1B Adam Dunn-Age 26
.247/.387/.540 in 671 PA
Home: .274/.418/.639 in 263 AB
Away: . 221/.359/.446 in 280 AB
Vs. RHP: .273/.421/.580 in 355 AB
Vs. LHP: .197/.321/.463 in 188 AB
I called that the Reds should trade Casey and move Dunn to first. Okay, what you are looking at is the white David Ortiz, with two key differences. First, Dunn can play the field without costing his team a win a year with the glove. Second, Dunn is in his prime, with several more years of productivity to be expected. What’s wrong with that? Not a damn thing. Find a lefty-mashing first baseman to spell him against some lefties, and you’ll have Albert Pujols at a much smaller price. He’ll also stop breaking his own K record, so you can stop *****ing about it.
2B Ryan Freel-Age 29
.271/.368/.371 in 432 PA
Gets on base, can steal a bag, and has zero power. At his price, many teams (Yankees) would kill for that. His versatility may not be as well utilized when he’s a starter, but a smart manager might envision a lineup where an Aurilia would get the platoon advantage on the infield while Freel bounces around to spell guys all around the diamond. It’s a nice option to have, even if he won’t bop.
SS Felipe Lopez-Age 25
.291/.350/.486 in 648 PA
Yeah, I didn’t see that either. Like Griffey, batting average drove a lot of the improvement, but the net gains he made are real. He may not be as valuable in 2006, but he’ll be pretty damn nifty. The best shortstop in the NL? Yeah.
Note that he flails against lefties. That switch-batting thing may not be best. Think of Aurilia running around to cover your ass here.
3B Edwin Encarnacion-Age 22
.232/.308/.436 in 234 PA
Like Kearns, everything but the average was there. Unlike Kearns, this one may stay upright. The average will come, and he’ll look like he made big improvements, even though his game hasn’t necessarily changed. You guys are smart to treat him as untouchable. He’s not David Wright, but he’s the, uh, third best thing. (Yeah, Andy Marte. I said it.)
IF Rich Aurilia-Age 34
.282/.338/.444 in 468 PA
I never thought Rich was a bad player. I thought paying him for multiple years to start was pointless. His huge home-road splits might also be a concern. As a spear-carrying infield reserve, he’s pretty damn nice if you don’t overpay. While other teams may throw away plate appearances on a Niefi Perez-type, or even, God forbid, on Neifi Perez, the Reds can field someone who isn’t historically bad when the infield gets tired. Inshallah, he’s he team’s 5th infielder. Unless, of course.....
UT Tony Womack- Jesus
****ing
Christ