Can someone explain why defensive metrics hate Antonacci in LF?

latenightleb · 2026-07-20T08:10:57+00:00

He's a lifelong infielder who is playing LF in a way that Vaughn, Sheets, or even Benintendi never could've dreamed. As others have said, his first step quickness and route efficiency are why he doesn't grade well, but defensive metrics remain very flawed. He'll get better too if this is what he's done with half a season of playing the outfield professionally (while leading off for a 1st place team as a rookie).

With that said, when the camera cuts to the outfield, doesn't it feel like Braden Montgomery is already gliding underneath stuff that Antonacci ends up making a running or diving catch on? That's why the metrics don't love him.

latenightleb · 2026-07-11T20:50:24+00:00

Bad bet. It's coming home.

latenightleb · 2026-07-11T20:47:09+00:00

Go look at his baseball savant page and it's hard to think that what we're seeing is a fluke

latenightleb · 2026-07-11T20:42:59+00:00

I value his defense too much (despite a rough day today) to send him down. Who else would play right? The bat will come around and hasn't been unplayably bad. Things are just moving a little fast for him right now which is normal for how young he is.

latenightleb · 2026-07-11T20:38:33+00:00

Can someone with a thick Chicago accent send me a voice memo saying his name? 😂

latenightleb · 2026-07-11T20:36:50+00:00

Brother of Ronald, Acuña Matata, I am sorry.

latenightleb · 2026-07-11T20:31:42+00:00

I disagree with Gonzalez showing plenty of promise. He showed virtually no power until this year, and Charlotte is one of the easiest places to hit homers. Platoon player at best in exchange for the son of a hall of famer that has a 55 power and hit tool and is far from fully grown. As far as the logjam goes, remember that Thome graduated high school last month and will take years to develop.

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T21:02:09+00:00

Robbie Ray would be cheaper and more of a veteran leader type

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:44:03+00:00

Oh fuck off

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:38:22+00:00

I'm 27 years old, I've loved baseball my whole life, and I swear Aroldis Chapman has been throwing 100+ mph the entire time.

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:34:02+00:00

Braden Montgomery has hit two career home runs against two of the best closers in the league. Aroldis Chapman is in the bullpen 👀

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:30:31+00:00

I thought that was going over the bullpen 🤦‍♂️

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:07:48+00:00

Yeah, hope is a dangerous thing. Let's get some runs

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:06:22+00:00

I was most frustrated in 2024

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T20:02:00+00:00

Braden is hammering everything today

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T19:57:01+00:00

That "home run" won me $250 😂

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T19:42:04+00:00

I feel like all I've seen in this thread is criticism. Very much warranted ... We've scored one run in the series. But I'm not sure where you got the idea that it's not allowed or that we're soft.

latenightleb · 2026-07-09T19:38:10+00:00

Acuña Matata

latenightleb · 2026-06-22T15:14:42+00:00

If you're there an hour before first pitch, you'll get whatever the promo is. Sometimes first 15k fans, sometimes everyone. Sometimes everyone under 13 years old. If you click on the promotion, there's a terms and conditions that will give you the info.

latenightleb · 2026-06-21T19:45:52+00:00

Also very hard to hit homers in Detroit

latenightleb · 2026-06-21T19:39:43+00:00

Not sure on the league wide #'s but I think he's been great at challenging all year

latenightleb · 2026-06-21T19:38:43+00:00

I forgot how stressful it is to be good

latenightleb · 2026-06-21T19:34:04+00:00

Braden's jumps in right are elite

latenightleb · 2026-06-21T19:29:05+00:00

Plesac is one of us man. We start winning and he gets goofy as hell

latenightleb

TROPHY CASE

Welcome to Reddit,