Demoting Calhoun

[Lou]

Who thinks he would actually accept being sent to SLC? 

[stormngt]

If approached properly I think he would.  He has to know he needs to go down and get his swing back.

[Stradling]

He would go down to the minors.  

[DEVLBAT]

He’s not this bad of a player. Figure it out now while it’s still early.

[IEAngelsfan]

1 minute ago, stormngt said:

If approached properly I think he would.  He has to know he needs to go down and get his swing back.

Yup.

That's Eppler's job to convince him that it's in his best long term interest to go down and work on his swing.

[Lou]

Yeah, my first reaction, as it is with most veterans, is to say no. But I think he has to realize that he can be called up if he just puts a good week or so of good ABs due to our lack of OF replacements.

[Chuck]

He's a great 4th outfielder, late defensive replacement for RF because of his arm and range. 

I think since his bat has declined since last June, we're not going to get anymore offense out of the guy in a starting role IMO. 

But damn, he's good defensively. 

[Lou]

2 minutes ago, IEAngelsfan said:

Yup.

That's Eppler's job to convince him that it's in his best long term interest to go down and work on his swing.

That's every GMs job and you still see many veteran players refuse the demotion. 

[Lou]

1 minute ago, Chuckster70 said:

He's a great 4th outfielder, late defensive replacement for RF because of his arm and range. 

I think since his bat has declined since last June, we're not going to get anymore offense out of the guy in a starting role IMO. 

But damn, he's good defensively. 

That's the rub. Would he accept being a 4th OFer?

I highly doubt it.

[IEAngelsfan]

1 minute ago, Lou said:

That's every GMs job and you still see many veteran players refuse the demotion. 

So I guess we'll find out how good Eppler is at his job.

There's always the phantom injury angle.  Something realistic like a slight case of Ebola or penile reattachment surgery.

[kevinb]

15 minutes ago, Lou said:

Who thinks he would actually accept being sent to SLC? 

Does he have to accept it. Can’t they send him and if he gets claimed he gets claimed?

[Chuck]

Just now, Lou said:

That's the rub. Would he accept being a 4th OFer?

I highly doubt it.

I doubt it too, though he has been batting 8th and 9th and riding the pine lately without any reports of him whining, 

[stormngt]

1 minute ago, Lou said:

That's the rub. Would he accept being a 4th OFer?

I highly doubt it.

He doesn't have a choice to accept the 4th OF assignment.   His choices are to accept going down, 4th outfield , or retire.

However that's all contingent the team wants him as 4th outfielder.

1 minute ago, Kevinb said:

Does he have to accept it. Can’t they send him and if he gets claimed he gets claimed?

He has too much value defensively to pay him to play for someone else

[Lou]

2 minutes ago, Kevinb said:

Does he have to accept it. Can’t they send him and if he gets claimed he gets claimed?

Yes, he has to accept a demotion.

[kevinb]

Just now, stormngt said:

He doesn't have a choice to accept the 4th OF assignment.   His choices are to accept going down, 4th outfield , or retire.

However that's all contingent the team wants him as 4th outfielder.

He has too much value defensively to pay him to play for someone else

If he gets claimed don’t they take on the contract?

[kevinb]

Just now, Lou said:

Yes, he has to accept a demotion.

Sarcasm? I was just curious like can he say no I’m not going to the minors?

[Lou]

1 minute ago, stormngt said:

He doesn't have a choice to accept the 4th OF assignment

My reply was based on him accepting a demotion first 

[stormngt]

1 minute ago, Kevinb said:

If he gets claimed don’t they take on the contract?

They are only responsible for 500k.  We are responsible for the rest

[Lou]

Just now, Kevinb said:

Sarcasm? I was just curious like can he say no I’m not going to the minors?

I don't get the "sarcasm?" part.

And,yes,, he can say that.

[Lou]

1 minute ago, stormngt said:

They are only responsible for 500k.  We are responsible for the rest

Incorrect. They would assume the contract. 

[stormngt]

Just now, Lou said:

Incorrect. They would assume the contract. 

You sure?  I am certain I  read that about other players DFA.

Or is there a difference based on experience of the player?

[Lou]

The team signing him is only on the hook for the prorated amount of the ML minimum if he clears waivers.

If they claim him, they take on his contract. 

[101halo]

I'm really confused about how he completely forgot how to hit. Looking at FG and statcast data, only thing I can come up with is that the prevalence of the shift affected him worst than most and that he's been trying to adjust and just hasn't been able. He's hitting a truckload of grounders, but isn't pulling more, he's hitting more up the middle. Almost like he's trying to go the other way but just can't. He's swinging less at strikes, but more at balls. Are those all on the outer half, where he's trying to flip them to LF but instead weakly grounding up the middle. 

[BackUpTheTruck]

I say bench him and let him come in defensively late in games (only when there are runners are base, Hermosillo is faster than Kole). Kole should learn how to bunt, and he should choke up on the bat to punch the ball the other way (no more uppercut swing) if he ever finds himself in the batters box again.

[101halo]

Interesting, statcast doesn't agree with some of the batted ball stats on FG. But, most interesting thing in the link below is the % of the time he's seen the shift:

2015 - 23%

2016 - 40%

2017 - 45%

2018 - 68%

KC Statcast

Seems like the shift is the key difference, and probably to the point it's changed his approach, and that change has been, uh, less than successful.