*shrugs* Garko and Kotchman haven't cleared a .765 OPS since 2007, either of em. That's 4 seasons just like Sweeney's last 4. We're not talking about benching a super-stud for Sweeney. We're talking about whether Sweeney has another season in the sun as a former hitting genius (which neither Kotchman or Garko can claim to be) who finally LOOKS healthy.
Will he stay healthy? That's what Kotchman/Garko are around for. Can he contribute? That's what the long look in Spring Training is for.
Garko had a .870 OPS against lefties last year in 133 ABs (.887 in 485 career ABs). He's a good platoon player - if we want to run a platoon out there. Otherwise he's just a lefty pinch-hitter. Kotchman, OTOH, is not a significant platoon player over his career, and last year his platoon was "bad against RHP, atrocious against LHP."
The smart platoon would actually be Garko against LHP and Carp against RHP - against whom he's OPSed .848, .906 & .826 the last 3 years - and bury Kotchman. Or to go find Lahair (career .913 OPS against RHP) and give him a job. We're not gonna do that.
The Kotchman trade was the sole irritating thing for me in the offseason. I understand he has a good glove - it's his bat that floors me. We could do FAR better at the plate with two scrubs platooning there, or running Garko out there full-time, or any number of other options.
So with Casey, the idea is glove trumps bat. But Mike Sweeney's bat has been crazy-good this spring, Garko has the power that Kotchman simply doesn't. The door's getting wedged open, and we may have to find a spot for Sweeney by the time the Spring is over. I'm always open to options that can get us some production at the plate, even if it means Wak is gonna have to dance a jig with lineup construction before every game.
He can use the exercise.
~G
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