Interesting thread at Mariner Central, wondering what the chances are that Lopez' offensive woes could proliferate. Huindekmi notes that Jose started 2009 with a low AVG, but that in 2010 the difference is Lopez' SLG. He's batting .246 and his SLG is... wait for it ... .262.
Lopez' simple offensive game has been bulletproof since he was 16 years of age, which is why Pat Gillick made him one of a couple of untouchables (along with Felix and Travis Blackley) back when JLo was 17 and Gillick was trying to improve a 116-loss team. (Gillick did make efforts to protect the farm systems of the teams he leapfrogged into and out of.)
There isn't a lot that can occur to derail Jose: he stands there with a superwide stance, swings his arms at Sugar Ray Leonard speed, and laces hot shots down the 3B line. He'll be doing it ten years from now.
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What is a worry, is that those twenty-five 370-foot homers could morph into 13 some year, just through time and chance.
The fact that Lopez is uncomfortable at a new defensive position can't possibly add to his aggressiveness in the bottom half of the inning.
Prediction: Jose gets settled at 3B ... about June ... and starts going for it on 2-0 pitches again.
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Right now Jose Lopez is on pace for +30 runs saved at third. Adrian Beltre is on pace for +13 runs saved.
Beltre is one of the three best 3B's I've ever seen, but Jose Lopez was also a no-brainer to play well at third in the long term. With his soft hands, powerful arm, and boxer-short footwork, he is a natural third sacker -- one of the most natural (as opposed to most gifted) third basemen we have ever seen. Jose's footwork naturally assumes third-base form.
And do not undersell Lopez' hands. This guy could catch a racquetball serve ten feet off the front wall. The hop he took against Baltimore was a screamer that hit the dirt one foot in front of his glove, and he covered it backhand with completely relaxed shoulders.
Last thing :- ) it is a general sabermetric principle that when a "tweener" moves to an easier defensive position, he's going to be well above average there. Move an average SS to 2B/3B and he's going to be plus. Move a SS/2B -- such as Lopez -- to 3B and he figures to be real good there. It's simply what you expect as the norm.
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