Moniak Undervalued

[rbis]

Mickey Moniak, in contrast to the other outfielders on this team, has contributed numerous CLUTCH hits in late innings. His WAR, the highest of any Angel, is already 1.9. He is batting .337, with a slugging percentage of .707, and an OBS of 1078, the highest for Los Angeles, except for Escobar, who has played only two games. Will this continue? Of course, not; however, the 25-year-old deserves a regular starting spot, even against lefties. At a given point, much further down the road, you can make an assessment of the kid's propensity to be a star in this league. In the meantime, the Angels seem to have a better chance of winning if he is a regular in the lineup, and not part of a platoon that messes with his timing and consistency.

 

 

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[Tank]

4 minutes ago, rbis said:

His WAR, the highest of any Angel, is already 1.9.

according to baseball reference.com, ohtani has a batting WAR of 3.0 and a pitching WAR of 2.4 so far this season.

[Slegnaac]

Except that the numbers would seem to indicate that the platoon is not messing with his timing and consistency. 

Amazing how much better Albert became after leaving and becoming a platoon player.

[totdprods]

That BB:K is brutal still, but, hard to argue with results too much so far. Just doesn’t seem to be sustainable with discipline like that, but there are examples of other MLB players making it work with similar BB:K radios and still being above-average offensively.

[REDneck]

.032 !!

[Stradling]

Has anyone considered that maybe his numbers are good because the team, whether it’s Nevin or more than likely, the analytics department, are putting him in favorable matchups?  That maybe if he started everyday which includes against lefties a thread like this wouldn’t exist?

[Slegnaac]

3 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Has anyone considered that maybe his numbers are good because the team, whether it’s Nevin or more than likely, the analytics department, are putting him in favorable matchups?  That maybe if he started everyday which includes against lefties a thread like this wouldn’t exist?

 

18 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

Except that the numbers would seem to indicate that the platoon is not messing with his timing and consistency. 

Yes some have.

[Angel Oracle]

11 minutes ago, REDneck said:

.032 !!

Yep, I’m happy with him starting against all RHPs, and Ward against all LHPs

[Tank]

7 minutes ago, Stradling said:

Has anyone considered that maybe his numbers are good because the team, whether it’s Nevin or more than likely, the analytics department, are putting him in favorable matchups?  That maybe if he started everyday which includes against lefties a thread like this wouldn’t exist?

absolutely. i don't think moniak has done enough to warrant automatic full time play, but he's headed that way if he keeps playing like this. 

[stormngt]

1 hour ago, rbis said:

Mickey Moniak, in contrast to the other outfielders on this team, has contributed numerous CLUTCH hits in late innings. His WAR, the highest of any Angel, is already 1.9. He is batting .337, with a slugging percentage of .707, and an OBS of 1078, the highest for Los Angeles, except for Escobar, who has played only two games. Will this continue? Of course, not; however, the 25-year-old deserves a regular starting spot, even against lefties. At a given point, much further down the road, you can make an assessment of the kid's propensity to be a star in this league. In the meantime, the Angels seem to have a better chance of winning if he is a regular in the lineup, and not part of a platoon that messes with his timing and consistency.

 

 

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Keep his ass away from LH pitchers until a less stressful environment.  I do not want to "sse if he can hit lefties" in a playoff race.  If we get knocked out of the race then give him a chance.

[Angelsjunky]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Moniak has played in 27 of the last 40 games, starting 23 of them. He's getting a lot of playing time--playing in just over two-thirds of all games--and it is working out well. I don't think adding a few more starts and adding some artificial label ("everyday starter") would necessarily do anything positive for him.

Here is the last 40 games, since Moniak was called up:

Moniak: 27 games, 23 started | .337/.371/.707, 193 wRC+

Ward: 33 games, 30 started | .268/.309/.441, 103 wRC+

Renfroe: 34 games, 30 started | .260/.297/.389, 87 wRC+

Trout: 38 games, 37 started | .222/.358/.444, 123 wRC+

Trout and Ward are both improving, and Renfroe just had a huge game. Unless someone gets injured or one of Ward or Renfroe falls off, I think they just keep going with what they've been doing.

[Angels 1961]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

Has anyone considered that maybe his numbers are good because the team, whether it’s Nevin or more than likely, the analytics department, are putting him in favorable matchups?  That maybe if he started everyday which includes against lefties a thread like this wouldn’t exist?

Only way to find out is have him play every day. Great defense, good speed and only 25. I like him along wih Neto, O'Hoppe, Adell and young starters for next year. Angels have some good young players to build around. When Ohtani leaves team will still be OK. 

[Deek]

I've been in the "sample-size" camp thus far... but his results are getting harder and harder to ignore despite the BB:K ratio and likely benefits of LHP/RHP platoon...

 

And I've been real impressed w/ his defense...

[Revad]

53 minutes ago, Angels 1961 said:

Angels have some good young players to build around. When Ohtani leaves team will still be OK. 

Assuming Artie continues spending at the level of this year and given our crappy farm is producing nicely at this point, add in those good young players and things look good.

[WicketMaiden]

3 hours ago, rbis said:

Mickey Moniak, in contrast to the other outfielders on this team, has contributed numerous CLUTCH hits in late innings. His WAR, the highest of any Angel, is already 1.9. He is batting .337, with a slugging percentage of .707, and an OBS of 1078, the highest for Los Angeles, except for Escobar, who has played only two games. Will this continue? Of course, not; however, the 25-year-old deserves a regular starting spot, even against lefties. At a given point, much further down the road, you can make an assessment of the kid's propensity to be a star in this league. In the meantime, the Angels seem to have a better chance of winning if he is a regular in the lineup, and not part of a platoon that messes with his timing and consistency.

 

 

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As many others here have alluded to, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[WicketMaiden]

4 hours ago, Tank said:

according to baseball reference.com, ohtani has a batting WAR of 3.0 and a pitching WAR of 2.4 so far this season.

Trout is also ahead of him. He has 2.5 with Baseball Reference, and 2.7 fWAR to Moniak's 1.5 with Fangraphs.

[Taylor]

Moniak's role on the team is determined by sabermetrics. You can't spell his name without AI.

[HeavenlyHalos]

4 hours ago, Angels 1961 said:

Only way to find out is have him play every day. Great defense, good speed and only 25. I like him along wih Neto, O'Hoppe, Adell and young starters for next year. Angels have some good young players to build around. When Ohtani leaves team will still be OK. 

If Ohtani leaves.***

[Angelsjunky]

Fun fact: Moniak is second in the majors with a 186 wRC+ among players with at least 100 PA.

[Revad]

17 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Fun fact: Moniak is second in the majors with a 186 wRC+ among players with at least 100 PA.

He’s been hot and they’ve handled him well.  Now if Rendon gets back on the field they could pick spots more with Escobar and Moose.

[DMVol]

14 minutes ago, Revad said:

He’s been hot and they’ve handled him well.  Now if Rendon gets back on the field they could pick spots more with Escobar and Moose.

Do you trust what Moniak has done enough to consider moving Renfroe in a trade? Combined with Adell playing well at SLC, I might move Renfroe if the return includes taking on his salary...free up some money for the trade deadline, maybe for pitching....

[HanfordGuy]

Although I would hate to lose Renfroe’s defense and arm, a move to bolster pitching and get Adell and Moniak in the lineup would make sense.

[AngelsFaninGA]

1 hour ago, DMVol said:

Do you trust what Moniak has done enough to consider moving Renfroe in a trade? Combined with Adell playing well at SLC, I might move Renfroe if the return includes taking on his salary...free up some money for the trade deadline, maybe for pitching....

Isn't Moniak injured now? Knowing our luck and issues with depth I'd keep Renfroe

[DMVol]

5 minutes ago, AngelsFaninGA said:

Isn't Moniak injured now? Knowing our luck and issues with depth I'd keep Renfroe

I may have missed that.  I know Renfroe replaced him late in the game. ???

[Angels 1961]

1 hour ago, DMVol said:

Do you trust what Moniak has done enough to consider moving Renfroe in a trade? Combined with Adell playing well at SLC, I might move Renfroe if the return includes taking on his salary...free up some money for the trade deadline, maybe for pitching....

Renfroe would have little value.