Any Elly De La Cruz love?

[Balticfox]

So what's the Over/Under for his 2025 Stolen Base total?

[Spunker22]

Elly isn't a one hit wonder!!

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

So what's the Over/Under for his 2025 Stolen Base total?

I think he's going to have a 30 HR / 100 SB season. Coaches this year all agreed that Elly got tired mid-August, and never bounced back. Evidence is his lack of power in the final 6-7 weeks. He didn't get in base, and his steals plateaued.

As goes Elly de la Cruz, so go the Reds.

My prediction is that with Elly's continued maturation, he will have a better season at the plate, and his stats will be closing in on MVP status (top 3 MVP finish next season); he will propel the Reds to the playoffs. He scored 107 runs this season, and he should score similarly next year. But his RBI were only 76. That should get closer to 100 with an additional 6-7 weeks worth of production. The Reds will win their first playoff round since 1995, but not reach the WS.

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[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by todeen

I think he's going to have a 30 HR / 100 SB season. Coaches this year all agreed that Elly got tired mid-August, and never bounced back. Evidence is his lack of power in the final 6-7 weeks. He didn't get in base, and his steals plateaued.

I'd suggest he stop swinging for the fences so often and concentrate more on getting on base where he could then wreak havoc on the basepaths. And work on his fielding so that he becomes at least a candidate for Gold Gloves.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I'd suggest he stop swinging for the fences so often and concentrate more on getting on base where he could then wreak havoc on the basepaths. And work on his fielding so that he becomes at least a candidate for Gold Gloves.

It's interesting, but his fielding problem is with the most basic plays. No range required. He couldn't cleanly field a routine grounder coming straight at him. I'm hoping that's easier to teach than range or backhanding the ball.

And after hiring Francona, the Reds cleaned house and fired every coach. I'm hoping Francona's aura will inspire higher quality coaches to come to Cincinnati and correct some of EDLC hitting problems.

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[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by packs

He could be a very special player if he spends his time this offseason working on taking a walk. Very few players survive while leading the league in strikeouts.

This is his first full season and the league doesn't seem to have a problem striking him out.

Originally Posted by todeen

And after hiring Francona, the Reds cleaned house and fired every coach. I'm hoping Francona's aura will inspire higher quality coaches to come to Cincinnati and correct some of EDLC hitting problems.

He should be taught to hit the ball where it's pitched as opposed to swinging where he's likely to hit the ball furthest. And not to swing at the ball at all if it's not in the strike zone.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

He should be taught to hit the ball where it's pitched as opposed to swinging where he's likely to hit the ball furthest.

That's not the current way of MLB. Every team is controlled by launch angle, and exit velocity. Not many people swing like Arraez, although it might suit Elly.

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[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by todeen

That's not the current way of MLB. Every team is controlled by launch angle, and exit velocity.

Well then fire all the bums who are coaching these days and hire some who know how the game should be played!

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

And not to swing at the ball at all if it's not in the strike zone.

I've watched every single inning the Reds have played. Elly's problem is definitely not swinging at balls. If anything, it's laying off close pitches as umps consistently ring him up looking on pitches that were balls, or on the edges. He was 236th in chase rate at 26.9% out of 584 hitters. That puts him firmly in the top half of the league. Frankly, his biggest problem is missing pitches he should hit. He swings and misses on center cut fastballs early in the count far too often. If he starts obliterating those pitches, he won't have to deal with the borderline pitches later in the count.

And as for his defense, he had 15 outs above average, which was 4th best for a shortstop in all of major leagues. It was pointed out above, that his fielding percentage is lower because of a lot of errors on routine plays, but his ability to make plays that no one else can more than makes up for the errors. His OOA already puts him in gold glove conversation. If he cuts down on errors, his defense could be legendary.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Frankly, his biggest problem is missing pitches he should hit. He swings and misses on center cut fastballs early in the count far too often. If he starts obliterating those pitches, he won't have to deal with the borderline pitches later in the count.

The problem then may therefore be precisely that he's trying to obliterate those pitches instead of hitting the ball where it's pitched.

New Reds' Manager Terry Francona should sit down with Cruz and ask him whether he wants to be mentioned in the same breath as Ricky Henderson and Lou Brock in twenty years or whether he wants to be forgotten as just another Willie Mays or Hank Aaron wannabee who flamed out early trying to be something he wasn't. Cruz should be hitting low line drives and using his speed to stretch his hits into extra base hits. Maybe Francona should take a cue from the manager of the Major League movie and fine Cruz every time he hits a high fly ball.

What's Ricky Henderson doing? Maybe the Reds should hire Henderson as a hitting coach. Henderson knew that a fellow had to get on base first before he could steal the next one. That's something Cruz needs to learn.