According to Fangraphs 2025 advanced metrics, this dude is a notably poor defensive second baseman.
Not complaining. We need his OPS in the lineup.
Isn’t he really just a DH for us though?
According to Fangraphs 2025 advanced metrics, this dude is a notably poor defensive second baseman.
Not complaining. We need his OPS in the lineup.
Isn’t he really just a DH for us though?
8 comments
If they don’t sign Murakami or Suarez (not that I’m getting my hopes up) I’m sure he’ll have plenty of DH days. Maybe split with Reynolds
I don’t give two shits about his defense if he hits 30 hrs.
I’ll take plus offensive and poor defense over a dude who plays great defense with a .600 ops any day.
Edit: I’ll just add. A team full of guys that hit like Lowe and play defense like him with our pitching is likely an nl central winner, even with terrible defense.
A team full of guys (and I’m sorry to bring him back up) that hit like Hayes but play elite defense likely wins about 55-60 games.
Again, defensive metrics are MASSIVELY overvalued. An elite defender and below average defender will still likely make 90-95% if the same plays, just not the plus plus plays a guy like Hayes would make. I don’t think that one extra play a week though is worth the difference between a guy with a .600 ops and .800 ops.
I’d be willing to entertain the argument more if Lowe hit 20 hrs with a .720 ops, or if you compare him to a dude with a .700 ops and plus defense, but guys that hit 30 hrs, play second, and .800 ops are extremely rare and you’re not going to push me off that.
If we are concerned about defense why not just run out Triolo?
He’s your DH at the moment because as much as people want to replace Nick Gonzales he’s still easily one of their 9 best players (which is sad).
Ideally they still acquire at least 2 more real MLB bats and then you can start talking about him playing 2B and Gonzales being a utility guy, but we’ll see
Sign Ryan O’Hearn to play first. Move Horowitz to second and DH Lowe.
Assuming they aren’t done, I would probably have him as our DH. I think that’ll keep him healthy and have a Triolo Hwy can play just about anywhere shows his value. I’m fine with him butchering second base if he keeps hitting but I’m not done with Gonzales yet. I’m not sure what the right path forward is at the moment, hopefully it’ll become more clear if they add more players. Hopefully the right answer will be obvious in a few weeks. Either way, I really like the trade and I’ll like it even more if they can keep him healthy and extend him. It also shows how transformative Griffin could be to this lineup if you could plug him in at shortstop.
You’re sorting by OAA, which is definitely valid. But if you sorted by DRS you’d see him and Nick both at -15.
He’s definitely worse than Nick out there but I don’t think it’s gonna be as massive of a drop off as people are thinking.
OMG! Why do we care so much about defense here?
We’re losing games because we can’t score runs.
You guys that spend this much time and effort into the pirates need a new hobby. The sport is boring as hell and your owner shits on you year after year.