Remembering Ben Zobrist and other stuff

by Shamus on Feb 8, 2008 2:29 PM CST Comment 1 comment

I loved this guy. I was very very high on him. Some due to the fact that I always disliked AE because he was the worst hitter in baseball every year but two. Zobrist has had arguably the best plate discipline minor league-wide since he signed in 04. With a BB/K of 1.33/1 and a BB--rate almost double an average player 234BB in 1251ABs he never had an OBP less than .400(avg 428) and only once hit less than .300(avg 316). He was always 2 years older than competition of the league and never got credit until the trade to Tampa. He bombed in his first trial last year in 97ABs after destroying spring training. When he was sent down he again killed AAA as a 26 year old. He is a slick fielder able to play the most premium position in baseball. I still think that he has a chance to play in the majors because plate discipline is one of the true skills that doesn't lie to you.

This is how I got the bulpen

Valverde
Brocail
Villareal
Borkowski
McLemore
Geary
Wright/Paronto

Then I expect Estrada to get called up sometime as someone gets hurt or is released.

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Bullpen seems about right...

assuming Sampson is the No. 5 starter. If Paulino surprises and makes the rotation or the Astros acquire another starter, I think Sampson might go to the bullpen. Wright is an interesting case; the Astros really seem to like him (they put him in the newspaper photo of Astros' pitching prospects), but they have to keep him on the major league roster or send him back to LA. One would think that would give him an advantage at a bullpen slot if he shows anything at all in the spring.

Zobrist doesn't seem to have a big future in Tampa Bay anymore, since the Rays acquired Bartlett to be their shortstop. Maybe he can be a utility player for the Rays.

Since you brought up Astros' middle infielders who seemed to have a future in the majors, what about Brooks Conrad? He is no longer an Astro, since they allowed him to sign with the A's. But he was one of those minor league guys whom everyone assumed would one day become a productive Astros major leaguer. Yet he just got older...without getting a shot (I suppose because of Biggio's longevity and Burke).

by clack on Feb 8, 2008 2:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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