Does Shaw play too deep?

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm tiring of seeing soft grounders to third become hits because Shaw plays too deep to turn those into outs. You have the pitchers inducing soft contact and not getting outs. It's probably happened 3-4 times in the last week. Sure there are going to be swinging bunts that become hits, but these are simply soft ground balls. If he plays up a step and half, many are outs. Sure some balls will get past you that otherwise wouldn't but those are hard hit balls and on the pitcher. Stop making easy plays hard. Happened to Logan yesterday. As bad as he was, he made a good pitch but it wasn't turned into an out and a second run of the inning scored.

[MrTPlush]

You just admitted it will make no difference in the grand scheme of things. You basically want to shift the blame to the pitcher, not the fielder.

 

Thinking I’d rather give up soft hits rather than hard hits. Soft hits mean you are probably pitching well, hard hits quite the opposite. If you are pitching well you can afford a tough luck hit here or there.

[hurricanecrush]

It’s because a soft ground ball down the 3rd base line may turn into a cheap single and a hard ground ball down the line may turn into a double. I think it’s more frustrating when you see a weak ground ball off the bat, an assumed out, turn into a hit but it’s not as damaging to the team.

[KCBrewerfan34]

Shaw plays where he’s told to. This isn’t sandlot.

[MrTPlush]

Shaw plays where he’s told to. This isn’t sandlot.

 

I think everyone on this forum knows that.

[rickh150]

He plays up on the first pitch or two for some guys watching for the bunt, but sometimes I feel not far enough. A good bunt and the bunter is on, especially when the shift is on.

On regular at bats, he might be better served stepping up a step or two.... His range would be hurt, but I get what Briggs is saying. Turning two and getting that slow roller would be the positives.

[stoutdude04]

I imagine he plays where the coaches tell him to. Depth and shifts are typically decided by the coaching staff. I guess maybe he does have the 'final say', but I imagine its basically laid out where he's supposed to play.

[rickh150]

I imagine he plays where the coaches tell him to. Depth and shifts are typically decided by the coaching staff. I guess maybe he does have the 'final say', but I imagine its basically laid out where he's supposed to play.

 

Assigning blame or responsibility aside, do you feel he plays/the coaches place him too deep at times? One could never watch a game in person or on TV to give your analysis...

 

Me, I notice it on the slow rollers; he seems to come farther in than most 3B. At games, I have said to myself that Shaw should be a step or two in.... just a feel for the game I guess, not sure if I'd be right though not seeing spray charts, video, etc.

[dlk9s]

He should probably play about even with the pitcher. You know, to cut off the angles.

[rickh150]

He should probably play about even with the pitcher. You know, to cut off the angles.

 

???

[stoutdude04]

He should probably play about even with the pitcher. You know, to cut off the angles.

 

???

 

Joking I think...girls softball style.

 

I get frustrated with the dinky hits, but I have no problem with it if it's based off data to play him at that depth. If he's doing it on his own I'd like to see them move him up.

[Roderick]

I think the frustrating thing is that even ARam in his last season was much better on the slow roller than Shaw is.

 

It is just the way it is going to be, I assume they are playing him where the hitter stats say he should, but within a range that Shaw feels comfortable with.

[pacopete4]

Shaw would probably be one heck of a first basemen. Not that he’s bad at 3B but he’d probably be a gold glove type of guy over there.

[istanbultaye]

He doesn't play as deep as Wes Helms did, right? Soft grounders turning into infield hits is unfortunate, but with the amount of shifting the Brewers do, I think it's to be expected to have some more of that. Maybe he's not as good at charging as other 3B, but it doesn't really seem to me that he plays deeper than any one else.

[Thurston Fluff]

]I think the frustrating thing is that even ARam in his last season was much better on the slow roller than Shaw is. [/b]

 

It is just the way it is going to be, I assume they are playing him where the hitter stats say he should, but within a range that Shaw feels comfortable with.

 

ARam was one of the better guys at playing that slow roller I've seen. Shaw isn't a bad fielding third baseman but that isn't his best type of play. I think people are right that he sets up where he does because the stats say it's the best way of limiting runs. What I wonder is if the stats being used are tailored to what Shaw does well or if it's less specific than that. Given the detailed analysis of today and the Brewers embracing of metrics from top to bottom, I assume it's as specific as possible.

[FVBrewerFan]

Playing deeper lets him get balls in the gap between SS/3B, and prevent a few more screamers down the line. Yes, you give up a couple soft grounders in the process. No different than the shifts, overall you come out ahead.

 

OP knows all this, just likes to stir things up and move on.