I once found a mucin-jazzed splooge in a box of Stove Top stuffing…and that’s the last time I’ll listen to Yogi Berra.
This morning Yogi is being widely quoted as saying “They [the Yankees] better find a way to get that kid 500 at-bats.” “The kid” is Eduardo Nunez, and at 25 years old and after putting together parts of three seasons for the Yankees, he isn’t really a kid any more. But I understand what Yogi is saying.
Last year in 38 games and 100 plate appearances, Nunez hit .292 with an almost respectable OBP of .330 and an even more nearly respectable slugging percentage of .393. He’s not a great hitter, but he seems to be getting better. His power is moderate but promising. In 491 major league at-bats, he has seven home runs and 23 doubles.
He’s valuable in other small ways, too. He grounded into just one double play last year, and he has terrific speed. For his career, he’s stolen 38 bases in 46 attempts, and last year he was 11 of 13.
His problem, of course, is fielding. No matter how hard I try to twist the stats, I can’t make a case that he’s a good fielder at either shortstop or third base. (He’s played 18 game at second base but with Robby Cano there that position would seem to be a most point.) Still, you think that some sort of intensive remedial postseason fielding clinic would be in order to prepare him as a backup for Derek Jeter (who is, after all, 38 this year and is going to need relief in the late innings) or even to play third base, where he is probably a better hitter than Kevin Youkilis.
Still, for all his shortcomings on the left side of the infield, Nunez’s chances per nine innings over the last three years has been just about the same as Jeter’s—a shade over 3.7 chances per nine innings—and even though he hasn’t gotten to as many ground balls on average as Youklis over the last three seasons, remember that Nunez is in his physical prime right now while Youklis, at 34, will probably be fading.
All in all, the Yankees have little to lose by giving Nunez more of a shot—if nothing else, letting him play regularly while Jeter and Youklis take turns at DH-ing, or something like that.
Repoz
Posted: February 23, 2013 at 07:51 AM |
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1. Leroy Kincaid Posted: February 23, 2013 at 08:54 AM (#4374514)Clearly the science of my random singular computer simulation doesn't mean much but I still think it's funny. I think he could have some solid hitting seasons but we'll yearn for Jeter if we have to watch him as the primary SS. Yes, yearn for Jeter.
When did having a good fielder at short become something the Yankees cared about?
Having watched him for the last few years, I've wondered why the Yankees did not try to convert him into a leftfielder.
*Fun fact: No Yankee has stolen 50 (or more) bases since Rickey! in '88. In fact, Rickey! is the only post-integration Yankee to steal that many. Gardner has come close a couple of times (49 and 47 in 2011 and '10).
True, but the offense should be worse this year. If he's healthy and getting on base, he should run a lot. Especially if he bats #1 in front of Jeter. Got to avoid the GIDPs.
He'd better get ready - I think 2013 is the best chance to have that shot. But DH AB's are going to be hard to come by on this team; he needs to inspire confidence in management defensively.
Not so sure it is a skill problem. Nunez seemed to makes a lot of errors on relatively routine plays -- plays that he made on other occasions and had to have made in the minors to stay at SS. Perhaps it was a problem of nerves, compounded by making a few early errors and never being comfortable in the field. If that's the case, it could be a problem he never gets over, but it's also possible that he follows the path of others who look a lot better on their second chance than their first. If Yogi says give him a chance, he's worth taking a close look at.
I love Yogi, but is there any evidence an 80-something y.o. Berra is a keen evaluator of talent?
This. Nunez might have the worst hands I've ever seen from a middle infielder.
Provided he's still sharp (and I have no indication to think otherwise), is there any reason to think he wouldn't be?
Sounds awesome.
2B would be a terrible position for Nuñez. He's not especially sure handed and his arm is his best tool on defense. Honestly he probably belongs in CF: he has 40 SB speed and a cannon arm, but botches grounders even on routine plays. Just move him to the OF already in a semi-platoon with the three lefty OF starters.
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