Espinosa - need him or bench him?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

. . . and now that OPS is .718. 

.248 /.315 / .403, with 14 HR and 17 SB in 537 PAs. 

Lombo, otoh, has a .688 OPS, .281 / . 327 / .361, with 2 HR and 5 SB in 379 PAs.

Lombo has played about  70% of the time while Danny has played close to 100%.

There really isn't that much of a difference in OBP at this point (.012 as of today), but Danny has a lot more power - Isolated Power  (SLG - AVG) of .155 vs. .080.  As for defense, they both are good at 2d.

Danny will drive you crazy with Ks and can be exploited more easily, but he plays when the team wants the threat of power. 

[couchbum222]

No offense, but if you are just basing everything off of his K% and avg, baseball > you.  B-R has Danny listed in at 2.1 WAR compared to Lombo's 0.7 WAR.  fWAR 3.1 for Espi and 1.1 for Lombo with the questionable UZR stat.

Yes it's 537 PA to 379 PA but Lombo doesn't have nearly as large an impact bat as Espi does.  Lombo could be a good leadoff hitter and plays quality D at 2B but right now both by UZR and total runs saved, Espi is playing GG caliber defense.

His bat plays, and he isn't going to be a high avg guy, but he can take a walk and when he connects, he usually makes some solid contact.

I'm sure your going to be proud of his 0-4 3 ks tonight.

[Lintyfresh85]

Because hitters should only be judged on their strikeout total.

[HalfSmokes]

. . . and now that OPS is .718. 

.248 /.315 / .403, with 14 HR and 17 SB in 537 PAs. 

Lombo, otoh, has a .688 OPS, .281 / . 327 / .361, with 2 HR and 5 SB in 379 PAs.

Lombo has played about  70% of the time while Danny has played close to 100%.

There really isn't that much of a difference in OBP at this point (.012 as of today), but Danny has a lot more power - Isolated Power  (SLG - AVG) of .155 vs. .080.  As for defense, they both are good at 2d.

Danny will drive you crazy with Ks and can be exploited more easily, but he plays when the team wants the threat of power. 

you can pretend batting average means nothing, but walks can only score runs with the bases loaded, with espinosa hitting in front of suzuki and the pitcher, getting on base doesn't accomplish too much

[blue911]

I'm sure your going to be proud of his 0-4 3 ks tonight.

Well this is disappointing. You've had over two hours and this is the best you can do?

[CatsEye]

 

Well this is disappointing. You've had over two hours and this is the best you can do?

Compared to what, Blue? Is we judging again?                                                           

[blue911]

Compared to what, Blue? Is we judging again?                                                           

I is, don't no if u is

[NJ Ave]

You can always tell a true fan when they hope their team's 25-year old plus defender at both middle infield positions strikes out 3 times in a game that would be REALLY nice to win.

Here's hoping Ryan Zimmerman breaks his ankle so it proves you right about Zimmerman being injury prone!

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Halfsmokes - I'm not saying .030 points of average is nothing.  don't say that a player with double the ISO is nothing either.

[HalfSmokes]

Halfsmokes - I'm not saying .030 points of average is nothing.  don't say that a player with double the ISO is nothing either.

The iso is huge,  if we had a better number 8 hitter,  if would be even bigger,  I just prefer lombo's average in this lineup

[welch]

Lombo is a "better" hitter, in that he has more control, doesn't over-swing as much. Espi has more power, but strikes out too often. His HRs do not make up for the K's.

(Lombo, Moore, and Bernadina need to play more. It's good to have three young guys, bench, who are good enough to start)

[DPMOmaha]

Lombo is a "better" hitter, in that he has more control, doesn't over-swing as much. Espi has more power, but strikes out too often. His HRs do not make up for the K's.

(Lombo, Moore, and Bernadina need to play more. It's good to have three young guys, bench, who are good enough to start)

In a comparison of Lombo and Espinosa, I do think there's a wide gap between the two defensively. 

[Lintyfresh85]

Contact doesn't mean much if you can't get it out of the infield reliably.

[cmdterps44]

I think Lombo should split starts with Espinosa from now on but I still stand by my original statement that Espinosa will break out next year. I don't know how. I don't know why. But I feel like he'll reach his potential. We may be lucky in Desmond doing that out of NOWHERE... but I want to say we'll be lucky again and have Espinosa do the same thing...

Imagine: A 6-7 hitter in our lineup hitting .260 with 25+ homers at 2B! I feeeeel it.

[GSW]

 need him or bench him?  You need him at short.... Desmond needs to rest?

Ryan needs to see a doctor about his arm.... He can't throw overhand from 3rd to 1st

[Evolution33]

Baseball players sometimes slump.

[Ray D]

walks can only score runs with the bases loaded, with espinosa hitting in front of suzuki and the pitcher, getting on base doesn't accomplish too much

If you're going to assume that Suzuki's and the pitcher's at bats will be non-productive, then it wouldn't make a difference if Espinosa hit a double, would it?  Or even a triple.  (Assuming one out.)  You have to pin your hopes on Suzuki getting on base SOME of the time. And then, if there are less than two outs, the pitcher can move them over, and you have second and third with the leadoff batter up. 
Or, suppose there is one out, Espinosa walks, and then Suzuki and the pitcher strike out.  You start the next inning at the top of the lineup, rather than with the pitcher, because Espinosa  walked.   

So I wouldn't underestimate the value of a walk.

[HalfSmokes]

If you're going to assume that Suzuki's and the pitcher's at bats will be non-productive, then it wouldn't make a difference if Espinosa hit a double, would it? 

it would if some one was on base a head of him, and if you look at the percent of base runners who score on his at bats (gotta love useless BR stats), he actually has a lower percentage than Lombo (granted 11% vs 12%, with league average at 14%)

[Lintyfresh85]

wOBA, OPS, WAR, UZR... all favor Espinosa. Stick with him.

Though, spelling Espinosa at 2B against tough RHP's isn't all that bad of an idea.

[Tyler Durden]

Baseball players sometimes slump.

 

[ZimW1N]

Ryan needs to see a doctor about his arm.... He can't throw overhand from 3rd to 1st

Zimmerman should just spin and side arm on every routine play; he'd have no errors.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

wOBA, OPS, WAR, UZR... all favor Espinosa. Stick with him.

Though, spelling Espinosa at 2B against tough RHP's isn't all that bad of an idea.

WAR and UZR are counting stats.  UZR/150 does not have them much different.  I like / love the d from both of them. 

If you are resting Werth or Morse against a tough righty, then Lombo should find a way into the line up in left or at 2d and leadoff.  If it is a lefty, then Espinosa has to play.  You want to get Lombo ABs v. lefties, do it at the expense of someone else.  Lombo has also shown an ability to come off the bench and produce at multiple positions.  Espinosa, OTOH, has a swing that I don't think works as well coming in for a spot PA. 

[Clever]

What a great problem to have. On most teams, Espinosa would be starting at shortstop with Lombo at 2nd.

[CALSGR8]

He's a keeper!

[GSW]

How does Danny keep his job: 174 SO this year and could lead all MLB players by end of yr.

1   Dunn, A   CWS   1B   137   487   82   103   18   0   39   90   98   198   2   1   .211   .342   .489   .831
2   Granderson, C   NYY   CF   144   537   90   126   16   3   39   92   67   175   8   3   .235   .323   .493   .816
3   Espinosa, D   WSH   2B   144   545   75   136   34   2   16   52   40   174   19   6   .250   .315   .407   .722
 

Damn Espinosa. Hope the Cortisone works.

And welcome back Morse!