Off The Trop

Kevin Kiermaier appreciation post 🔥

Mullins had a lot of hard contact yesterday

Cedric Mullins in May: 60 PA 113 wRC+ .302/.362/.377 | .739 OPS 13.3% K% | 89.6% Z-Contact% 4 SB | 8 R | 6 RBI The swing decisions and batted ball profile have been fairly similar to what we’ve seen from him in previous years, so positive regression was bound to happen. The Rays are going to need Mullins to continue producing, especially with the recent injuries to Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca. #RaysUp #MLB

Even more stats from @OPS_BASEBALL

The Rays are on their best 26-game stretch in franchise history at 22-4. During this time frame they rank: Hitting: • 109 wRC+ (4th) • .267 AVG (1st) • .339 OBP (2nd) • .402 SLG (9th) • 18.5% K% (1st) Pitching: • 2.37 ERA (1st) • 3.24 xERA (2nd) • 3.38 FIP (2nd) • 1.08 WHIP (t-2nd) #RaysUp #MLB

Yandy Díaz among qualified hitters since 2022: AVG: .302 (4th) Hard-Hits: 994 (6th) OBP: .380 (7th) xBA: .287 (7th) wRC+: 141 (8th) Hits: 701 (9th) His wRC+ is higher than Kyle Tucker, Bryce Harper, Corey Seager, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kyle Schwarber, and Matt Olson.

@TayVictoria8 Happy birthday! 🙌

Best day of the year. 🥳🎉

@TayVictoria8 Ball knower

And that’s that. #RaysUp

Junior Caminero this season: 210 PA 141 wRC+ | .378 wOBA .268/.357/.508 | .865 OPS 12.4% BB% | 16.2% K% 13 HR | 31 R | 27 RBI After hitting 45 HR last season, he has seen the fewest pitches in the strike zone in MLB this year (34.9% Zone%). He’s chasing ~4% less than last year and has improved his BB% by ~6%. The adjustments have been really impressive, especially for someone who is still only 22 years old. #RaysUp #MLB

Rays first 23 games: 12-11 record -17 run differential 127 runs allowed (5.5 RA/G) 110 runs scored (4.8 RS/G) Rays past 24 games: 20-4 record +55 run differential 62 runs allowed (2.6 RA/G) 117 runs scored (4.9 RS/G)

1) No matter how good you are as a catcher you can’t play every night. Catching is incredibly taxing on the body. 2) Feduccia has the 4th highest OBP on the roster. I do think Fortes should play about 70% of the time but it’s not as cut and dry as “he’s clearly better at everything”

@OffTheTrop I want fortes playing every night no matter what. Gaf abt right/lefty. He’s clearly better at everything

I’ve seen some Rays fans suggest the team should look to upgrade at catcher at the deadline. Just wanted to give my perspective on why I disagree with that idea. 1) It’s extremely difficult for a catcher to come in midseason and learn an entire pitching staff + organizational pitching philosophy. Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia had a full offseason working within the Rays org and that continuity matters more than people realize. 2) Rays catchers have combined for a 96 wRC+, which ranks 13th in MLB. That’s basically league average production from the position, which is perfectly fine considering everything else catchers provide defensively. 3) The Rays have allowed the 3rd most SB in MLB and it’s easy to immediately blame the catchers, but the bigger issue has been the pitchers. Per Baseball Savant, only Jesse Scholtens and Ian Seymour have a positive “Net Bases Prevented.” Everyone else either has 0 or negative NBP. Fortes and Feduccia both have roughly league average pop times. Most stolen bases are allowed by the pitcher, not the catcher. 4) Proven, quality catchers are extremely expensive at the deadline. I’d much rather see the Rays allocate their resources toward improving elsewhere before making catcher a priority. #RaysUp #MLB

@JettRydell My dream scenario would be Byron Buxton or Mike Trout, but both would have to waive their no trade clause and that price would be steep. More realistic option I’ve got my eyes on is Lars Nootbar.

@OffTheTrop Who do u think is a realistic bat for us to grab atp?

@OffTheTrop what if they trade for Ohtani and force the Dodgers to retain all of his remaining salary

@MLB @RaysBaseball

The American League's first team to 30 wins: @RaysBaseball!

@darby_robinson Good stuff! The process and swing decisions have been solid all year. And his bat speed is pretty much the same as it’s been in his career. Positive regression was bound to happen. Nice to see it coming into fruition.

Cedric Mullins since this post: 6-12, 1 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB 265 wRC+