Vlad Junior

[Benjamin Grimm]

Since 1994, I've paid very little attention to what goes on in baseball outside of the Mets. So I had no idea that Vlad Junior was having such a poor season. 

I remember the speculation about him possibly being Pete Alonso's successor. I can only imagine the angst if he was having this season in Queens. 

[Cowtipper]

Many stars are having bad seasons. It's spread across the game and hard to watch. Manny Machado is doing poorly, Altuve is doing poorly, Betts isn't doing great, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s power disappeared (even more) and look at the Mets' stars for more examples. Also Acuna is having a bad season, outside of his usual injury-prone self. I still don't understand how people see him as a superstar. He's had literally one truly great, full season in 9 years. 

[Frayed Knot]

OPS/OPS+ for Vladdy Jr since his rookie year in 2019

2019: 772 / 106

2020: 791 / 115

2021: 1002 / 167 [2nd MVP]

2022: 818 / 133

2023: 788 / 116

2024: 940 / 164 [6th MVP]

2025: 848 / 131

2026: 687 / 90

So while it's not like he hasn't had his ups and downs during his career (who hasn't?) this season is way out of whack particularly since he's now 27 y/o and theoretically at the peak of his skills.

He's slimmed down in recent years, plays virtually every game, and has made himself a pretty good fielder after being heavier and less mobile when younger. His average 162 game season coming into this year is: 861 OPS / 136 OPS+, with 35 2Bs and 30 HRs. Now, with just over 1/4 season to go, he's on pace for around 24 2Bs and 8 HRs

Baffling. Do you think he misses Bo that much?!?

[Edgy MD]

Cal Raleigh:

Year	PA	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	WAR	WPA
2025	705	.247	.359	.589	.948	7.2	3.84
2026	352	.161	.267	.306	.573	-0.3	-1.91

 

[Frayed Knot]

And, yes, had he wound up here and immediately put up that kind of season the, 'See, he can't handle NYC', calls would currently be echoing from the Bowery to the Bronx and from South Orange to Southampton. 

[smg58]

His ISO of .098 is slap-hitter territory.  He's basically getting nothing on his swings.  I have to think he's playing hurt.  I'd be curious to see if the Jays are willing to sell low.

[Frayed Knot]

Also doesn't help that not a single regular in the Jays lineup has an OPS+ of over 100. Much of their roster has taken as big a dive from last season as those on the '26 Mets.

A. Kirk: 110 in 2025 / 88 this season (and has missed much of the season)

Vlad: 132 / 91

Daulton Varsho (traded at the deadline): 120 / 86

Nathan Lukes: 98 / 91

Springer: 159 / 95

Miles Straw: 86 / 65

And, of course, no mo' Bo: 127 in '25

[Cowtipper]

On 8/8/2026 at 3:57 PM, Cowtipper said:

Many stars are having bad seasons. It's spread across the game and hard to watch. Manny Machado is doing poorly, Altuve is doing poorly, Betts isn't doing great, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s power disappeared (even more) and look at the Mets' stars for more examples. Also Acuna is having a bad season, outside of his usual injury-prone self. I still don't understand how people see him as a superstar. He's had literally one truly great, full season in 9 years. 

Jose Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts, Trea Turner, Corey Seager, Christian Yelich are more. 

[Centerfield]

Cowtripper makes a great point.  Consider Cal Raleigh.  As crazy as it was for him to have an OPS 200 points above his career average, he's now 200 points below his career average this year. 

Austin Riley has turned into Marcus Semien, but Michael Harris has found himself again after two down years.

Something has changed in the game where it's very rare to have a reliable slugger to plug into your lineup year after year.  

[Centerfield]

I mean, look at this list of guys who have an OPS under .700:

Vlad Guerrero, Trea Turner, Willy Adames, Steven Kwan, Jazz Chisholm, Bo Bichette, Nico Horner, Gunnar Henderson, Daulton Varsho, Austin Riley, Xander Bogaerts, Jarren Duran.  

If one team boasted this lineup before the season, you'd think they were a World Series contender.  

[MFS62]

It would make me think that some players are having trouble adjusting to the electronic strike zone and others are doing better because they aren't chasing pitches when they know the zone doesn't vary ump-to-ump.

Just a thought.

Later