We certainly needed to do something about the shortstop position but Betancourt is having a poor season offensively. In fact, he was on the verge of being benched. He’s hitting .250 with 2 HR and 22 RBI. His OBP is a pitiful .278. His career OBP is just .302. If fact, if you look at his walk totals throughout his career, they could be mistaken for Angel Berroa’s walk totals. His best season was 17.
Unfortunately, he is also tied for last in fielding percentage (.967) of all qualifying American League shortstops. This post points to a book that reportedly says Betancourt is the fourth worst defensive shortstop in baseball. Sounds like he knows how to turn a double play though. He’s turned 341 of them since 2006 which ranks him second in MLB.
On the plus side, he doesn’t get hurt often. He’s played at least 153 games the past three seasons. Ironically, he’s currently on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring and he’s just beginning a rehab assignment. He’ll join NW Arkansas to continue his assignment.
I wonder if this trade will be the defining move in Dayton Moore's career as the Royals' GM. Is this when the masses turn on him?
5 comments:
I can't tell for sure whether or not you a for or against this trade. I am not sold that Yuni is the answer for us at Short. But even hitting just .250 he is a vast improvement over what we have been putting out there.
Betancourt seems to me to be the epitome of everything that is wrong with this team: no power, no ability to get on base, and declining defensive skills. Unfortunately, he's an upgrade over TPJ. But I would have rather kept Bloomquist at short the rest of the season even though it's not his ideal spot and then evaluate Aviles during Spring Training to see if we really need to deal for a shortstop.
Ok I'm officially done with Dayton Moore now.
You are generally one of the more positive Royals bloggers, and even you take issue with this deal. I'd go so far as to say that you take umbrage at the acquisition.
I think the masses have turned on Moore.
I probably am too positive sometimes, but you are right, I take issue with this deal and I take umbrage with it. For the first time, I'm beginning to wonder if Dayton Moore is the right man for the job.
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