I Can't Take Cantu...

by Matt Wilson on Jun 1, 2008 3:04 PM EDT

After watching the first few innings of today's game at the Phils... the guy is just terrible. I've tried to rationalize it, but he's horrendous at third. It's not just the terrible throwing errors. He can't make plays and catches that any capable 3B can make.

This may be more for Ramp than anybody else, but how close is Matt Dominguez? I know he's in Greensboro this year, but I can't seem to find any compiled season stats for him anywhere. It seems like a long shot, but is there any chance he could be starting in 2009? I feel like he'll probably need at least a season in Carolina before making the jump.

I'm a little weary of promoting Dallas McPherson, mostly because of his monumental strikeout rate. Also, Albuquerque is prone to big offensive numbers, so it's hard to get a good read. I also have no clue about his defensive skills, so I can't say for sure it would be an upgrade there. But it wouldn't be tough.

Aside from those two, I can't see any other options aside from moving somebody like Uggla to 3rd, with Coghlan coming up. I think moving Uggla (or Hanley, for that matter) would be a bad move because the two have pretty good chemistry up the middle in turning double plays, and their range is pretty well suited where they're at.

But pleeeeeease don't make me watch Cantu's awfulness much longer.

Poll

Who should be our third baseman going forward?

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Dominguez

I just read that he returned from the DL as of May 20, so he’s just beginning to see some action this year in low A.

The NL East Blog.com

by Matt Wilson on Jun 1, 2008 3:14 PM EDT 0 recs

I almost wrote this exact post this afternoon. Ugh.

by nynolelaw on Jun 1, 2008 7:08 PM EDT 0 recs

Can you just turn ONE double play?

His failure to turn the double play tonight cost us. I can’t recall a 5-4-3 double play all year. All I see is double pumps and weak throws that do not allow us to turn the DP.

by SprintSTboy on Jun 2, 2008 11:35 PM EDT 0 recs

doubles

We wouldn’t have to worry about the double plays if our closer didn’t put two men on for free to begin with.

by brickell on Jun 3, 2008 9:34 AM EDT 0 recs

I'm not Ramp

but I can say with a high degree of certainty that Dominguez is not that close to being ready (I would say at least a couple years—and it didn’t help that he missed a big chunk of this year already). His glove is said to be a major league ready (or very close to it) but his bat needs developing.

I tend to agree with your view on Cantu and I am baffled as to why the team did not retain a better defensive plan B at 3rd base (I do not think McPherson will be much of an improvement and while Gaby Sanchez has been getting time at 3rd in AA, and his bat is looking like he might be ready soon, his defense is unlikely to be any better either). Cantu would be fine if he defense was merely adequate, but right now it is not and, despite being a decent hitter, I do not feel that his hitting offsets his defensive shortcomings.

It just seems like this team is too unbalanced: too many guys who mash pretty well (and streaky as hell as the plate) but are either poor or, at best, mediocre defensive players. For this team, I believe that sacrificing some offense (especially power) for defense would yield a higher marginal benefit.

Yes, I have a prospect fetish. That's why I'm a Marlins fan.

by Sashimi on Jun 3, 2008 11:43 AM EDT 0 recs

I know his defense has been terrible, but the way he has been swinging the bat lately, does it not make up for his defensive errors? A quick look at ESPN player ratings reveals that Cantu has been the #5 most valuable 3rd basemen in the National League thus far.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playerrating?type=batting&league=nl&position=3b

He’s been one of the most reliable players over the last month or so, especially during the tough road trip. So is it really time to start looking into other options?

by hoyamarlin on Jun 11, 2008 8:03 PM EDT 0 recs