Comments on: Valdespin Playing Right Field During Winter Ball, What It Means For The Mets

By: Metsie

Metsie — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:57:02 +0000

Well Jerry I think if they get an OF with Pop where he plays will determine where the others fall into place.

The real problem is all of the guys we are talking about are LHB. Thats the biggest problem right now.

I am not sure they will find or afford anyone with any real pop and will look more towards a Hairston type that they can platoon Duda with and then if Duda manages to put together a decent season move the platoon RHB to RF with Valde.

By: Des

Des — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:56:42 +0000

Spin acts like he has Dave Kingman ideas on the first pitch. He swings all out as if he’s going to relive his earler-in-the-year successes before teams had a book on him. It’s possible for him to develop all-star numbers offensively. It’s hard to tell what he’ll become because he’s so immature. Time will tell but Terry may get tired of him. If so, 23 skidoo.

By: Jerry M

Jerry M — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:45:26 +0000

Metsie I think with Valdy at right,Duda Left field Sandy will try for a Center Fielder with pop.He will use Kirk as a backup forall of them. Short on funds the rest of money will go to Bullpen.

By: Metsie

Metsie — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:08:02 +0000

I also think they have plans to put Kirk in Center where he can help both Corner OFers cover ground.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:41:15 +0000

I don’t think he is ready defensively for centerfield just yet…although I could see him eventually being utilized in centerfield. I think some of his offensive collapse in 2012 was a result of pressing – trying to do too much, just as you alluded. Some of his offensive woes are simply a result of his aggressiveness – which is why he looked foolish on many of his swings in 2012 as has been pointed out by other commenters in this thread. Valdespin is really his own worst enemy. He can continue to try and hit the ball out of the park on every swing, and he will be nothing more than a pinch hitter…or he can mature as a hitter, be more patient, and be an integral part of the Mets success in 2013 and beyond. It’s really up to him…but the ability is definitely there.

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:08:17 +0000

Good breakdown here Mitch. Would you say then that Valdespin playing RF is a sign that the Mets no longer feel he can play CF or is it more about having more options?

The one thing that stands out about V-Spin in 2012 was that he was hitting well those weeks before they sent Duda down and from the day they sent Duda down V-Spin just stopped hitting. It left me wondering if under the pressure of maybe him thinking he has to step up with them having sent Duda down could have affected him or was it the league catching up to hom or a little of both?

By: Rich from Lake Como

Rich from Lake Como — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:05:22 +0000

I hope you’re right about Valdespin…. but we’re still way too left handed. Part of that will be solved, though, because I think they are going to use Ike Davis as a trade chip and move Duda to 1B. WAIT A MINUTE… WE’RE STILL TOO LEFT HANDED!!!

By: Just_Da_Damaja

Just_Da_Damaja — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:03:40 +0000

You obviously have never seen Valdespin play the OF…his first day in the OF he threw a bullet to Daniel Murphy to throw out a guy trying to stretch a single into a double…

of course Murphy mishandled the throw…but still…Valdespin is probably the MOST athletic player in our ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

He doesnt remind me of Reyes as much as he does of Carlos Gomez. It took Gomez til age 28 to get it together..

By: Metsie

Metsie — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:09:52 +0000

I see more Mookie type aggression than Early Reyes myself but not much of a difference really.

Some interesting stats that could be telling here are:

Times facing an opponent:
SP 1st – 50PA .133BA 5BB 11K .220OBP .311SLG
SP 2nd – 35PA .235BA 0BB 8K .235OBP .265 SLG
SP 3rd – 25PA .522BA 1BB 2K .560OBP .739SLG

It tends to suggest that the more he sees of a Pitcher the better he gets and perhaps the more PAs he gets in the MLB the better he might get in general as far as hitting goes.

Tough to say with such a smal sample size exactly what he is at this point or what he might be.

Most of what people liked about him came as a PH which fits his hitting style better as Relievers are all about the fastball and strikes where a starter is about setting you up not just for this AB but for later PAs as well.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:17:16 +0000

I love your analysis and agree 100%

By: hotstreak

hotstreak — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:13:59 +0000

Is Patience a virtue? Not in Spins case. Valdy actually worked the count after he was called back from the minors and was noticeabily less dynamic and effective. He is not a leadoff or a 2 hole hitter. As a 7 slot hitter he can hit doubles and let the eighth place hitter become more effective by getting fastballs to hit with Valdys threat to steal. Maybe 8th place gut walks to clear the pitches spot. Also Valdys power could drive in runners from middle of the lineup. Valdy a poor man’s Ron Gant type. I’ll tke it.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:02:30 +0000

Winter ball is for development, and where these guys are positioned is where the parent club wants them to play. I think having him play RF says a lot about their plans for Spin

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:59:59 +0000

Actually quite he opposite…he doesn’t lack skill he lacks mental maturity which should actually improve as he gets older. Valdespin is his own worst enemy.

By: stick

stick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:59:24 +0000

could this be as simple as Dominican winter teams play guys where they need them/want to play them, and not where the parent club tells them to? Meaning that it could have nothing to do with the Mets plans for next year (or Spin in particular).

Me, let him come try to win a job. But Duda (if still here) will be over in LF, and no longer has anything to do with the RF opening. Nor does Ike, since he is not going out there.

I don’t think based on what he showed this year that Spin could possibly be a starting RF next season, but I suppose stranger things have happened. Hell, if I was going to put him out there, I would rather he was in CF since at least he has speed.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:56:03 +0000

How do you know he isn’t going to have the defense? It’s really not a difficult transition to move from middle-infield to an outfield position and that is coming from direct experience. If he was a corner infielder I wouldn’t agree with the move to the OF, but he’s a dynamic athletic player that should have no problem with moving to the outfield. The reason they are starting him off in RF is because its the easiest outfield position to play and thus gain outfield experience. If what you say about his arm being too weak for right field is true, he will eventually settle in left field.

Valdespin has tons of potential if he can get it together mentally. He has what seems to me a very immature approach to the game…but if he gets it together he can be an excellent player. This winter can be a huge stepping stone for him.

By: stick

stick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:55:30 +0000

he is also 6 years older, so much lower odds that he is actually going to change/develop now.

By: Mitch Petanick

Mitch Petanick — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:42:45 +0000

Again it was a comparison to his AGGRESSIVENESS only

By: TRS86

TRS86 — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:28:51 +0000

Personally I see no point in him being a RF. He isn’t going to have the defense or the arm (especially the arm) to warrant his bat in RF. At least Duda could get it back to the IF.

By: TRS86

TRS86 — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:27:44 +0000

Based on my memory and stats V-Spin is K’ing at a much more alarming rate than Reyes was when he came up.

I never remember seeing Reyes swing from his heels in every AB regardless of the situation.

By: srt

srt — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:25:54 +0000

More or less my same opinion of Valdy as well.
I have less of a problem with him being an every day RF then I do right now seeing his bat in the line-up every day. He needs much work at the plate yet.