SB Nation User Blog: JohnPeterson

Valentino Pascucci, Anyone?

JohnPeterson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:21:31 -0000

I know I am a one-trick pony, but I thought I would drag my freak sideshow out into the ring one more time: The Mets need Valentino Pascucci. Last year he wasted away another year in AAA, but in the Mets' system, where he hit .280/.403/.508. First base, Pascucci's best position, was occupied by Carlos Delgado, who was having a great season. But Marlon Anderson started three games there and 20 in the outfield. There was no reason to do that, except for Omar Minaya's proclivity for over-the-hill "veteran" types.

But then how do we explain the promotion of Nick Evans from AA to the majors, where he got to start a game at first and 25 more in the outfield?

What about Chris Aguila, Brady Clark, Andy Phillips, and Trot Nixon? Were these players so good with the the glove that they overcame their miserable hitting? Were they all worth promotions when a guy with a carer minor league line of .275/.386/.489 is sitting down there waiting for his chance? Is Angel Pagan (23 starts) really a better hitter from the right side than Valentino Pascucci? No reasonable person could say so.

This year the case is even stronger. A red-hot Carlos Delgado is not playing first base; he is on the Disabled List. Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy and even Jeremy Reed are playing there. Tatis gets the majority of starts against left-handers even though his platoon split (career .799 OPS vs. LHP and .785 vs. RHP) is extremely minor. Pascucci, for comparison, has an extreme split in the minors (.951 and .882 for lefties and righties, respectively).

This year, he is playing for the Dodgers' AAA affiliate in Albuquerque and hitting only .218/.338/.391. His BABIP is .263, far below his career norm, and he is hitting an inordinate amount of balls into the ground, uncharacteristic of this high-HR, high-BB, high-K hitter. He has certainly been slumping in May and June. Perhaps it's the beginning of the end for the slugger; he is 30 and this is his sixth-straight season in either AAA or Japan. But more likely that it's just the most recent slump.

The Mets acquired Pascucci from Philadelphia last year when they had even less of a need for him than they do now. Perhaps they will call for him again? Knowing the Mets and their disdain for "statistical numbers," it's unlikely that they're even looking for a better solution at first base. But if they are, I think Pascucci is the guy.

People say (believe me, I've heard all the arguments) that if he were so good, why hasn't he been given a chance? Well the reasons are obvious. Any scout looking at Pascucci sees a big, slow bat that takes a ridiculous swing and would be totally overmatched in the majors. I find this argument preposterous. No matter what he looks like, the guy has consistently yielded .900+ OPSes in AAA. That talent isn't going to disappear just because the competition is better. People said the same things about Jack Cust, and his talent has translated to the major leagues. Pascucci's will as well.

Finally, having a right-handed power bat, even if from the bench, neutralizes a lot of the advantage the Phillies have on the Mets. Because right now Fernando Tatis, Wilson Valdez, and Omir Santos aren't exactly filling them with dread.

Mets Looking to Trade Castro

JohnPeterson — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:53:56 -0000

Mets Looking to Trade Castro

Apparently the Mets think that the Omir Santos who has an OPS of .650 in 2,429 minor league plate appearances has magically become the .268/.300/.437 "beast" of 80 plate appearances in 2009.

Ramon Castro has hit .253/.322/.430 so far in 2009, which is 1) better than Omir Santos' line, 2) in sync with his career norms, 3) better than Brian Schneider's career averages, and 4) far, far better than Omir Santos' career averages.

He should be a nice pickup for a team that actually understands how to evaluate baseball players. The Mets are not such a team.

ESPN Beltran

JohnPeterson — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:32:41 -0000

So ESPN was doing this stupid thing on Baseball Tonight for Willie Mays's birthday where they took attributes of several different current Major League center fielders in an effort to "build" Willie Mays. I know it's stupid, but it's ESPN.

Because I love Carlos Beltran so much, I immediately thought of Carlos Beltran. Then I was thinking that of the traditional "tools," Beltran falls short of Mays the most on hitting for average. Of course, batting average is a highly-overrated statistic, but hey, this is Steve Phillips and company.

So what did they do? John Kruk, up first, selected Carlos Beltran for hitting-for-average. Willie Mays has a career .302 batting average, Beltran only .282, but hey, he's hitting .388 right now, so he must have an ability to hit for a high average!

Idiots.

Personally, I would select Beltran's defensive ability. Instead, they picked Torii Hunter, who in addition to spelling his name incorrectly is a highly overrated defensive outfielder, not close to Beltran according to all the metrics that matter.

Anyway, I don't think any of the players cited are close to Mays in anything but speed and arm strength. I just thought I would rant about what I saw on ESPN last night.

Batting Average: Carlos Beltran

Speed: Curtis Granderson

Power: Grady Sizemore

Defense: Torii Hunter

Arm: Someone, I don't remember

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #27: Ned Colletti

JohnPeterson — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:08:39 -0000

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #27: Ned Colletti

Colletti is not a good general manager, but it could be worse.

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #28: Bill Bavasi

JohnPeterson — Tue, 27 May 2008 20:40:54 -0000

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #28: Bill Bavasi

It is what it is.

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #29: Ed Wade

JohnPeterson — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:27:37 -0000

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #29: Ed Wade

Ed Wade takes #29 in my callous series of GM rankings. Read why.

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #30: Brian Sabean

JohnPeterson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:37:34 -0000

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #30: Brian Sabean

This is the beginning of a series of posts ranking every GM in baseball from last to first. Brian Sabean takes the ignominious #30.

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #30: Brian Sabean

JohnPeterson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:36:06 -0000

Blastings! Thrilledge: Ranking the GMs, #30: Brian Sabean

Beginning of the a series, "Ranking the GMs." Brian Sabean takes the ignominious #30.

Lastings Milledge 2008

JohnPeterson — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:35:58 -0000

Lastings Milledge 2008

Only one walk so far in 41 plate appearances. Not an encouraging sign for Milledge. Bill James pointed out in his Gold Mine that Lastings rarely swings at balls inside, but swings at more than half of the outside balls he gets. If he keeps this trend up, he goes from being one of the top 10 center fielders in the game to being merely average or worse, depending on his defensive game.

Dan Agonistes: Santana and the Changeup

JohnPeterson — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:32:19 -0000