Spencer Steer

[brian5562]

Steer should be in the lineup everyday. To me his future is most likely in RF/DH/Super Utility. One of those roles.

[Kc61]

I think Steer is a middle of the order bat who needs to be in the line-up every day. I stick him at 1B, where he looks like the best defender we've had there in my lifetime and let him play. If moving him around means he's only in the line-up 4 or 5 days per week, I say no. If he could play RF, that would be great, but I'm not as convinced. I thought he looked shaky at 3B and not sure I agree that he'd be a solid defender where-ever you put him.

I love the guy as a 1B.

Mth, I’d just note that physically Steer is wrong for first base.

He’s 5’11” and he throws right handed.

I’m not challenging your view, sometimes an all around infielder can be very good at first. Many first baseman are tall guys without much defensive ability.

But I’m not sure if Reds will view him as the permanent man at the position. CES is a bit taller, but not really very different, RH thrower.

[MoneyInTheBank]

Steer should be in the lineup everyday. To me his future is most likely in RF/DH/Super Utility. One of those roles.

Except for tonight, because it's Newman SZN

[Redsfan6272]

Steer should be in the lineup everyday. To me his future is most likely in RF/DH/Super Utility. One of those roles.

Steer is not a utility player . He is proving he deserves to be in the lineup everyday. He has very good plate discipline. Yeah he is not tall but he can scoop it at 1st and hasn't hurt the defense at all

[mth123]

Over the course of 34 games, which is too small of a sample for the stats (where some say he's REALLY bad), he went from poor to the best defensive 1B in our lifetime?

I think defensive stats are pretty meaningless unless you are looking over huge samples. Like 2 or 3 seasons sized samples.

Watching him, he moves to the ball well, and I really like how he sets up to take the throw. He doesn't stretch too soon (like Joey Votto always does) and is in a position to adjust to the angle of the throw instead of being committed and hung out to dry when the throw isn't perfect. To me, that is the primary job of the 1B. Turning somewhat off target throws into outs at 1B anyway and those defensive stats don't really capture that very well. He's still learning when to go for the ball and when to let somebody else have it so he can cover the bag and that is what I see as his biggest weakness at this point. Given his lack of experience over there, I fully expect that to be a problem for a while, but will be something he learns.

1B is a more important position than models like the defensive spectrum or WAR give it credit for. Other than the pitcher and the catcher, the 1B touches the ball the most and when he does its usually the difference between safe and out. It might be a place for guys with limited mobility, so people think you can just put anyone there, but its not a place for poor defenders.

[pedro]

Mth, I’d just note that physically Steer is wrong for first base.

He’s 5’11” and he throws right handed.

I’m not challenging your view, sometimes an all around infielder can be very good at first. Many first baseman are tall guys without much defensive ability.

But I’m not sure if Reds will view him as the permanent man at the position. CES is a bit taller, but not really very different, RH thrower.

Jeff Bagwell say “hi”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MoneyInTheBank]

I think defensive stats are pretty meaningless unless you are looking over huge samples. Like 2 or 3 seasons sized samples.

Watching him, he moves to the ball well, and I really like how he sets up to take the throw. He doesn't stretch too soon (like Joey Votto always does) and is in a position to adjust to the angle of the throw instead of being committed and hung out to dry when the throw isn't perfect. To me, that is the primary job of the 1B. Turning somewhat off target throws into outs at 1B anyway and those defensive stats don't really capture that very well. He's still learning when to go for the ball and when to let somebody else have it so he can cover the bag and that is what I see as his biggest weakness at this point. Given his lack of experience over there, I fully expect that to be a problem for a while, but will be something he learns.

1B is a more important position than models like the defensive spectrum or WAR give it credit for. Other than the pitcher and the catcher, the 1B touches the ball the most and when he does its usually the difference between safe and out. It might be a place for guys with limited mobility, so people think you can just put anyone there, but its not a place for poor defenders.

I'm putting stats aside and clarifying that you are saying you have sufficient eye-ball evidence to say Steer was a poor 1B to start the year and over the course of the 34 games (31 starts) he has played there, you've seen enough to say he's the best defensive 1B the Reds have had in your lifetime?

[LeatherPants]

I'm putting stats aside and clarifying that you are saying you have sufficient eye-ball evidence to say Steer was a poor 1B to start the year and over the course of the 34 games (31 starts) he has played there, you've seen enough to say he's the best defensive 1B the Reds have had in your lifetime?

I will not tolerate Scott Hatteberg being erased from history like that.


Note: I was six when Hatteberg played for the Reds but I've seen Moneyball 4,015 times.

[brian5562]

Steer is not a utility player . He is proving he deserves to be in the lineup everyday. He has very good plate discipline. Yeah he is not tall but he can scoop it at 1st and hasn't hurt the defense at all

Right now on this roster he's not but in the coming years he may need to be that utility player. If thinking best case scenario for each player's performance.

Friedal
India
LED
CES
Marte
McLain
Steer
Stephenson

Those guys seem to be the future so out of Marte, Steer, CES. One of them has to either learn to play RF or be happy being a DH.

[mth123]

I'm putting stats aside and clarifying that you are saying you have sufficient eye-ball evidence to say Steer was a poor 1B to start the year and over the course of the 34 games (31 starts) he has played there, you've seen enough to say he's the best defensive 1B the Reds have had in your lifetime?

If you wantto know in detail, from what I've seen, he's more mobile than Lee May or Tony Perez ever was. Maybe not as mobile as Driessen. I don't really have much memory of Hal Morris as a defender. I never really noticed him, so I don't know if he was good or bad, but I'd probably notice bad. Sean Casey was a lot like May and Perez, maybe a little better with errant throws. Todd Benzinger is the guy who seems most like Steer defensively and he was a really good IB. He was a defensive replacement for Morris a lot, so that is probably why I think of Morris as a lesser defender. That gray period where Pete Rose and Terry Francona were playing 1B is simply that. I think Francona was pretty good over there. Hatteberg was pretty good. Votto has steadily improved. He was awful at first. He's good vacuuming up ground balls and the models like that, but he still stretches toward the defender instead of toward the ball and has no way to adjust if the throw is off-line.

So yes, he reminds me of Benzinger who I think is about the best they've had defensively. Driessen might have been better. Francona was a part-timer. I remember him as good, but Rose played a lot during his time here, so I don't have a clear picture.

[MoneyInTheBank]

If you wantto know in detail, from what I've seen, he's more mobile than Lee May or Tony Perez ever was. Maybe not as mobile as Driessen. I don't really have much memory of Hal Morris as a defender. I never really noticed him, so I don't know if he was good or bad, but I'd probably notice bad. Sean Casey was a lot like May and Perez, maybe a little better with errant throws. Todd Benzinger is the guy who seems most like Steer defensively and he was a really good IB. He was a defensive replacement for Morris a lot, so that is probably why I think of Morris as a lesser defender. That gray period where Pete Rose and Terry Francona were playing 1B is simply that. I think Francona was pretty good over there. Hatteberg was pretty good. Votto has steadily improved. He was awful at first. He's good vacuuming up ground balls and the models like that, but he still stretches toward the defender instead of toward the ball and has no way to adjust if the throw is off-line.

So yes, he reminds me of Benzinger who I think is about the best they've had defensively. Driessen might have been better. Francona was a part-timer. I remember him as good, but Rose played a lot during his time here, so I don't have a clear picture.

Just reading between the lines here, it seems like you think Steer has the TRAITS to be the best defensive 1B the Reds have had but that he's not there

[mth123]

Just reading between the lines here, it seems like you think Steer has the TRAITS to be the best defensive 1B the Reds have had but that he's not there

That's a fair take. I said "looks like," not "is." I probably wasn't clear.

Still, he seems like he has the bat for 1B and "looks like" he could be as good as anyone I've seen play there for the Reds defensively. I don't see a reason to move him. If his bat goes in the tank as the league figures him out, then maybe he becomes a supersub. I see no reason to do that now with the DH spot available to give PAs to another 1B/DH type.

[Kc61]

Jeff Bagwell say “hi”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I didn’t say height and LH throwing were essential, but if Bagwell is the best example it makes my point (retired 18 years ago).

[LeatherPants]

Throwing right handed doesn't seem to be an issue.

Of the top ten 1B in baseball using fWAR 7 of them throw right handed.

Freddie Freeman Throws right
Yandy Diaz Throws right
Paul Goldschmidt Throws right
Anthony Rizzo Throws left
Pete Alonso throws right
Matt Olson throws right
Ryan Noda throws left
LaMonte Wade Jr throws left
Nathaniel Lowe throws right
Christian Walker throws right

[Redsfan6272]

Right now on this roster he's not but in the coming years he may need to be that utility player. If thinking best case scenario for each player's performance.

Friedal
India
LED
CES
Marte
McLain
Steer
Stephenson

Those guys seem to be the future so out of Marte, Steer, CES. One of them has to either learn to play RF or be happy being a DH.

So let's sat Steer wins ROY, you going to reward him to be a utility guy? I don't think so