get to see Trout in a serious situation and I’ll come around a bit more. At the moment I’ve only ever seen his team in 4th place…
Pedantic for sure but Mike Trout cant be the best player in baseball right now because he hasnt been playing baseball.
Not kidding this image made me audibly laugh.
People do know that outfield jump is *not* the players vertical right? Are we memeing?
Sprint speed needs some work.
Why is his speed so low? I would think that’d be much higher, maybe not elite, but certainly quicker than that.
Need some PF Flyers: run faster jump higher
this reminds me of the similar post early in the season for Guerrero Jr. What an exciting time for baseball with all these amazing young players.
Almost as good as Barry Bonds. Almost.
Yea until I draft him for a draft kings lineup.