Wilson Betemit and his place in the Process
by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on Aug 30, 2010 6:10 PM EDT
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Betemit's 2010 numbers
OPS: 1.001 (.420/.581)
OPS+: 171
1970s baseball card stats: 331/10/29
BABIP: .405
Errors (awful stat, but shows something here): 5 (all at 3B)
Total Zone: -10 at 3B
WAR: 1.4 (pretty awesome considering his low number of PA)
Betemit's Career numbers
OPS: .788 (.337/.452)
OPS+: 104
1970s baseball card stats (per 500 PA, which he's never done): .268/18/62
BABIP: .334
Errors: 31 errors in 278 career games at 3B (206 starts)
Total Zone: -24 at 3B
WAR: 2.5 total for career, parts of 8 seasons, but only 1475 PA and 573 games
The Takeaway
The point of this post is to try to figure out what we have with Betemit and what the plan is. The safe money is that Betemit is our 3B for now, until Moustakas is ready. That day could be Opening Day next year if Moose destroys ST pitching, but more likely will be June or September of next year. In the meantime, Betemit certainly hits well enough to justify letting him continue playing. Chances are he will not continue to hit this awesome well due to his high BABIP, but he also has career highs in fly balls and line drives this year. Has he figured it out? What if this year isn't a fluke (even though a more realistic .350 BABIP would still produce awesome numbers)? At that point, he becomes the problem you love to have.
via i.cdn.turner.com
We've seen this at Third and First this year
Betemit likely will be better defensively, he certainly has been over his career. His past as a shortstop means there is (too soon to say WAS, despite his age controversy already being resolved) an athlete behind that now-burly body. He has pretty good hands, but has had a tougher time with some of the throws from third it seems like. Regular playing time will greatly help a player with his skill set. He's getting that opportunity now, and will get it throughout September. In other words, unless his defense gets unbearable, let's not worry about it.
Some players just need that chance, and he is getting that now.
He is a switch hitter, now the type you don't have to hide. His right-handed average (and OBP and SLG) is at a career high, and it should be noted that this WAS his natural side. Many switch hitters, including Carlos Beltran, learned to hit left-handed and immediately took to it, to the detriment of their dominant side. This happened to Betemit, as it was well-known that he struggled at times from the right side. It is a strange phenomenon, but it is absolutely worth noting that Betemit is now a good hitter from the right side. He CAN be in the lineup every day. No need to hide him against good lefties, as some of his former teams have done.
The Braves are one of several teams to let Betemit come and go without a meaningful opportunity
But what about Moustakas? He will be ready at some point next year, most likely. If Betemit hits, he will keep playing. Betemit is an example of why it is extremely important for guys like Kila to make the most of their opportunities. If Kila's struggles last throughout the remainder of this year (though he seems to be gaining his sea-legs a bit), his spot in the lineup is up for grabs. For free agents, other Royals, and even Wilson Betemit to take. If Kila flops and Betemit still hits, we have a new 1B on-hand, at least until we wait on the next prospect (Hosmer in 2012) to show up. Betemit can allow us to develop our top-end hitters at our own pace, without rushing them, IF HE CONTINUES TO HIT. He can let the Process (oh my God, he said it) take its course.
To even take this thing way out of control, as if it isn't already, what if, in 2012, Hosmer AND Moustakas AND Butler are all in the lineup? If Betemit is still hitting, the outfield might be the place for him, as we don't have a whole lot brewing there (yet, looking at you Wil Myers) as far as hitters. Imagine a Royals team that has at least 5 or 6 players that not only won't be an embarassment, but that we can count on to produce runs. The pitching pipeline has been discussed at length, such that pretty much no one seems concerned that it MIGHT NOT work. Betemit is allowing for that once-remote possibility of success to be phased-in, due to his team-friendly contract and sudden resurgence. I know it might be saying a lot, but in 2014, if the Royals really have turned it around, Wilson Betemit might be looked at as the guy that allowed us to develop our hitters properly.
Fantasies aside, let's enjoy Betemit's hitting the remainder of this year and not even worry about when Moustakas will be ready. After all, our 3B is hitting right now.
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I Have Remarked
On the irony of Betemit butchering 3B while Gordon is exiled to LF. I would have no trouble switching those two next year until Mous is ready to start. Betemit has played LF for us before, albeit only once IIRC. I’m pretty sure Gordon has not forgotten how to play 3B, and if he finishes this season in LF I’m sure he can move back there when and if the time comes. He’s probably our best RF right now, too. His arm certainly plays there.
I’m also in favor of batting Betemit in the 2 hole. He hits a lot of line drives and fly balls, and being a S makes him immune to pitcher handedness. He’s not fast, but neither is Kendall.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
With his ability to play the corner positions and could fill in up the middle,
Betemit is a useful guy to have on a roster. Imagine a utility player who can actually hit some. I believe that Betemit and Fields will battle for the 3B position out of 2011 ST. They could back up 1B and LF. Keeping it warm for Moose when he is ready – predict June 2011.
Kendall’s role as the #2 hitter is just one of the stunning part of 2010 Royals. He is in the lineup everyday with a stats line that is barely above a pulse. He is the guy who does something just enough times to make them think he can consistently do it well. It just doesn’t happen.
What do you think he gets?
1 year $2.5 mill heavily loaded with incentives?
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Just one year?
An experienced, gritty, multi-faceted talent who knows how to win needs to be locked up for multiple years. I don’t care if every projection system is going to have him barely above replacement level. The computer geeks who create those projections probably don’t even know what pine tar smells like. I can tell by looking at him that he’s a winner, a gamer and, in a short, a baseball player. He’s going to continue to be a positive force in the clubhouse who will make the whole team better.
signed,
Dayton Moore
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Aug 31, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
So...the Ross Gload special?
2 years $3.8 million, $100,000 for finishing in the Top 10 of MVP balloting, $50,000 for winning a Gold Glove, plus $50,000 incentives for reaching 372, 418, 442, and 483 plate appearances.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Well, according to the worst article ever posted on Fangraphs...
in the site’s entire existence. We won’t pay him if he continues to play well. We will only pay him if he starts to slump now.
"I DARE you to make less sense."
Hopefully not that much
In the wacky world of arbitration, though, he could get $3 million. The problem is the Royals will be paying for career year Wilson Betemit but likely get rest of career Wilson Betemit (or maybe something a little above that).
He really should not play 3B except in emergencies, as his career UZR/150 is minus 13 runs (which certainly passes the eyes test). When he turns back into a little above league average hitter, his defense problems will eat away almost all of his offensive value. He is an unmitigated disaster at SS or 2B — might as well move Butler back to 3B (where he played in the minors) — so Betemit does not work as a super utility guy.
He is a decent bench bat and could provide Kila insurance for next year, but the Royals should not count on him as an everyday 3B in 2011.
I don't mind keeping him as a stopgap for Moose
and insurance for Kila next year. We also have Fields, though, as well, who will only be in his first arbitration year. He would be cheap, although he is probably even worse than Betemit defensively. Here are the position players for next year, as of right now:
C – Kendall
1B/DH – Butler/Kila
2B – Getz (I think they’ll give him a shot next year)
3B – Betamit
SS – Yuni
RF – DDJ
CF – Blanco
LF – Gordon
Bench:
Fields, Aviles, Maier, Pena/May
If you keep Betamit, you’ve got 3B covered until Moose comes. Also, if Dayton gets tired of Kila, he can start Fields until he can’t stand it anymore. Of course, if you think there is no chance of Fields regaining the ability to hit decently, there is not much point to him on the roster. Aviles can back up the whole infield; so could Ed Lucas. DDJ gets traded in July, opening a space for Betamit in the OF if he’s still hitting when Moose comes up. If he’s not hitting, he can be dropped to UT and they dump Maier. If he does hit well, they may even get something in a trade for him, but I must admit it would be nice to field a lineup that would have more than 4 people who can get an extra-base hit.
The better Betemit plays, the more likely it is the Royals won’t want to pay him arbitration wages.
Signed,
Dave Cameron.
by BlueEyes_Austin on Aug 31, 2010 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Any more so than the
John Danks for Jose Lopez/Jason Vargas/Mark Lowe trade proposal or the “Mariners are the #6 organization in baseball going forward” article?
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Those were just a product of incorrect interpretation of value.
This one is a product of insanity. Bizarro Superman wouldn’t have said that.
"I DARE you to make less sense."
The 2011
Royals better feature a better lineup than that.
They need a good left handed hitter to support the middle of the order. I am just not sure Gordon is going to improve.
"They'd better" or what?
You’ll stop following the team that has disappointed fans almost every season the last 20 years? (I’m assuming your comment is a response to my roster.) I would not be surprised if DM chooses not to add any big FA this winter and goes with what he already has. I can’t say I’d be excited about that team, but it’s better than adding Mike Jacobs or Rick Ankiel.
BRANDON BELT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 31, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
umm
lol
my point is that the Royals will have a drastically lower payroll and lots of talented and promising kids on the way.
How about shelling out some cash on real hitter?
The whole " free agents don’t want to play in KC" argument is tired. It is Moore’s job to sell the process to a free agent,
Sales can only do so much
I do think we have an opportunity to take flyers on players that teams want to dump because of salary concerns.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Looking at Cot's FA list
Some possibilities:
Adam Dunn WAS – didn’t happen before, probably won’t now
Carlos Pena TB
Ty Wigginton BAL – perhaps a better choice (even for the money) than Wilson
It’s not looking real promising for FAs.
Placeholder
That’s about it.
The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. -- Albert Einstein
by The Ol' Perfesser on Aug 31, 2010 7:40 PM EDT reply actions
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