KG is on pace at A+ to exceed his stats at A, including EBH, and at BRD he had around a 4/1 K/BB rate which was his only glitch - at GBO he has that down to 12 K/9 BB. That's ridiculous! He is supposed to be guessing by this point and seems to be just getting better.
Jackson Chourio of the Brewers played a full season at AA as a 19 year old, and I think he played a full season at MLB as a 20 year old last year. Can KG handle that? From what I hear from learned baseball folks on this site, it is not luck - he is that good! Therefore, I hope the Pirates promote him to AA at some point, put him at SS, slide Brannigan to 3B and see what happens! From looking at the hitting stats for the whole Eastern League, hitters are having difficulty at that level, so it would definitely be a challenge.
In another time, we would be looking at having two “Statue-level” players in Skenes and Griffin for the next 10+ years. Hopefully we see them play at least a few years together.
With regard to Griffin. There are players in any sport who love the game and have the pure mojo to drive the team. The level of the team rises with that player who, without which, you lose an edge.
Hard to remain composed and objective when I have not seen the player yet with all this hub-bub... And you all know me; I'm about to get optimistic about SOMETHING.... Cripes, I might explode.
The thing about Griffin that I keep harping on beyond the stats is that he plays his ass off and clearly wants to be great. With his talent and this drive to succeed, the sky is the limit.
I was lucky enough to watch the guy from pretty close for two months. He’s totally focused every moment on the field. It’s not just the OPS that has me so impressed. It’s everything.
I will always make a point to mention that EVERYONE I talk to, they ALL mention Konnor Griffin the PERSON before they mention Konnor Griffin the PLAYER.
A spring training game in Sarasota this year, Cruz learning to play center went charging in on a fly ball that sailed over his head. Coming in to the dug-out, Cruz was visibly upset. Brock took him aside and talked with him about what I'm guessing is how the ball sails out there. Cruz seemed a little rejuvinated and the next inning or two robbed the batter with a diving catch. Cruz also homered that game to left. Sitting behind the dug-out that game I saw a good interaction as Cruz found his replacement Konnor Griffin. I think Cruz was relaying what Brock told him. Konnor Griffin's eye contact and nodding while Cruz was talking was cool to watch for a good 2 or 3 minutes. Griffin also made a diving catch and hit what turned out to be the game winning home run I believe.
Let’s not act like Cruz is some all out hustle, high IQ player. He is still the same guy who went on the DL for a fake ankle injury because of a lack of hustle multiple times in the minors. Maybe if the Pirates held players more accountable, he wouldn’t have some many lapses at the MLB level.
I hope I didn't act like that. Looking back at the days when I coached high school basketball, there were two types of players.
1) Guys that loved basketball since they were kids, understood the game, and always hustled. Very coachable and often good leaders, but usually behind on ability.
2) Guys with height or talent where the game chose them to be players. They often had the lowest basketball IQ, would jog if I let them, and I had to stay on them. When they screwed up, they often took it the hardest.
I would say Cruz is in the second group. And wouldn't it be great if Konnor Griffin could be that rare player in both groupls?
It’s just unfortunate that he doesn’t play harder more often than not. Whether it’s because he falls into one of those groups or it’s just his default going back to playing as a kid in the DR. The bottom line is simple: he needs to play better if he is always going to have mental lapses running the bases or playing the outfield.
Griffin seems like he is just different. The way he attacks the game, he has the chance to be truly special. That type of focus and effort is a “tool” in my book.
KG is on pace at A+ to exceed his stats at A, including EBH, and at BRD he had around a 4/1 K/BB rate which was his only glitch - at GBO he has that down to 12 K/9 BB. That's ridiculous! He is supposed to be guessing by this point and seems to be just getting better.
Jackson Chourio of the Brewers played a full season at AA as a 19 year old, and I think he played a full season at MLB as a 20 year old last year. Can KG handle that? From what I hear from learned baseball folks on this site, it is not luck - he is that good! Therefore, I hope the Pirates promote him to AA at some point, put him at SS, slide Brannigan to 3B and see what happens! From looking at the hitting stats for the whole Eastern League, hitters are having difficulty at that level, so it would definitely be a challenge.
In another time, we would be looking at having two “Statue-level” players in Skenes and Griffin for the next 10+ years. Hopefully we see them play at least a few years together.
Haha, statue-level.
With regard to Griffin. There are players in any sport who love the game and have the pure mojo to drive the team. The level of the team rises with that player who, without which, you lose an edge.
Hard to remain composed and objective when I have not seen the player yet with all this hub-bub... And you all know me; I'm about to get optimistic about SOMETHING.... Cripes, I might explode.
The thing about Griffin that I keep harping on beyond the stats is that he plays his ass off and clearly wants to be great. With his talent and this drive to succeed, the sky is the limit.
I was lucky enough to watch the guy from pretty close for two months. He’s totally focused every moment on the field. It’s not just the OPS that has me so impressed. It’s everything.
I will always make a point to mention that EVERYONE I talk to, they ALL mention Konnor Griffin the PERSON before they mention Konnor Griffin the PLAYER.
Every single one.
But has he cured cancer yet?!
Bear in mind that cancer is a class of diseases, not a specific disease. So KG will have to work on curing each presently uncurable cancer.
That's what the off season is for.
Sounds like if we can get him and skenes on the same team, we might lead the league in all-character guys
It's hard to imagine, but it even goes farther than that. He respects the game, the fans and his teammates. He is always trying to get better.
The Anti-Cruz
A spring training game in Sarasota this year, Cruz learning to play center went charging in on a fly ball that sailed over his head. Coming in to the dug-out, Cruz was visibly upset. Brock took him aside and talked with him about what I'm guessing is how the ball sails out there. Cruz seemed a little rejuvinated and the next inning or two robbed the batter with a diving catch. Cruz also homered that game to left. Sitting behind the dug-out that game I saw a good interaction as Cruz found his replacement Konnor Griffin. I think Cruz was relaying what Brock told him. Konnor Griffin's eye contact and nodding while Cruz was talking was cool to watch for a good 2 or 3 minutes. Griffin also made a diving catch and hit what turned out to be the game winning home run I believe.
Let’s not act like Cruz is some all out hustle, high IQ player. He is still the same guy who went on the DL for a fake ankle injury because of a lack of hustle multiple times in the minors. Maybe if the Pirates held players more accountable, he wouldn’t have some many lapses at the MLB level.
I hope I didn't act like that. Looking back at the days when I coached high school basketball, there were two types of players.
1) Guys that loved basketball since they were kids, understood the game, and always hustled. Very coachable and often good leaders, but usually behind on ability.
2) Guys with height or talent where the game chose them to be players. They often had the lowest basketball IQ, would jog if I let them, and I had to stay on them. When they screwed up, they often took it the hardest.
I would say Cruz is in the second group. And wouldn't it be great if Konnor Griffin could be that rare player in both groupls?
It’s just unfortunate that he doesn’t play harder more often than not. Whether it’s because he falls into one of those groups or it’s just his default going back to playing as a kid in the DR. The bottom line is simple: he needs to play better if he is always going to have mental lapses running the bases or playing the outfield.
Griffin seems like he is just different. The way he attacks the game, he has the chance to be truly special. That type of focus and effort is a “tool” in my book.