M's making a mistake with Bucky?
In Jim Moore's piece today in the PI, he quotes Bavasi multiple times regarding Bucky and it's not positive if you are a Bucky believer- link
Are the M's making a mistake here?
"The acquisitions "definitely dropped him down on the depth chart," Bavasi said of Jacobsen."
I'm not sure I see how any acquisitions had an impact on Bucky's playing time. The only new guys of note are Beltre and Sexson. Bucky was never playing 3rd, and he was never going to be your every day starter at first anyway.
Bavasi needs to understand he has 4 outfielders, not a glut at DH. Bucky is a guy who can hit 30 homers at the league minimum. If Bucky and Ibanez both played an entire season, who would end up with better numbers?
Based on what we've seen so far, it looks pretty even to me. Ibanez is a lefty who was never expected to hit for much power- ~18 homers was what most of us expected from him during a season. He's never hit for average in his career. Bucky is going to strikeout, and won't hit for average either. But we know he can hit the ball hard, and he was surprisingly patient last year at the plate. He is younger than Ibanez to boot.
Is Bavasi sticking with Ibanez because he is under contract and needs to placate a veteran? Is he saying Bucky doesn't have a spot in the lineup only as motivation?
We'll find out in Spring Training. Let's hope Bucky puts up great numbers during the Spring and forces the team to reassess his role. Bucky is a backup first basemen to a slugger coming off major shoulder surgery, part-time DH and the first pinch-hitter with power this team has had in recent memory.
Bucky absolutely should be a part of the M's plans, and Bavasi is making a mistake if he doesn't get him in the lineup.
In Jim Moore's piece today in the PI, he quotes Bavasi multiple times regarding Bucky and it's not positive if you are a Bucky believer- link
Are the M's making a mistake here?
"The acquisitions "definitely dropped him down on the depth chart," Bavasi said of Jacobsen."
I'm not sure I see how any acquisitions had an impact on Bucky's playing time. The only new guys of note are Beltre and Sexson. Bucky was never playing 3rd, and he was never going to be your every day starter at first anyway.
Bavasi needs to understand he has 4 outfielders, not a glut at DH. Bucky is a guy who can hit 30 homers at the league minimum. If Bucky and Ibanez both played an entire season, who would end up with better numbers?
Based on what we've seen so far, it looks pretty even to me. Ibanez is a lefty who was never expected to hit for much power- ~18 homers was what most of us expected from him during a season. He's never hit for average in his career. Bucky is going to strikeout, and won't hit for average either. But we know he can hit the ball hard, and he was surprisingly patient last year at the plate. He is younger than Ibanez to boot.
Is Bavasi sticking with Ibanez because he is under contract and needs to placate a veteran? Is he saying Bucky doesn't have a spot in the lineup only as motivation?
We'll find out in Spring Training. Let's hope Bucky puts up great numbers during the Spring and forces the team to reassess his role. Bucky is a backup first basemen to a slugger coming off major shoulder surgery, part-time DH and the first pinch-hitter with power this team has had in recent memory.
Bucky absolutely should be a part of the M's plans, and Bavasi is making a mistake if he doesn't get him in the lineup.
posted by Tom at
9:59 AM
