Addison Russell is awesome and deserves a thread

[sontensei]

He's the best option for winning right now. But I wouldn't object if they sent him back down for more seasoning when LaStella is healthy.

 

This is a good point too. I thought the whole basis of 9th being the "2nd" leadoff man is you want a guy who has a decent eye at the plate, and that is the one area addy still needs to work on a bit, taking BB's. Its not just based on 2 games in the bigs, he also had a low walk rate in the minors too. Unless he is tearing the cover off the ball, when La Stella is ready he might be the better for 'now'. No use in having Russell come off the bench he needs to play every day.

[Guest]

Yea I wouldn't be surprised or hate Russell going down once LaStella is back.

[Guest]

La Stella is still on track to spend the minimum on the DL, right? That means he can come back this weekend. I don't think the plan was for Russell to be a week-long stop gap.

[treebird]

La Stella is still on track to spend the minimum on the DL, right? That means he can come back this weekend. I don't think the plan was for Russell to be a week-long stop gap.

yeah, if russell is sent down when la stella returns, i'm going to be awfully concerned that theo got drunk and called addison up without talking to anyone else after watching herrera ground out weakly for the 20th straight time

[sontensei]

La Stella is still on track to spend the minimum on the DL, right? That means he can come back this weekend. I don't think the plan was for Russell to be a week-long stop gap.

yeah, if russell is sent down when la stella returns, i'm going to be awfully concerned that theo got drunk and called addison up without talking to anyone else after watching herrera ground out weakly for the 20th straight time

 

Mike Trout was sent down after his first call up so sometimes its a good thing.

[Guest]

Mike Trout was on the Angels for 3 weeks and had a .492 OPS when he was sent down. That's very different from calling up Russell so you have a slightly better 2B option for 5 days, especially when you send down another capable(if slumping) option in Alcantara to do it.

[apete6]

He's not the best option for winning right now; he's the best option for winning later in the season. I think that's why they were motivated to bring him up now, because he's just replacing garbage in terms of his position and spots in the lineup.

 

I agree with this. His walk rate is concerning, he has played all of 2 weeks at 2B. Just because Herrera is complete trash doesn't mean Russell couldn't have benefitted from 100+ more ABs at AAA.

[Guest]

La Stella is still on track to spend the minimum on the DL, right? That means he can come back this weekend. I don't think the plan was for Russell to be a week-long stop gap.

I guess I didn't realize he was set to come back yet. Maybe not right away but I don't think it's a guarantee he is up for good. If La Stella is hitting better than Russell in a few weeks it may make sense to play La Stella and have Russell work on things in AAA.

[SouthSideRyan]

He's not the best option for winning right now; he's the best option for winning later in the season. I think that's why they were motivated to bring him up now, because he's just replacing garbage in terms of his position and spots in the lineup.

 

I agree with this. His walk rate is concerning, he has played all of 2 weeks at 2B. Just because Herrera is complete trash doesn't mean Russell couldn't have benefitted from 100+ more ABs at AAA.

 

Just because Russell would benefit from 100+ more ABs at AAA, doesn't mean you keep him down at the expense of the major league team.

[sontensei]

He's not the best option for winning right now; he's the best option for winning later in the season. I think that's why they were motivated to bring him up now, because he's just replacing garbage in terms of his position and spots in the lineup.

 

I agree with this. His walk rate is concerning, he has played all of 2 weeks at 2B. Just because Herrera is complete trash doesn't mean Russell couldn't have benefitted from 100+ more ABs at AAA.

 

Just because Russell would benefit from 100+ more ABs at AAA, doesn't mean you keep him down at the expense of the major league team.

 

With recent developments, La Stella may end up coming back and playing 3b.

 

Coglhan has been struggling, and Bryant is gonna get some games in the outfield.

[sneakypower]

i highly doubt that, it'll likely just be TLS drawing some platoon starts over Russell

[sontensei]

i highly doubt that, it'll likely just be TLS drawing some platoon starts over Russell

 

joe is really unpredictable with his line ups lol cant believe he has Bryant in Center

[Butterscup1679666578]

i will admit there have been a couple times where i've been like "man russell doesnt look all that ready yet" and then a split second later i go "oh right hes not a walking god like bryant and this is normal."

[Hairyducked Idiot]

i will admit there have been a couple times where i've been like "man russell doesnt look all that ready yet" and then a split second later i go "oh right hes not a walking god like bryant and this is normal."

 

He's almost exactly two years younger. Different paths to the minors, but that's still a big gap at this age.

[davell]

TLS isn't ready to come back yet, right? Unless I've missed something today anyway. But he'd need a minor league rehab before coming back, wouldn't he?

 

As for Russell, at his age, what are we expecting out of him in the majors? .650ish OPS maybe? Is that good enough for us if we're competing? Should we expect more than that from him at this stage? I'm all for keeping him up, but only if he's worthy of starting for us. If not, I'd definitely rather him play full time. Just bring Alcantara back if he shows enough in AAA to warrant it, if Russell doesn't appear to be an upgrade now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

TLS isn't ready to come back yet, right? Unless I've missed something today anyway. But he'd need a minor league rehab before coming back, wouldn't he?

 

As for Russell, at his age, what are we expecting out of him in the majors? .650ish OPS maybe? Is that good enough for us if we're competing? Should we expect more than that from him at this stage? I'm all for keeping him up, but only if he's worthy of starting for us. If not, I'd definitely rather him play full time. Just bring Alcantara back if he shows enough in AAA to warrant it, if Russell doesn't appear to be an upgrade now.

 

I'm thinking somewhere between .650 and .700. Just fine with me if his defense is good.

[davell]

TLS isn't ready to come back yet, right? Unless I've missed something today anyway. But he'd need a minor league rehab before coming back, wouldn't he?

 

As for Russell, at his age, what are we expecting out of him in the majors? .650ish OPS maybe? Is that good enough for us if we're competing? Should we expect more than that from him at this stage? I'm all for keeping him up, but only if he's worthy of starting for us. If not, I'd definitely rather him play full time. Just bring Alcantara back if he shows enough in AAA to warrant it, if Russell doesn't appear to be an upgrade now.

 

I'm thinking somewhere between .650 and .700. Just fine with me if his defense is good.

 

If its in that range, is that good enough to start over TLS? Is the expected D a big enough upgrade, because I'd expect TLS to do the same as that offensively. I'm not being argumentative here, truly wondering if it'd be worth it.....

[Cubswin11]

I'd be fine with a "soft" platoon with Russell and TLS when he comes back. Russell obviously needs to face righties for future development, but I'd be fine if he sits against some of the more unfavorable match ups.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If its in that range, is that good enough to start over TLS? Is the expected D a big enough upgrade, because I'd expect TLS to do the same as that offensively. I'm not being argumentative here, truly wondering if it'd be worth it.....

 

I think so, but I'm a massive La Stella hater.

[davell]

If its in that range, is that good enough to start over TLS? Is the expected D a big enough upgrade, because I'd expect TLS to do the same as that offensively. I'm not being argumentative here, truly wondering if it'd be worth it.....

 

I think so, but I'm a massive La Stella hater.

 

Curious, but why? Obviously not a long term starter type, but seems like a nice bench option to me.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If its in that range, is that good enough to start over TLS? Is the expected D a big enough upgrade, because I'd expect TLS to do the same as that offensively. I'm not being argumentative here, truly wondering if it'd be worth it.....

 

I think so, but I'm a massive La Stella hater.

 

Curious, but why? Obviously not a long term starter type, but seems like a nice bench option to me.

 

He's a career negative WAR player and a career minor leaguer. He's like LaHair but middle-infieldy. I don't hate him as a 6th infielder, but anything more than that is too much.

[Guest]

yeah i see very little to nothing in lastella

[RynoRules]

Hollandsworth mentioned that going from park to park as a rookie will be difficult on most guys (Bryant types being the rare exception) and that its hard to focus and get used to the site lines. Interesting thought.

[Guest]

Because minor league baseball is played in parks with uniform sight lines? There may be a place or two that causes problems, but I wouldn't think that variety itself is a reason. Russell's been doing this for about 4 years now.

[Guest]

Russell is 8 for his last 25 with 2 doubles and 2 HR, .320/.346/.640. 9/1 K/BB but progress is progress.