Noot with yet another strike 3 looking with runners on base

[Melville]

Just think how many more he could have if he actually swung the bat….if he wasn’t always looking for the almighty two out two strike walk

Of the 9 Cardinal players with 40+ PAs with men on base, Nootbar has the fourth lowest strikeouts per plate appearance in those situations on the team. He is tied with the second most RBIs. Where should he rank?

He is near the bottom in RBI per PA.
Interesting that you point to his low K rate while ignoring that even with that he is still really bad at driving in runs.
Your own data disproves your position and supports the OP 100%.

[renostl]

Noot

Top 4% in lowest chase rate
Top 5% BB rate

Thereby proving the OP's point.
Mootbaar is one of the most passive players in MLB.
Which is why he is bad at driving in runs.

You know what I want from my lead-off hitter mel?

I want him to GET ON BASE via hit, walk or HBP.

Noot does this as well as almost any leadoff hitter in MLB, .373 OB% (that ranks #5 in MLB among lead-off hitters w/at least 100 PA's)!

NOW

If he was hitting 3rd, 4th or 5th, then I'm on your side.

BUT

NOT at lead-off.

JMO

And IF he was hitting 3rd, 4th, or 5th and put into the MOTO role, I bet he'd adjust and become more aggressive.
Good player, adjusting to the role he's in to best help the team.
Only the agenda driven or the fans that just don't get it can't see his great value to the team.

Is he a lead off hitter if guys are on base?
The situation should dictate what your top of the lineup hitters do within in their profiles.
The situation asked simply for a hit, not a HR, just a hit.

And his OPS with RISP is close to .800 as I saw earlier today on here, either in this thread or another currently hanging on to the 1st page.

Nootbaar can be all of the things we like and respect and still
have the wrong approach in that situation. He can be your favorite HOFer
and still error in a single situation.

I have zero issue if he strikes out swinging in that situation on that pitch.

[Futuregm2]

Noot

Top 4% in lowest chase rate
Top 5% BB rate

Thereby proving the OP's point.
Mootbaar is one of the most passive players in MLB.
Which is why he is bad at driving in runs.

You know what I want from my lead-off hitter mel?

I want him to GET ON BASE via hit, walk or HBP.

Noot does this as well as almost any leadoff hitter in MLB, .373 OB% (that ranks #5 in MLB among lead-off hitters w/at least 100 PA's)!

NOW

If he was hitting 3rd, 4th or 5th, then I'm on your side.

BUT

NOT at lead-off.

JMO

And IF he was hitting 3rd, 4th, or 5th and put into the MOTO role, I bet he'd adjust and become more aggressive.
Good player, adjusting to the role he's in to best help the team.
Only the agenda driven or the fans that just don't get it can't see his great value to the team.

Agreed

He's stated multiple times he's got an "old school" mentality of what a lead-off man should do (work the count, see as many pitches as he can, get on base anyway he can, ect...) and IMO this is 100% the right mindset.

Mel has had a vendetta against him and w/every success Noot has it makes his position look worse and worse.

At least Mel has Gorman to fall back on

And even Gorman is doing better than Mootbaar at driving in runs.
You prove my point.

Yea, that .372 OPS with men on base and .569 OPS with RISP is sooooooo stellar.

[Cusecards]

He would rather walk than actually drive a run in

Nootbar has all of four walks with men on base.

The Cards lead off spot ranks third among all lead off hitters in RBIs. They have the fifth highest runs scored.

What should numbers be?

Wilful ignorance just to get attention is an artform on this forum.

Web7 and Bully4you are a joke and clearly trolls possibly the same person.
ME-ville is a legend unto himself.
I call him the Sideshow Clown.
Easy
Obvious
Correct

[renostl]

Just think how many more he could have if he actually swung the bat….if he wasn’t always looking for the almighty two out two strike walk

Of the 9 Cardinal players with 40+ PAs with men on base, Nootbar has the fourth lowest strikeouts per plate appearance in those situations on the team. He is tied with the second most RBIs. Where should he rank?

He is near the bottom in RBI per PA.
Interesting that you point to his low K rate while ignoring that even with that he is still really bad at driving in runs.
Your own data disproves your position and supports the OP 100%.

I agree with the position taken in this situation.
I can even agree with the general thought that he having a superior
eye should allow for more swings not less when a situation calls for a hit.

His 2025 numbers suggest he's done well.

2 outs, RISP
.294/.368/.471/.839

There's fluctuation in the SSS of 2025 the situational
clutch STAT's if we want to project such as "late and close" I'd prefer to get
more than 35 games.

[rockondlouie]

Noot

Top 4% in lowest chase rate
Top 5% BB rate

Thereby proving the OP's point.
Mootbaar is one of the most passive players in MLB.
Which is why he is bad at driving in runs.

You know what I want from my lead-off hitter mel?

I want him to GET ON BASE via hit, walk or HBP.

Noot does this as well as almost any leadoff hitter in MLB, .373 OB% (that ranks #5 in MLB among lead-off hitters w/at least 100 PA's)!

NOW

If he was hitting 3rd, 4th or 5th, then I'm on your side.

BUT

NOT at lead-off.

JMO

That passivity and pursuit of walks would fit very well indeed - hitting 9th.
Some folks interpret that as a slight.
But in this DH era, it isn't.
That spot has a role in the lineup far different than that of a couple of decades ago.
Scott's speed at leadoff would be far more productive for the 2-3-4 hitters who would follow - because he is much better at getting himself into scoring position and can score in so many more scenarios than Mootbaar can.
Plus, Mootbaar is once again nearly helpless against LH pitching and hitting him 9th would make it far easier to switch him out of the game in late innings in favor of a RH bat against a LH reliever.
Frankly, this isn't even a close call and I am a bit surprised that there would be any disagreement among knowledgeable baseball people.
Zero question than Mootbaar 9, Scott 1, and Winn 2 is the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION.

NO it fits extremely well hitting LEAD-OFF.

"Helpless vs LHP"?

He's still got a .333 OB% vs LHP to go w/his .383 OB% vs RHP.............perfectly acceptable for a lead-off man who's job is to GET ON BASE and set the table.

While I agree (one day) VSII is going to make a heck of a lead-off hitter, it's not his rookie season (re: M. Winn - 2024 hitting lead-off).

Noot is NOT a 9th place hitter, that's an inane position.

[Baseball Savant]

The Cardinals take move strike 3 center cut fastballs than any team in baseball

They have convinced themselves this is a smart strategy

You never sit on off speed or breaking balls with 2 strikes

But that’s part of their game planning

[ClassicO]

Noot's tendency to walk is based on a very keen eye. Often he strikes out on a pitch outside of the zone; a result of an umpire miscall.

I agree with those who suggest he isn't a great MOTO because he's clearly programmed to walk.

Noot would score more runs if we had a good set of MOTOBs.

As I have said many times, Mootbaar 9, Scott 1, and Winn 2 is the best lineup option.

You've said many dumb things many times. It doesn't mean you're right. That batting order is dumb.
Your bias toward certain players is undeniable and blinds you. It's SO obvious.

[Cusecards]

Noot's tendency to walk is based on a very keen eye. Often he strikes out on a pitch outside of the zone; a result of an umpire miscall.

I agree with those who suggest he isn't a great MOTO because he's clearly programmed to walk.

Noot would score more runs if we had a good set of MOTOBs.

As I have said many times, Mootbaar 9, Scott 1, and Winn 2 is the best lineup option.

You've said many dumb things many times. It doesn't mean you're right. That batting order is dumb.
Your bias toward certain players is undeniable and blinds you. It's SO obvious.

ME-ville is an arrogant tool playing his act.
He hates Nootbaar for whatever reason.
That’s why he will forever be the Sideshow Clown!

[AnExParrot]

Noot's tendency to walk is based on a very keen eye. Often he strikes out on a pitch outside of the zone; a result of an umpire miscall.

I agree with those who suggest he isn't a great MOTO because he's clearly programmed to walk.

Noot would score more runs if we had a good set of MOTOBs.

As I have said many times, Mootbaar 9, Scott 1, and Winn 2 is the best lineup option.

You've said many dumb things many times. It doesn't mean you're right. That batting order is dumb.
Your bias toward certain players is undeniable and blinds you. It's SO obvious.

Giving the guy who makes the fewest outs on your team the fewest plate appearances goes beyond plain old dumb, it's imbecilic. Par for the course with Melville.

[nighthawk]

Just think how many more he could have if he actually swung the bat….if he wasn’t always looking for the almighty two out two strike walk

Of the 9 Cardinal players with 40+ PAs with men on base, Nootbar has the fourth lowest strikeouts per plate appearance in those situations on the team. He is tied with the second most RBIs. Where should he rank?

He is near the bottom in RBI per PA.
Interesting that you point to his low K rate while ignoring that even with that he is still really bad at driving in runs.
Your own data disproves your position and supports the OP 100%.

The Cards lead off spot ranks third among all MLB lead off hitters in RBIs. They have the fifth highest runs scored.

What should those numbers be??