3dender wrote: ↑07 May 2026 08:58 amYou can't reasonably say YET that he "will not be able to eliminate that issue." He cut his K-rate 15 points just last year, from 36% to 21%. It's why we're even talking about him right now. He's been in AAA for a month.
What he won't be able to do is jump to the MLB right now and be successful, and that was always incredibly unlikely even after his terrific year last year. But most fans don't understand the amount of time that developing good players takes.
Him being able to reduce K-rate at AAA level is absolutely possible. And then he can get promoted and have to do it again at the MLB level. He has shown he can do it.
There was this trend a few years back, I want to say maybe a decade or so, and the thought process was that prospects at AA who are that good can skip AAA because there's more really good pitching prospects in AA and AAA was filled with a lot of 6th starter/BP/pitchers who can't suceed in MLB guys. But they forget that no matter how good those pitching prospects are in AA, they're not usually fully developed pitchers either. They may never get to MLB or they might quickly become one of those guys in AAA that I just mentioned. But even those guys in AAA who are fringy MLB-types are still more developed as pitchers and really good. And they probably have pitches that these guys just don't have at the AA level.
I'm sure that some guys are that good that they can make that jump and have success, but I would say that they are definitely in the minority. When you see a guy like Baez with one big, flashing warning light in his game, you need to pay attention to it. But like you said, Baez has really struggled and then shown that ability to adjust in the past. He did it last year. He has adjusted to AAA, aside from the K's. Let him do it.
And I forgot to mention the timeline it took him to adjust. He was at Low-A for 1.5 seasons before he adjusted enough, and then another 1.5 seasons at High-A before he figured that level out.
Last year was so exciting because he made a huge reduction in K-rate to start the season, and he was soon promoted to AA and kept it up there. AA is the only level he was at for less than a full season. The hope is last year's huge shift represents some sort of "clicking" that will allow him to adjust more quickly going forward.
But AAA is harder than AA, and he could definitely take the entire season before he really starts getting comfortable. Heck maybe he takes 1.5 seasons like in A-ball. Maybe he's never able to fully adjust and he'll just be a AAAA guy. All scenarios are in play, including him adjusting tomorrow and being able to get called up before the A-S break.
Shady wrote: ↑06 May 2026 10:09 am
His hit raised the BA to .252. It would be nice, In the next month or so, for him to get the BA up to around .275/.280 with around 12 HRs. Ledbetter with a two run double. That's encouraging.
God, will you EVER STFup on Baez?
GET BACK ON YOUR MEDS!
Him and Goldfan both obsessed with a guy who finally got his batting average up to .254 at AAA
Why would you NOT be excited about him? He’s pacing at like 35 HR / 30 SB.
Exactly. Some of these posters seem to dislike Baez primarily because Shady posts so much about him. No need to punish Baez for that, he’s one of the most exciting prospects in the org right now.
No one is the disliking him it’s the crying and whining about how he should have skipped AA straight to the majors and be called up right now when he is striking out a ton at AA. He isn’t ready yet
I like Baez fine enough, he's made it to the OPS and BA I wanted, but the K's are way too much for me.
The Posting Weather Vane doesn't bother my liking of Baez at all
Agree. He strikes out too much and it appears he will not be able to eliminate that issue. Trending towards Gorman-like value. If they could get a good return in pitching prospect I'd be happy with trading him.
You can't reasonably say YET that he "will not be able to eliminate that issue." He cut his K-rate 15 points just last year, from 36% to 21%. It's why we're even talking about him right now. He's been in AAA for a month.
What he won't be able to do is jump to the MLB right now and be successful, and that was always incredibly unlikely even after his terrific year last year. But most fans don't understand the amount of time that developing good players takes.
Him being able to reduce K-rate at AAA level is absolutely possible. And then he can get promoted and have to do it again at the MLB level. He has shown he can do it.
He did appear to improve it this year. However, it has ballooned recently (over 40% in his last 40 AB). While it is possible for him to improve it AAA, it is extraordinarily unlikely. The vast majority of players with K rates above 25% do not significantly improve as they get to higher levels. Time will tell, but I highly doubt he will improve it at all much less significantly improve it.
Shady wrote: ↑06 May 2026 10:09 am
His hit raised the BA to .252. It would be nice, In the next month or so, for him to get the BA up to around .275/.280 with around 12 HRs. Ledbetter with a two run double. That's encouraging.
God, will you EVER STFup on Baez?
GET BACK ON YOUR MEDS!
Him and Goldfan both obsessed with a guy who finally got his batting average up to .254 at AAA
Why would you NOT be excited about him? He’s pacing at like 35 HR / 30 SB.
Exactly. Some of these posters seem to dislike Baez primarily because Shady posts so much about him. No need to punish Baez for that, he’s one of the most exciting prospects in the org right now.
No one is the disliking him it’s the crying and whining about how he should have skipped AA straight to the majors and be called up right now when he is striking out a ton at AA. He isn’t ready yet
I like Baez fine enough, he's made it to the OPS and BA I wanted, but the K's are way too much for me.
The Posting Weather Vane doesn't bother my liking of Baez at all
Agree. He strikes out too much and it appears he will not be able to eliminate that issue. Trending towards Gorman-like value. If they could get a good return in pitching prospect I'd be happy with trading him.
You can't reasonably say YET that he "will not be able to eliminate that issue." He cut his K-rate 15 points just last year, from 36% to 21%. It's why we're even talking about him right now. He's been in AAA for a month.
What he won't be able to do is jump to the MLB right now and be successful, and that was always incredibly unlikely even after his terrific year last year. But most fans don't understand the amount of time that developing good players takes.
Him being able to reduce K-rate at AAA level is absolutely possible. And then he can get promoted and have to do it again at the MLB level. He has shown he can do it.
He did appear to improve it this year. However, it has ballooned recently (over 40% in his last 40 AB). While it is possible for him to improve it AAA, it is extraordinarily unlikely. The vast majority of players with K rates above 25% do not significantly improve as they get to higher levels. Time will tell, but I highly doubt he will improve it at all much less significantly improve it.
Good that his K-rate was only 21% last year then...
Shady wrote: ↑06 May 2026 10:09 am
His hit raised the BA to .252. It would be nice, In the next month or so, for him to get the BA up to around .275/.280 with around 12 HRs. Ledbetter with a two run double. That's encouraging.
God, will you EVER STFup on Baez?
GET BACK ON YOUR MEDS!
Him and Goldfan both obsessed with a guy who finally got his batting average up to .254 at AAA
Why would you NOT be excited about him? He’s pacing at like 35 HR / 30 SB.
Exactly. Some of these posters seem to dislike Baez primarily because Shady posts so much about him. No need to punish Baez for that, he’s one of the most exciting prospects in the org right now.
Ridiculous statement.
I dislike people with chronic Echolalia from posting the same repetitive cra#, every single day.
I really like Baez, and am high on his future. He should not be rushed, however. The history of that is clear.
Shady wrote: ↑06 May 2026 10:09 am
His hit raised the BA to .252. It would be nice, In the next month or so, for him to get the BA up to around .275/.280 with around 12 HRs. Ledbetter with a two run double. That's encouraging.
God, will you EVER STFup on Baez?
GET BACK ON YOUR MEDS!
Him and Goldfan both obsessed with a guy who finally got his batting average up to .254 at AAA
Why would you NOT be excited about him? He’s pacing at like 35 HR / 30 SB.
Exactly. Some of these posters seem to dislike Baez primarily because Shady posts so much about him. No need to punish Baez for that, he’s one of the most exciting prospects in the org right now.
Ridiculous statement.
I dislike people with chronic Echolalia from posting the same repetitive cra#, every single day.
I really like Baez, and am high on his future. He should not be rushed, however. The history of that is clear.
Still on pins and needles to find out what he had for breakfast today.
