It's been a few days, but I'm back to pick up where I left off, today looking at the third base position. As a refresher, I was hoping Ryan Doumit would be dealt, but can deal with him hitting lower in the order for the time being. I want Garrett Jones moved to first and Neil Walker as the full time second baseman. One of the three have since happened.
Today let's look at Andy Laroche. The numbers aren't great. Just a .250avg/3/11. The difference with Laroche is that I really like him, but the numbers aren't coming.
I love his approach at the plate. Granted he pulls the ball way too much, but when he is hitting to all fields, I feel he is a legit major league ball player. I wish he had the numbers to back up my argument.
Just like at first base, the Pirates have to have run production out of their third baseman as well. After all the trades, the younger Laroche was the first, of many more to come, real major leaguers the Pirates had acquired. He is versatile. He can, and has batted pretty much everywhere in the line up. He's made himself into an outstanding defensive third baseman as well.
For two months, I kept saying that Laroche has done nothing to lose his job. I don't feel that way right now. Pedro Alvarez is,and always was the teams third baseman of the future and now I believe Alvarez should be the third baseman of the present. Bring him up.
Start working Laroche out at second. He can share time with Walker and Walker can also play other positions when Andy is at second. Yes Walker is on fire right now, but I really want to see how he does after a month or so when the scouting report gets out on him. He's already seeing more and more off speed stuff, so hopefully he can adjust.
The team will see a drop off defensively with Alvarez at third, but the time is now. I'd rather see a power bat that can hit the ball out of the yard. In turn, it should make the whole line up deeper and better.
By no means should they give up on Andy, but he in turn he has to produce. I'm hoping the bad numbers have something to do with his back problems. They should make sure he gets about three starts a week, but in the meantime, turn the job over to Alvarez.
I also like Andy, but quite frankly he hasn't done much at all. Pedro should have been called up a while ago
ReplyDeletePedro won't be called up til September. They won't want to start paying him. Until then we watch laroche struggle
ReplyDeleteMatt
ReplyDeleteI just don't know what you see in Andy. He is just another below average player. Granted his glove has improved, but not that much. I wouldn't rank him in the upper half of third baseman defensively and offensively he is one of the worst
Cutch, Walker, Jones, Pedro batting 1-4 and suddenly we have a decent top of the order
ReplyDeleteAndy was always just going to be a stop gap until pedro arrived. he still has good value, he could be dealt and actually pull in a good return
ReplyDeleteI still think Andy could be an all-star one day, but he is gonna be squeezed out by pedro and your right about his numbers needing to improve.
ReplyDeleteHe could be an all-star in another city possibly
Since we are talking 3B, have you noticed that Jose bautista has 18 HRS while Andy has 3. Great trade getting rid of Jose
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with that last comment. It's nice to see Bautista doing well this year, but what did he do in Pittsburgh to be worth keeping.
ReplyDeleteHe had plenty of opportunities to impress and didn't. had he been kept around, he wouldn't have been nothing more than a bench player.
He is having a career season. His 18 Hr's are already a career high, but name one thing that would have led you to believe he was capable of that
what else must pedro alvarez do to earn a promotion. like i've said on here many times before. The Pirates aren't serious about winning. It's all smoke and mirrors
ReplyDelete