Jorge Cantu destined for the bench?
by craig on Apr 9, 2008 9:01 AM EDT
in News and Rumors
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PrintThe ESPN fantasy baseball guy thinks that is a real possibility.
Homer Simpson has job security. I mean, no matter what that dude does as an inspector at that nuclear power plant, no matter how many half-brained careers he stops and starts in place of his safety stewardship of Sector 7-G, no matter how many diatribes the now-departed Frank Grimes launched against him, Homer just keeps on truckin'. By contrast, Jorge Cantu is a benched man walking. The current Marlins third baseman is off to a slow start -- 7-for-29, one double, one stolen base, no walks and six strikeouts -- and his team is amassing an army of potential replacements who'll be ready to storm the hot corner at Dolphin Stadium at a moment's notice. Dallas McPherson is at Triple-A Albuquerque and hit a round-tripper for the third straight day Sunday. Wes Helms just came over from the Phillies for cash considerations. Alfredo Amezaga is still around. Even Cantu's owners in NL-only leagues need to be highly suspicious of a player who will almost assuredly provide the opposite of Homer-esque occupational durability.
Maybe, but I have my doubts.
One, Amezaga will platoon in center for awhile, and awhile is probably at least a month, since De Aza is still on crutches.
And I don't think the Marlins will use Helms as the everyday third baseman, that is not the reason they got him basically for free from the Phillies. They got him to be a bench player.
Dallas McPherson, I don't know. It is possible that he could take over at third base if Cantu continues to struggle at the plate. But hitting a few dingers in the PCL doesn't impress me all that much.
It is true that Cantu is off to a rocky start batting: .241/.241/.276, still waiting on that first base on balls. But it is early yet. However, if he doesn't come around at the plate -- he doesn't have the glove to buy himself some time.
But whether Cantu is replaced or not doesn't concern me at all, what will get my attention, should he be bench bound, is who it will be. What I am looking at is whether Hanley remains as the Marlins shortstop, or not. If the Marlins move Ramirez to third base and have Andino or Amezaga cover the shortstop position, both of whom are better defensively, then it will indicate they are planning to keep Hanley long term.
If they keep showcasing Ramirez at short, then it may be a sign that the team will trade him to avoid paying the high salary that will surely come from arbitration.
Sure, this is pure speculation on my part, and open for debate. But I do know this: Hanley is more valuable as a trading commodity if he is playing short than if he is playing third. And the Marlins have better defensive shortstops in the system and presumably Hanley's bat will still work even with him playing third base.
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I don't see it in the near future.
Cantu has actually been hitting the ball fairly well. I've noticed that even some of the outs he's made have been hit well (in contrast to our 2 and 3 hitters who, if they don't homer, tend to K or pop out). McPherson is going to have to show that he can stay healthy (and, as you said, his PCL stats will have to be taken with the appropriate grain of salt). And as for Helms. I hope he can recapture the '06 magic, which was in a part-time role anyway, but he needs to prove he can still hit before being considered to fill the 3B spot on a regular basis.
Another darkhorse candidate for 3B, should Cantu falter, might be Gaby Sanchez, who has been switched to 3B in Carolina this year. Admittedly that is a longshot since it depends on him not only hitting well at AA but also demonstrating that he is even a passable fielder at the hot corner (and by all accounts, he was considered below average defensively, even at 1B).
Yes, I have a prospect fetish. That's why I'm a Marlins fan.
defense
His defense has been that bad either. There have been a couple hits get through that maybe a good 3rd basemen would get to (but not any that we have), but he's made some decent plays too. I can't imagine the Marlins aren't planning on keeping him around after they dropped Castillo the way they did.
hacktastic
Cantu sux, keep waiting for those walks they will be few and far between.
McPherson and Helms will make an excellent platoon, as each destroys one type of pitcher.
Of our options...
Cantu is the best for the job right now. He has looked decent in the field and has made some good plays (the one where he let the bunt roll foul comes to mind). He does have two errors so far, but you take the good with the bad. It is only the first week of the season and he will eventually come around and be a decent hitter as well. I'm not delusional, but he hit .298/.382/.491 with the Reds at the tail end of last year. I think the entire lineup is pretty weak right now, so a lot of guys won't come around until everybody starts hitting.
Wes Helms is not an everyday third baseman. He proved that in Philly last year. He went from .329/.390/575 in 240 AB with the Fish in '06 to .246/.297/.368 in 280 AB with the Phils last year. As far as platooning, I'm never crazy about that idea, as I feel neither player ever gets in a true rhythm. Helms in an average fielder at best, so we're not gaining much there. His career zone rating at third is .723, which is less than Cabrera's .736.
As far as McPherson, he'll need to get through 3/4 of the season healthy before he can be considered to be brought up. I don't see him wearing a Marlins uni before September unless somebody gets hurt.
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