VS II needs to start in AAA

[ClassicO]

He had a .597 OPS in his time at AAA. His MLB career slash is .206/.283/.293/.576. He's the worst-hitting CF in baseball.
His WAR is a generous 1.7 only because of his position, as CFs get a huge boost because of the position. Frickin' Bader had almost twice his WAR.
A team without hitting can't afford this guy, despite his elite defense.
If you wish to keep him, please state your reasoning.

He, Gorman, and Walker all had their runway. Send them down until they prove they can hit - and in Walker and Gorman's case - play adequate defense. (None of them has any trade value.)

[scoutyjones2]

Who plays CF? Not stumping for Argo. Just asking.

Argo needs to practice bunting and slash hitting for most of his off-season hitting practice.

[Ozziesfan41]

He had a .597 OPS in his time at AAA. His MLB career slash is .206/.283/.293/.576. He's the worst-hitting CF in baseball.
His WAR is a generous 1.7 only because of his position, as CFs get a huge boost because of the position. Frickin' Bader had almost twice his WAR.
A team without hitting can't afford this guy, despite his elite defense.
If you wish to keep him, please state your reasoning.

He, Gorman, and Walker all had their runway. Send them down until they prove they can hit - and in Walker and Gorman's case - play adequate defense. (None of them has any trade value.)

Who should play center? Church is worse than Scott and they aren’t going to trade for a good hitting good defensive center fielder and with the holes in the starting rotation and very limited resources they aren’t going to go out and sign a guy like bader who isn’t usually very good either

[Carp4Cy]

Who plays CF? Not stumping for Argo. Just asking.

Argo needs to practice bunting and slash hitting for most of his off-season hitting practice.

Someone new should start. All these surplus IFers are going to be traded, Why not demand someone MLB ready in return? Maybe one of the Pirates OFers - Reynolds or Cruz? Work out a trade for Spencer Jones, do what it takes excluding JJW. Heck even Bader coming off his career year and back to career norms would be a massive improvement.

[ClassicO]

Who plays CF? Not stumping for Argo. Just asking.

Argo needs to practice bunting and slash hitting for most of his off-season hitting practice.

Someone new should start. All these surplus IFers are going to be traded, Why not demand someone MLB ready in return? Maybe one of the Pirates OFers - Reynolds or Cruz? Work out a trade for Spencer Jones, do what it takes excluding JJW. Heck even Bader coming off his career year and back to career norms would be a massive improvement.

If there were any indications VSII could hit, it may be different. Starting a guy who has hit under .600 OPS in both AAA and MLB is just dumb.
Church isn't the answer, but he at least showed the potential to hit last year. More than VSII (not saying much).
Bader would be a good pick-up, if only to infuriate Melville and remind him of how he predicted how much better Carlson was than Harry.
Trent Grisham is an option - if BDW is legit in saying they will spend.
I'd even risk starting with Josh Baez. This team needs hitting badly, and again, can't afford a noodle-bat at any position.
Starting him is giving up on 2026.

[PadsFS07]

I really wanted them to sign Bader to be the RH complement veteran outfielder this offseason, but he’s played so well for Philly that he’s priced out of the cards budget

[okcardfan]

Who plays CF? Not stumping for Argo. Just asking.

Argo needs to practice bunting and slash hitting for most of his off-season hitting practice.

IDK who in the h e l l "Argo" is, or why. (I get it that Brendan Donovan is nicknamed after the song in the 60s by the singer-songwriter Donovan; lame, not witty, more witless; whatever.)

Anyway, yes, Victor Scott II needs to practice daily bunting against every kind of pitch and location while learning how to deaden the ball and while trying to bunt the pitches to each of the prime bunting avenues (3rd, 1st, down the lines, closer to the mound, etc.). I mean, how many hours a day can he practice bunting? Wouldn't hurt Church either, or Winn or, for that matter, Hurdy--I mean, Donovan.

[rockondlouie]

He had a .597 OPS in his time at AAA. His MLB career slash is .206/.283/.293/.576. He's the worst-hitting CF in baseball.
His WAR is a generous 1.7 only because of his position, as CFs get a huge boost because of the position. Frickin' Bader had almost twice his WAR.
A team without hitting can't afford this guy, despite his elite defense.
If you wish to keep him, please state your reasoning.

He, Gorman, and Walker all had their runway. Send them down until they prove they can hit - and in Walker and Gorman's case - play adequate defense. (None of them has any trade value.)

I recently found out Gorman is out of options CO.

He's either here on OD 2026 or dealt this offseason.

But agree about Walker, 100% has to be at AAA all season.

No issue w/VSII starting there either as long as there's a better option in CF (and I'm not sold Church is any better a hitter).

[scoutyjones2]

Who plays CF? Not stumping for Argo. Just asking.

Argo needs to practice bunting and slash hitting for most of his off-season hitting practice.

IDK who in the h e l l "Argo" is, or why. (I get it that Brendan Donovan is nicknamed after the song in the 60s by the singer-songwriter Donovan; lame, not witty, more witless; whatever.)

Anyway, yes, Victor Scott II needs to practice daily bunting against every kind of pitch and location while learning how to deaden the ball and while trying to bunt the pitches to each of the prime bunting avenues (3rd, 1st, down the lines, closer to the mound, etc.). I mean, how many hours a day can he practice bunting? Wouldn't hurt Church either, or Winn or, for that matter, Hurdy--I mean, Donovan.

Argo is Victor Scott's rapper name (bleep).

[scoutyjones2]

Who plays CF? Not stumping for Argo. Just asking.

Argo needs to practice bunting and slash hitting for most of his off-season hitting practice.

Someone new should start. All these surplus IFers are going to be traded, Why not demand someone MLB ready in return? Maybe one of the Pirates OFers - Reynolds or Cruz? Work out a trade for Spencer Jones, do what it takes excluding JJW. Heck even Bader coming off his career year and back to career norms would be a massive improvement.

LoL. Cruz isn't an answer. Reynolds either. Both had less WAR than Argo!

My concern with Spencer Jones...another lefty. It's hard to find a RH hitting OFer.

I'd see about Colby Thomas. Not sure what it would take

[ramfandan]

He had a .597 OPS in his time at AAA. His MLB career slash is .206/.283/.293/.576. He's the worst-hitting CF in baseball.
His WAR is a generous 1.7 only because of his position, as CFs get a huge boost because of the position. Frickin' Bader had almost twice his WAR.
A team without hitting can't afford this guy, despite his elite defense.
If you wish to keep him, please state your reasoning.

He, Gorman, and Walker all had their runway. Send them down until they prove they can hit - and in Walker and Gorman's case - play adequate defense. (None of them has any trade value.)

I recently found out Gorman is out of options CO.

He's either here on OD 2026 or dealt this offseason.

But agree about Walker, 100% has to be at AAA all season.

No issue w/VSII starting there either as long as there's a better option in CF (and I'm not sold Church is any better a hitter).

My wife agrees with you on Church. She said once a week is enough for Church ..Sundays !

[Cusecards]

I admit to being on the fence with Scott starting 2026.
We all know that his defense is a plus and that his speed is a huge plus.
Downside is obviously his offense and especially his plate discipline.
Assuming 2026 is another reboot year then it probably doesn’t matter if he starts the season in AAA or not??
There doesn’t seem to be an obvious better solution although I guess you roll with Siani/Church at the start?
My question? What is best for Scott in his development??
Some players respond to AAA while others regress out of frustration/disappointment.
So....is he better off working through his issues in St. Louis or Memphis??

[rockondlouie]

He had a .597 OPS in his time at AAA. His MLB career slash is .206/.283/.293/.576. He's the worst-hitting CF in baseball.
His WAR is a generous 1.7 only because of his position, as CFs get a huge boost because of the position. Frickin' Bader had almost twice his WAR.
A team without hitting can't afford this guy, despite his elite defense.
If you wish to keep him, please state your reasoning.

He, Gorman, and Walker all had their runway. Send them down until they prove they can hit - and in Walker and Gorman's case - play adequate defense. (None of them has any trade value.)

I recently found out Gorman is out of options CO.

He's either here on OD 2026 or dealt this offseason.

But agree about Walker, 100% has to be at AAA all season.

No issue w/VSII starting there either as long as there's a better option in CF (and I'm not sold Church is any better a hitter).

My wife agrees with you on Church. She said once a week is enough for Church ..Sundays !

[scoutyjones2]

I admit to being on the fence with Scott starting 2026.
We all know that his defense is a plus and that his speed is a huge plus.
Downside is obviously his offense and especially his plate discipline.
Assuming 2026 is another reboot year then it probably doesn’t matter if he starts the season in AAA or not??
There doesn’t seem to be an obvious better solution although I guess you roll with Siani/Church at the start?
My question? What is best for Scott in his development??
Some players respond to AAA while others regress out of frustration/disappointment.
So....is he better off working through his issues in St. Louis or Memphis??

Interesting take and I am on board with him on the team at the start of the season. No better options and his D, speed and SBs are significant. Let the best man win it in ST...

[ClassicO]

He had a .597 OPS in his time at AAA. His MLB career slash is .206/.283/.293/.576. He's the worst-hitting CF in baseball.
His WAR is a generous 1.7 only because of his position, as CFs get a huge boost because of the position. Frickin' Bader had almost twice his WAR.
A team without hitting can't afford this guy, despite his elite defense.
If you wish to keep him, please state your reasoning.

He, Gorman, and Walker all had their runway. Send them down until they prove they can hit - and in Walker and Gorman's case - play adequate defense. (None of them has any trade value.)

I recently found out Gorman is out of options CO.

He's either here on OD 2026 or dealt this offseason.

But agree about Walker, 100% has to be at AAA all season.

No issue w/VSII starting there either as long as there's a better option in CF (and I'm not sold Church is any better a hitter).

Good to know about Gorman. I was a big fan of his -- but, like Walker, he's shown me little. Their defense has been astoundingly bad.

[Ozziesfan41]

I’m fine with Scott and church in center maybe look for a right handed compliment for them. The far more pressing need is a power hitting corner outfield or infield bat and Gorman isn’t it for the infield he sucks too much at the plate and in the infield.