"This isn’t stats vs scouts - this is stats and scouts working together, building an organization that blends the best of both worlds. This is the blueprint for how a baseball organization should be run. And, whether the baseball men of the 20th century like it or not, this is where baseball is going."---Dave Cameron, U.S.S. Mariner
Is constantly chiming in with Cozart's OBP in his first full season really an argument? I don't understand your point in putting up blinders to every positive aspect of his game. Especially when the overall picture paints Cozart as an average to above average shortstop.
My point was that the AAA ss should BE the backup for Cozart in the event of an injury. A backup/utility infielder on the Reds should be just that...not a long term solution for short.
And I don't expect top notch prospects at every position. But for a defense first position (SS, C, CF and to a lesser degree 2b) I expect there to be a legitimate defender at most levels for those slots. Even if they're a Janish-type with limited offensive skills. We don't have that for short right now. So IMO the next trade we make should be to trade from a strength (RH relief pitching?) to fill some upper level holes in the minors. I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I really wish we hadn't dealt away Janish. He sure would be a nice insurance policy for AAA right about now.
Not when we're talking about right now. If the issue is Cozart's .290 OBP isn't good enough, then it calls into question why Gregorius is any better an option.
Can Gregorius be a better hitter in 5 years? Possibly, though scouts don't seem to think so. But Gregorius is a weak-hitting shortstop right now, so age is irrelevant to having him in the organization as a backstop.
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
It seems like some are not happy with Cozart. If that is the case, which SS in baseball would you be happy with right now?
Again, his OBP stinks, but I feel kinda greedy complaining about it.
Just to be clear, I'm very happy with Cozart as our SS. My concern isn't his OBP (low in the order I'm fine with it). My concern is the lack of anything remotely resembling a shortstop beyond Cozart.
But to your point...if you're talking about the here and now only....then I absolutely choose Cozart over Didi. I was only pointing out that showing Didi's AAA stats and comparing them to Zack's AAA stats is pretty unfair towards Didi considering their development level at the time.
It's still awfully inconsistent, Doug. You are dismissing Cozart because of his on-base percentage but last night fretting the loss of Gregorius because his defense, in the bigger picture, makes him valuable in spite of his weak bat. So shouldn't you be applying the same thinking to Cozart's 3 WAR?
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
People keep tossing around "first season" or "rookie" with Cozart as if he were 23 years old and is very likely to improve. He is a 27 year old player. He is older than Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Todd Frazier, JJ Hoover, Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman.... At his age, rookie or not, he isn't really likely to show big improvements.
The overall picture paints him as being solid. And he is. Unless he goes the Drew Stubbs route and declines every year after his first. Then what? We don't have any other options at all if he does. Or heck, even if he goes out and has a bad collision at second base again and has to miss 4 months. Or if his range begins to decline like most guys do after age 25.
Odds are, Zack Cozart is nearly peaked as a player right now and there is no one behind him for years to come and he, thus far, has been a pretty poor offensive player. Drew Stubbs career as a hitter is better than Cozart.
I guess you guys can not be concerned by that. I am.
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
"No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." ~Tommy Lasorda
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