Which Second Baseman Isn’t A Second Baseman

The

the Braves saw report to camp is not the same, in shape player seen here as the Angels third baseman in 2011. Photo Credit Keith Allison

Other Factors

Late Thursday afternoon Mark Bowman posted a piece about the second base log jam that includes information I either overlooked or that wasn’t widely discussed earlier.

"When the Braves signed Callaspo . . . they indicated recent concerns about his weight were alleviated (because). . . he had hired a personal trainer . . . But  . . (he) certainly didn’t have any reason to come to camp proclaiming that he is in the best shape of his life. If Callaspo’s unimpressive physique is an indication that he will extend the decline he has experienced while battling weight issues the past two seasons, Peterson and Gosselin might actually stand as the club’s best options. . ."

Well, well, well, . . . so Callaspo decided to visit the buffet table a lot last year (nothing else to do he wasn’t playing all that often) and added some pounds. When he signed he promised he’d fix that by hiring a trainer but reading between the lines it appears he didn’t. If he looks as bad a Bowman implies and doesn’t get it together quickly the Braves could – and should – cut him as early as possible. In case you’re wondering, under the CBA if they cut him before the 16th day prior to the start of the season – March 19th he gets one month’s pay based on his contract. If they cut after that but before leaving camp he gets 45 days pay so while it costs them a few bucks – $500K or 650K – they can correct their error.

That’s a Wrap

The statistics tell the whole story, Callaspo’s never been good at second and as he got older his bat vanished so he’s now as big a bigger liability on defense at second base than Dan Uggla. Roll that around in your mind a second. The Braves new – ostensibly sabermetricly oriented – leadership team signed a man defensively worse by all measures than Dan Uggla, whose bat lacks power and is nearly as bad in other areas and and whose weight was a concern when they signed him, then started talking about him as a regular second baseman.

As a backup third baseman he’s defensively better than CJ but as a platoon partner his numbers against RHP over the last three years (.240/.319/.323/.642) are actually worse than Johnson’s (.271/.307/.401/.708).  Peterson’s better at second defensively and at the plate; Baseball America says he stays in so well against LHP he won’t need a platoon partner.

Gosselin’s better defensively though against RHP his numbers are worse than CJ’s. Reyes is a better defender, probably as good a hitter as Callaspo. If it’s a veteran presence who might get a hit now and then that they want, Kelly Jonson is better defensively at both second and third.

From the time he was acquired I’ve believed the second base job was Peterson’s to lose – though teams can’t say things like that publicly. So when this talk of Callaspo being the front runner started  I almost choked on my morning coffee. Surely someone would correct that daydream before it became a nightmare but they didn’t. Like so many things if it’s said often enough it become a fact regardless of the true facts.

Which potential second baseman isn’t now nor has ever been a good second baseman? Alberto Callaspo.  I’d cut him as soon as he’s been given a fair look; how about tomorrow morning?

Does that mean  the Braves will? No.

Could he still be with the team in April? Yes.

Does all of the data mean our sabermetrics oriented manager  will refrain from playing him at second? No.

Why again did we hire him?