Defense and roster spots

Today brings us a new Stats Geek column on a different day (from his usual Tuesday) and for some reason this week, the Geek's column is filed under "lifestyle" and it says "Brian O'Neill" bigger than it says "Stats Geek."Besides his identity crises today, he brings us another solid column, this one focusing on the Buccos' defense. The main focus lies on our shortstop, Mr. Wilson, and his propensity for the double play (which is actually almost historic at this point in his career). I'd highly recommend checking out the whole thing, if you haven't already.

Anyways, the thing that most caught my eye today was the piece about the last spot on the 25-man roster, which Dejan believes will come down to Yury DeCaster and Jose Hernandez. Normally I'd be of the opinion that DeCaster should probably spend a little more time in the minors, but the more I think about it, the less I agree with that line of thought. Here's why:
  • Last year Hernandez put up an OPS of .607 in 258 PAs for the Tribe. In 2003 he put up at .634 with three teams, one of whom was the Pirates and two of whom play in the hitter-friendliest parks in baseball, the Rockies and the Cubs. His .907 in 2004 was an aberration.
  • DeCaster is 26, we need to find out now if he can cut it in the bigs.
  • DeCaster slaughtered the ball over the winter and put up very good numbers in AA/AAA last year. He cannot possibly be worse than Hernandez would be.
  • If we were a club with some chance of competing and a veteran utility infielder was the last piece to the puzzle, I'd say go with Hernandez. We're not anywhere near competing in 2006, and there's no way playing Hernandez this year helps us beyond the present (if it even helps us in the present, which I kind of doubt it will).

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