The Ben Zobrist Scenario
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People talk as if it would be unspeakably naive to call up Nick Franklin as a bench player. No. There are any number of precedents for this. Franklin-as-utility-infielder is not a bit of SSI whimsy. It is the way that many MLB stars got their beginnings.
Recent Zduriencik quotes implied that Nick Franklin looks ready, and those promotions -- Franklin, Zunino, Hultzen were the guys he named on Drayer's blog -- depend on that moment at which the major leaguers open the door. Hopefully Ryan and/or Andino will do something to justify a Franklin promotion.
Nowadays, people feel like if you bring up a valued prospect, he's got to play every day. Said who? Earl would call up the best player at Rochester and tell him, "I don't know how much you'll play." He wrote, "if the kid goes 1-for-42 you're out of a job."
Since when was there a rule against replacing the utility infielder with a hotshot 2B/SS and letting him get his feet wet, playing a coupla times a week? You lose the "rhythm" you'd like him to have. But you gain all that goodie of learning in the video room, hanging around the MLB(TM)'ers, getting a feel for pitch sequences, etc.
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Ben Zobrist learned to play in the major leagues, and it didn't exactly suppress his peak performance. He played this many games during his phase-in:
- Age 25 - 52 games, hit lousy
- Age 26 - 31 games, hit lousier
- Age 27 - 62 games, played great
- Fourth year - played full time, hit .297/.405/.543 ... at 2B, SS, and OF
- Years 4-7 - collected league MVP votes in 3 of the 4 years
- Right now - Is a star, and is playing 2B, SS, and OF
Nothing in the world says that Nick Franklin can't join the ballclub as the backup 2B/SS, and hit .224 with no power, like Zobrist did as a rook.
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The Rays have not focused on Zobrist's limitations. To them, Zobrist's ability to help at shortstop is a major part of his value to them. The fact that Zobrist owns a SS glove isn't a target of derision for their fans. It's a cause for celebration. Okay, Zobrist is a bat-first infielder. Now that we've acknowledged this, we've got the question, can he help the club?
Among all AL players, Ben Zobrist would be one of my very first choices in a pick-em-up.
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I know, I know, we're piling on. This .137 stuff is getting old, though, ain't it.
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