Holmes has had a weird career arc; maybe he needs a “weird” role, too
This isn’t really a post about last night, even though Holmes did give up two homers after the first nine batters he faced yesterday. Holmes had a 3/2 K/BB ratio through nine batters yesterday, and ended with a 9/3 K/BB ratio overall, so yesterday wasn’t the problem.
But, the splits are what they are.
Those are very good 1TTO numbers. Those are very bad 2TTO numbers. Adding his 2024 into the mix makes his 1TTO numbers even better, and doesn’t change his 2TTO or 3TTO numbers very much.
On the one hand, the Braves have nothing to lose by letting Holmes play out the string. Maybe he figures out some trick to improve his 2TTO stuff. If nothing else, that HR/FB has to come down (right?), which will at least make him and everyone else feel better, even if it’s not really a thing anyone is doing. On the other hand, maybe this is the right time for the organization to stop acting like player usage and roles are exactly the same as they’ve been for decades, and start experimenting with alternative arrangements. It’s not like they have anything to lose, and maybe that’s a step in getting the organization comfortable with using players in a way that helps them succeed, rather than pigeonholing them into a preconceived role because “that’s the way it’s always been done” or whatever.
Daily Notes
Record: 28-38
Yesterday’s wOBA and xwOBA: .243 / .227 (Season rank: 15th | 12th)
Yesterday’s opponent wOBA and xwOBA: .351 / .351 (Season rank: 13th | 13th)
Yesterday’s homers: 0
Yesterday’s homers allowed: 2
Record when out-xwOBAing: 19-16 (League: 724-265)
Record when out-xwOBAed: 9-22 (League: 265-724)
Record when out-wOBAing: 24-7 (League: 828-162)
Record when out-wOBAed: 4-31 (League: 162-828)
Record when outhomering: 14-7 (League: 531-155)
Record when outhomered: 5-19 (League: 155-531)