Not-So-Hot Corner
The Dodgers started Olmedo Saenz at third base yesterday, making him the fifth different player to start at the hot corner, and the third in three days (journeyman Mike Edwards and utilityman Oscar Robles handled the job the previous two days). Edwards gets the start today.
When you have that many guys at one position, you really have none. Even Jose Valentin, who won the job out of spring training, is more of a shortstop by trade. Now that he’s injured, the Dodgers again have to address a situation that they never really dealt with over the off-season when they let Adrian Beltre go.
Beltre has been something of a disappointment in Seattle, where he has been hitting more like the Beltre of 1998-2003 than the MVP candidate he was in 2004. Paul DePodesta has to happy that he didn’t commit $65 million on the basis of one season.
But the Dodger rotation is full of sinkerball specialists who benefit from a tight infield, something the Dodgers had in Beltre, Izturis, Alex Cora, and Shawn Green. Only Izturis remains from that foursome. Jeff Kent has been better than expected, but the collection of players who patrol first and third have been iffy.
Placido Polanco of the Phillies is being talked about as a possible replacement until Valentin returns. Polanco has a decent glove, though he’s more of a second baseman than a third baseman. He’s a career .293 hitter, with not a whole lot of pop (51 career HR). To get him, the Dodgers will have to give up prospects, even though Polanco is a man without a job in Philadelphia at the moment.
I don’t see giving up future value for a player who isn’t a significant upgrade over Antonio Perez, who is getting a crash course in third base . Perez is reportedly reluctant to move from his preferred position of second base. That’s foolish. Jeff Kent isn’t going anywhere for the next two years. But third is a revolving door. Perez has an opportunity to crack the big league roster at third; if he performs well, he could become a fixture there.
SECOND-GUESSING AT THIRD
You have to wonder why the Dodgers fell in love with Jose Valentin. He’s never really been a third baseman over his career, and he’s averaged over 100 striekouts over his 11 full years in the big leagues. His lifetime batting average is .243. The Dodgers signed him to a one year $3.5 million deal.
For less money (one year, $2.15 million), DePodesta could have inked Joe Randa, a lifetime .286 hitter with a higher on base percentage than Valentin’s (.342 to .322) who has averaged fewer than 65 strikeouts a year. Cincinnati signed Randa, and he hs played a solid third base for them.
Randa also has a great nickname, Joker, for the way the sides of his mouth naturally curl up at the edges. The only interesting thing about Valentin’s face is his pornstar mustache. He and Jeff Kent could make a movie together. What should the title be?
a) Midnight Dodger Blue
b) Getttin’ to Third Base
c) Goin’ Deep
d) __________________(write in)
When you have that many guys at one position, you really have none. Even Jose Valentin, who won the job out of spring training, is more of a shortstop by trade. Now that he’s injured, the Dodgers again have to address a situation that they never really dealt with over the off-season when they let Adrian Beltre go.
Beltre has been something of a disappointment in Seattle, where he has been hitting more like the Beltre of 1998-2003 than the MVP candidate he was in 2004. Paul DePodesta has to happy that he didn’t commit $65 million on the basis of one season.
But the Dodger rotation is full of sinkerball specialists who benefit from a tight infield, something the Dodgers had in Beltre, Izturis, Alex Cora, and Shawn Green. Only Izturis remains from that foursome. Jeff Kent has been better than expected, but the collection of players who patrol first and third have been iffy.
Placido Polanco of the Phillies is being talked about as a possible replacement until Valentin returns. Polanco has a decent glove, though he’s more of a second baseman than a third baseman. He’s a career .293 hitter, with not a whole lot of pop (51 career HR). To get him, the Dodgers will have to give up prospects, even though Polanco is a man without a job in Philadelphia at the moment.
I don’t see giving up future value for a player who isn’t a significant upgrade over Antonio Perez, who is getting a crash course in third base . Perez is reportedly reluctant to move from his preferred position of second base. That’s foolish. Jeff Kent isn’t going anywhere for the next two years. But third is a revolving door. Perez has an opportunity to crack the big league roster at third; if he performs well, he could become a fixture there.
SECOND-GUESSING AT THIRD
You have to wonder why the Dodgers fell in love with Jose Valentin. He’s never really been a third baseman over his career, and he’s averaged over 100 striekouts over his 11 full years in the big leagues. His lifetime batting average is .243. The Dodgers signed him to a one year $3.5 million deal.
For less money (one year, $2.15 million), DePodesta could have inked Joe Randa, a lifetime .286 hitter with a higher on base percentage than Valentin’s (.342 to .322) who has averaged fewer than 65 strikeouts a year. Cincinnati signed Randa, and he hs played a solid third base for them.
Randa also has a great nickname, Joker, for the way the sides of his mouth naturally curl up at the edges. The only interesting thing about Valentin’s face is his pornstar mustache. He and Jeff Kent could make a movie together. What should the title be?
a) Midnight Dodger Blue
b) Getttin’ to Third Base
c) Goin’ Deep
d) __________________(write in)
posted by John Rosenthal @ 11:23 AM
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