2011 Trade Watch (was trade deadline watch)

[HalfSmokes]

Antonelli > Lombardozzi

 

Maybe, but he's already flopped once- give Lombo a shot, if he screws it up, go with antonelli

[MarquisDeSade]

Isn't Antonetti like 29?

[Terpfan76]

We have better options already available to us.

Maybe, maybe not. Lombo has never played in the bigs and Antonelli hasn't played enough to be considered a better option at this point. It's all speculation. I'm all for giving either player a shot, but stating they are better options at this point is at best a stretch.

Is there anywhere one can find a defensive game log? I looked around a little bit, but not too hard. Desi had what? 8 errors in the first week or so?

[Kevrock]

Isn't Antonetti like 29?

No.

[houston-nat]

Isn't Antonetti like 29?

I think he's 26. EDIT: Yep

[MarquisDeSade]

Thanks, thought I was confused.

[Lintyfresh85]

Maybe, but he's already flopped once

He only got 57 AB's.

[HalfSmokes]

He only got 57 AB's.

In 2008, sucked in 09 and now that he's old for the level he's doing well- when repeaters put up good numbers, I take them with a large grain if salt

[Lintyfresh85]

In 2008, sucked in 09 and now that he's old for the level he's doing well- when repeaters put up good numbers, I take them with a large grain if salt

He's been hurt since 09 according to his website... now he's finally healthy, and playing like a 1st round pick should in AAA.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Maybe, but he's already flopped once- give Lombo a shot, if he screws it up, go with antonelli

What is the status of Antonelli for next year?  I assume he in a minor league free agent if we do not ad him to the MLB 40 man roster.  do we want to lock up a 40 man slot to control him if we are not willing to use him in the majors?

[Slateman]

Maybe, maybe not. Lombo has never played in the bigs and Antonelli hasn't played enough to be considered a better option at this point. It's all speculation. I'm all for giving either player a shot, but stating they are better options at this point is at best a stretch.

Is there anywhere one can find a defensive game log? I looked around a little bit, but not too hard. Desi had what? 8 errors in the first week or so?

No, we do. An infield of Lombo and Espinosa is defensively superior to an infield defense with Desmond in it. If Lombo could hit above the Mendoza line, we'd have an improved offense as well.

I haven't been able to find a defensive game log either. I was looking to show the defensive improvement with Laroche. I remember numerous times him digging out one of Desi's throws.


As for Antonelli, I'd kind of like to see him too. At worst, he'd be a pretty good utility infielder. Between him and Bixler, we would have defensive replacements for everyone on the field.

[RD]

On top of that, Desmond is a poor to below average defender at best. Espinosa and Lombardozzi have just as much range as Desmond, but they make fewer errors. As much as Desmond has improved, it isn't enough and its not much of an improvement. We have better options already available to us.

Desmond has better range than both Espinosa and Lombo. Its less obvious in comparison to Espinosa, who I think can play SS, but it's not even close with Lombo. Lombo is limited to 2b, and range is part of it. Both are better than Desmond as defenders, but Lombo is absolutely a 2b, limited with his range and arm strength. He's a steady defender, not a great defender.

[Lintyfresh85]

After years of crap, steady sounds lovely.

[Slateman]

Desmond has better range than both Espinosa and Lombo. Its less obvious in comparison to Espinosa, who I think can play SS, but it's not even close with Lombo. Lombo is limited to 2b, and range is part of it. Both are better than Desmond as defenders, but Lombo is absolutely a 2b, limited with his range and arm strength. He's a steady defender, not a great defender.

Prove it. BR and Fangraphs both rate Danny Espinosa's range higher than Ian Desmond. And in limited duty at shortstop, Lombardozzi's range at shortstop has been fine.

So, at most, we're talking a 10% reduction in range (and its probably not even that) and a 50% reduction in errors. Thats better defense. Especially when you consider that the Nationals have a third baseman with the best range in baseball and maybe in the history of the game.

[kirubel94]

Does anyone remember the philly series , when J-Roll made two spinning throws just outside the infield, have we ever seen desmond make that play?

[Slateman]

Does anyone remember the philly series , when J-Roll made two spinning throws just outside the infield, have we ever seen desmond make that play?

Dude, I'm not even asking that. All I'm asking is steady fielding. He doesn't have to go deep in to the hole and make a jumping throw, or dive up the middle. I'm just tired of watching balls skip under his glove or seeing his throws bounce three feet in front of first.

[HalfSmokes]

After years of crap, steady sounds lovely.

at least now we're debating in house options who might actually achieve steady instead of the standard, maybe if this gm is drunk we can trade for this guy, or maybe this premiere free agent will want to play here

[sportsfan882]

Evo that makes no sense. Injuries are NOT an excuse for poor performance. His awful first half should not be discounted in any way. If he was that hurt he should have went on the DL.

[Evolution33]

Evo that makes no sense. Injuries are NOT an excuse for poor performance. His awful first half should not be discounted in any way. If he was that hurt he should have went on the DL.

Jason Heyward.

[RD]

If Lombardozzi had any ability to play SS, he would have been playing SS all along. We have guys at SS in the minors that won't stay at SS much longer but we played a very good player in Lombo at 2b because ... ? The kid's not a shortstop. Plain and simple. As far as his defense at second base, its his ability to make the routine play consistently that draws praise. Not his range or arm. Im not saying he's stiff and has no range at 2b, but he doesn't have better range than Desmond. If he had better range than a big league SS, he would not have played second base his entire career in the minors.

[Mr Clean]

Espinosa is constantly swinging at bad pitches. This needs to stop or Lombo should be allowed to challenge for his job at 2b.

[Slateman]

If Lombardozzi had any ability to play SS, he would have been playing SS all along. We have guys at SS in the minors that won't stay at SS much longer but we played a very good player in Lombo at 2b because ... ? The kid's not a shortstop. Plain and simple. As far as his defense at second base, its his ability to make the routine play consistently that draws praise. Not his range or arm. Im not saying he's stiff and has no range at 2b, but he doesn't have better range than Desmond. If he had better range than a big league SS, he would not have played second base his entire career in the minors.

Fine. Move Espinosa to SS and call up Lombo to play second. Much better defense. Probably better hitting.

Desmond is constantly swinging at bad pitches. This needs to stop or Lombo should be allowed to challenge for his job

I fixed it for you.

[Evolution33]

Espinosa swings at 31.4% of pitches out of the zone and Desmond 29.8%. Hell if I know what MLB average is for this.

[Terpfan76]

Evo that makes no sense. Injuries are NOT an excuse for poor performance. His awful first half should not be discounted in any way. If he was that hurt he should have went on the DL.

When did players start putting themselves on the DL? Besides, how would that even play out? What player is going to have himself put on the DL because he's got an injury he feels he can play through and isn't going to get worse? You don't blame him for that, you blame the training staff/manager/GM whoever, but not the player for letting him keep playing. As tenuous as a pro sports career is, I don't blame him for a single second for not wanting to give up his PT.

As for the Jimmy Rollins comparison, I think that was one of the issues that caused Desi quite a number of errors. He tried to make plays that weren't going to happen just because he got to the ball. He's shown now that he'll give up on a play and eat the ball as opposed to forcing a throw that could make the situation all that much worse. Through the first 30 games, Ian had 8 errors, in the 90 games since then, he's committed 13. I'd say he's done much better over the rest of the season. And fwiw, those 8 errors were committed with LaRoche at first.

I really don't see anyone here saying Desi is a great ball player, I think what most are doing is suggesting that we temper our enthusiasm for replacing a player with an unknown quantity. Might work out great, might not work out at all. A September call up won't hurt anyone, that's for sure, but it'll be a small sample size.

[DPMOmaha]

He's neutral to a tick above average in ratings that factor in range.  A poor man's Elvis Andrus.

Except that the Lerners aren't poor.