Jesse Rubinoff

Is the ground ball percentage as high as it usually is?

The answer to those questions is no, and he is leaving the splitter and the slider up a little bit more than he did a year ago, but also it's two starts higher.

And what are you really going to read into?

We talk about batters, how we need hundreds of at-bats before we even think about passing judgment on how they are.

Trey Savage has made two starts.

I wouldn't get all that concerned about it.

Yeah.

22 years old.

Yeah.

Make it a second start of the season.

Fifth in his career.

He'll be fine.

Well, you knew when John Schneider said manager's decision that there was more there.

And if you're reading into the tea leaves and,

This is starting to shape up, I think, more of a... It might not even be a competition anymore.

Like, you might have Brandon Valenzuela pulling ahead of Tyler Hahnemann in terms of who the backup catcher is when Alejandro Kirk comes back.

Yeah, because if Tyler Hahnemann... Say he splits time with Valenzuela until Kirk comes back moving forward.

And, like, how much of an impression can you really...

put forth for your manager coming off of something like this, when you have to imagine that still, no matter what Heineman does offensively, Valenzuela is still going to be looked at as the guy who has more potential and more of a bat that can make a difference in your lineup.

So still, I think you have to take who the pitchers prefer into account.