What Should the Padres Do at Each Position?

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Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

There are few positions on the Padres’ roster that are definitively occupied by one person. There are players we, as San Diego fans, have given up on and players we have defended beyond what they deserve. Mostly and justifiably the first. So out of all of the positional battles, what are all of the Padres’ options? Should we throw Yonder Alonso on the bench? What can and should Bud Black do with the mess that is the Padres’ infield? Who is a good option for playing CF? Where does Cory Spangenberg fit in?

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This article will not be about free agency or trades. The focus is on the roster as is. It will not cover pitching. The focus is on the rest of the roster. So, don’t rely on depth charts that still list Yasmani Grandal as a Padre. Let’s get detailed and explore all of the possibilities Bud Black gets to choose from in 2015.

. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher

Options: Rene Rivera, Tim Federowicz, and Austin Hedges

Rivera is clearly the everyday catcher. In his 103 games last season, Rivera hit a very respectable .252/.319/.432/.751. Often, when a player, like Rivera, comes out of obscurity, the league catches up. While that might very well happen in 2015, it is a very good sign that his numbers actually improved as the season went on, as he hit .280/.354/.439/.793 in the second half.

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As good as Rivera at the plate, he is even better behind it. He is Andrew Cashner‘s go-to game caller and threw out 36% of would-be base stealers (league average of 28%). The 2014 Padre catchers lead the league in framing. Basically they were better at turning borderline pitches into strikes.

Rivera will turn 32 in the middle of the 2015 season. While his age probably won’t cause much of a drop off, it’s unlikely that he will be as good of a hitter as he was last season. We know what it’s like to watch a Padre go off in the second half of a dead season. I’m looking at you Will Venable and Chase Headley!

Federowicz was acquired in the deal that landed Matt Kemp. While he repeatedly hits for an .800+ OPS in the minors, Federowicz has yet to translate that to the big leagues. Over the past two seasons, in his 79 games played, Federowicz hit only .195/.239/.307/.546. Clearly the 27 year-old has had troubles adjusting to Major League pitching. Look for Federowicz to be good defensively, though. Last season he threw out 43% of would-be base stealers.

Austin Hedges is not ready. The man believed to be the best defensive catching prospect in baseball hit only .225/.268/.321/.589 in AA. I could go on, but he simply isn’t ready. Maybe he’ll get a cup of coffee in September. Other than that, it is unlikely Hedges will be ready until 2016.

Bud Black Should: Obviously Rivera is the starter with Federowicz being his backup.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Options: Yonder Alonso, Tommy Medica, Alex Dickerson, Jake Goebbert, Carlos Quentin

I am not giving up on Alonso. Yes, he was atrocious for the first half. Yes, he was injured in the second. But he ought to be given another chance. I believe he made some kind of adjustment in the only two weeks he played in between trips to the DL. In those two weeks, the Miami graduate his .421/.477/.737/1.214. Now, basing my faith in him by what he did in a two-week stretch is ridiculous. But he had a decent 2012 and was on pace for an equally decent 2013 until he was hit in the wrist by a pitch, which ended his season. That injury was not his fault. He does not have a case of the Carlos Quentins. Alonso won’t hit for the power that he hit for in the minor leagues while still with Cincinnati. But he can still get on base and be productive.

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Tommy Medica is really streaky. For two weeks, he’s one of the best players in baseball. But he also had a month where he got on base 4 times in 51 plate appearances. It seems as though that slump was a fluke, though. Medica is streaky, but not that streaky. On August 9, he was hit twice by Pirates’ pitching with one hitting the back of his head. He was never the same. Before that game, which is probably a more accurate measure of his season, Medica hit .275/.322/.473/.795. If that were a full season, it would have been better than Alonso has had in his career. While Medica is not as good as Alonso defensively, let’s be honest it’s 1B and neither are Jason Giambi.

Dickerson played in only 41 minor league games in 2014 after suffering an injury that could have ended his career. He hit a fabulous .317/.368/.503/.871 in mostly AA. Dickerson has split time between 1B and RF in the minors. He is above average at 1B defensively, but with only 41 games played last season, he will really have to impress during Spring Training to have a chance. He will likely start 2014 in AA or AAA.

Jake Goebbert probably will start out in AAA. With little power and a low batting average, his ability to draw walks isn’t enough. He hit .218/.313/.317/.630. Despite starting out strong, pitchers may have caught up with Goebbert as he struggled more and more as the season went on.

Ultimately, Quentin should be a DH. But, if for some reason A.J. Preller doesn’t trade him away, FriarsOnBase’s Billy Brost argues that he could go over to 1B.

Bud Black should: As much as I would like to defend Alonso, Medica should get more playing time over at 1B. Alonso should be given some playing time, maybe by throwing Medica out into a corner outfield spot periodically. Alonso needs another chance to prove himself.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Options: Jedd Gyorko, Cory Spangenberg, Yangervis Solarte, Taylor Lindsey

Gyorko, like most of the 2014 Padres, had a horrible first half to last season at the plate. He was another case of a terrible first half followed by a better second half (.260/.347/.398/.745). I don’t think Gyorko was healthy in the first half. What is certain is that he adjusted his hitting mechanics when he came off the DL in July. His second half numbers are reflective of that mechanical change. Gyorko has hit very at every level including a decent 2013 and a decent second half to 2014. I’m not ready to call him inconsistent. It’s more likely that he will build upon his second half performance rather than regressing to his first half numbers.

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Defensively, Gyorko does not get enough credit. For a squatty guy, he has pretty good range, logging a 4.4 range factor per 9 innings (4.66 for the league). In his two years in the big leagues he has actually had a slightly better fielding percentage than the league average second basemen.

The only way Gyorko should move over to third would be because Cory Spangenberg emerges as the same player he was in his time with the Padres last season. After hitting .290/.313/.452/.765 in 20 games, it will be interesting to see if he can continue that success. Then again, he might start the year in AAA, which would be an unpopular move.

Defensively, Spangenberg is great. He can play all over the diamond and do so with range. His arm is far from great, but if he plays well enough to knock Gyorko over to the hot corner then his arm won’t matter much.

Solarte should not and won’t be an option at 2B. He has poor footwork that turns his average speed into below average range. (I just wanted to quell that idea).

Taylor Lindsey was brought over in the Huston Street deal. He did not perform well in AAA last season (.238/.306/.372/.678). Sure, his numbers weren’t terrible, but they also don’t scream that he’s ready.

Bud Black should: Play Jedd Gyorko over at 2B everyday. When he needs a day off put in Spangenberg. As to how to play Spangenberg…well, just wait.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Options: Yangervis Solarte, Cory Spangenberg, Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso

Solarte is below average defensively for the reasons stated previously. The most competent, in terms of range, he’s been is at 3B. His range factor per 9 innings was 1.95 (league average 2.54). It’s bad, but that’s offset by his ability to get on base (.336 OBP). He’s not going to hit for power, but he provided a steady supply of hits and walks. The trouble with Solarte is consistency. Were June and August – the months he struggled – the real Solarte of the other four in which he was productive.

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Spangenberg got a bit of time in the big leagues over at the hot corner last season. Despite only playing seven total minor league games at 3B before being called up, he played really well. His bat was good enough to earn him some time over at third, especially with Solarte being his greatest competition.

Gyorko is only moving to 3B if Spangenberg proves good enough to force a move.

Alonso actually played some 3B in college. He was actually forced over to 1B, not because of defense but because of competition at third base. Alonso will only move over if his hitting and that of Tommy Medica is so good that Black needs to put both in the lineup.

Bud Black should: Split time at 3B 50/50 between Solarte and Spangenberg. Solarte is better from the right side, and Spangenberg only bats left. If Spangenberg proves to be a viable full-time option at another position, then either Solarte or Gyorko will be at 3B everyday. Ultimately, go with the hot hand – something I wish Black did more often.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Options: Alexi Amarista, Clint Barmes, Cory Spangenberg, Jace Peterson

I think all of us know how great Amarista was defensively at SS last season. He had a good couple months to close out the season. For Amarista, the only hitting statistic that matters is his OBP, which was .285 in the first half and .287 in the second. Yes, he came up with some clutch RBIs. But a .286 OBP is not going to cut it. He even seemed to wear down a little at the plate as he hit for only a .255 OBP in September. For Amarista to be anything but a liability at the plate he needs to hit for at least a .310 OBP – 24 points above his career high.

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For a full analysis on Clint Barmes click here. Basically, Barmes is in a similar position as Amarista. Neither are good enough offensively to take over the position full-time, though both are certainly good defensively.

Does Preller have something up his sleeve? Was Barmes brought in to backup Spangenberg? Certainly Preller couldn’t be relying on Barmes and Amarista to play SS… Spangenberg didn’t play one minor league game at SS. During his time at 3B last season, he proved that he doesn’t have a great arm. But neither did David Eckstein, who played short for most of his career. That would free up Amarista to go back to being the Swiss army night of the Padres.

Peterson had a paltry .161 OBP in the majors while hitting .307/.402/.447/.849 in the minors (mostly AAA). His range factor at every position he played in the majors was noticeably better than the league average: 5.28 at 2B (4.66 league average) and 2.84 at 3B (2.52 league average). Peterson has a better arm than Spangenberg and has played SS throughout his minor league career. Unfortunately, he clearly was not ready to face major league pitching in his age 24 season.

Shortstop is the biggest weakness for the Padres. They have to put in someone who isn’t capable offensively (Amarista, Barmes), is unproven offensively (Peterson), or someone who is unproven offensively and has a questionable arm (Spangenberg).

Bud Black should: Ideally, Peterson will be ready. If he forces himself onto the team during Spring Training, he might be the best option at SS. Realistically, Peterson is probably not going to be mature enough as a hitter to make the Opening Day roster. So Bud Black should see if Spangenberg is capable of playing SS during spring training. If he is, and Peterson isn’t ready, then play Spangenberg at short. This would give Solarte more playing time – a more productive option than Amarista or Barmes. If Spangenberg can’t play SS then Black will have to split time at SS between Amarista and Barmes. While the nod goes to Amarista, Black should go with the hotter bat.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

LF/RF

Options: Matt Kemp, Seth Smith, Tommy Medica, Carlos Quentin, Rymer Liriano, Alex Dickerson, Will Venable, Abraham Almonte, Jake Goebbert

Matt kemp is obviously playing everyday when healthy. He will be best placed in LF where the Padres can hide his poor defense.

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Seth Smith will also obviously play. Granted, he will sit against lefties. Given that he has a slightly better arm than Kemp, he will be better placed in RF.

Tommy Medica’s OF fielding stats indicate that he was minutely below average. However, he steadily improved in LF as the season progressed and has become a competent corner outfielder. He hits significantly better against lefties (.245/.288/.469/.758 versus .225/.284/.366/.650 against righties). Black might not put Medica in right. This would mean putting Kemp in RF full-time so that he doesn’t have to move over when Medica plays for Smith against lefties.

Oh Carlos Quentin… Another guy who hits better against left-handed pitching. But his injury problems will not give him a spot in the OF everyday and his lack of hitting last year doesn’t help. In fact, if the fans get there way, Quentin will be traded away. If he is on the Padres in 2015, he will get platoon time and pinch hit. He does not have the durability to play everyday (duh).

Rymer Liriano is ultra talented. He has a great arm, speed, and power. Liriano is good on defense. That’s not his problem. However, he struggled at the plate with only a .220/.289/.266/.555 slashline. His power will come when he is able to make more consistent contact. Like Peterson, he may not be ready to face big-league pitching on an everyday basis.

Dickerson has stiffer competition for a corner OF spot than he does at 1B. It’s unlikely he’ll be ready to make the team out of Spring Training. If he does it will likely be as a 1B.

Will Venable and Abraham Almonte will really only play CF. Neither will take playing time away from Kemp, Smith, or Medica.

For the same reasons Goebbert won’t make the team as a 1B apply here.

Bud Black should: I say Medica is capable of playing RF in a platoon role with Smith. So, Black should play Matt Kemp in LF and split time between Seth Smith and Tommy Medica in RF. If Liriano is to make the team, give him spot time in both positions to get him further adjusted to major league pitching.

Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Options: Will Venable, Cameron Maybin, Abraham Almonte, Alexi Amarista, Cory Spangenberg

Venable and Maybin were basically the same players statistically in 2014. The only difference is games played. They are both very good defensively. While Venable has more power the difference between these two is not great. Their great defense (and Maybin’s problems staying on the field) does not compensate for their bad offense.

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After Almonte came over from Seattle, he proved to be an adequate option. He has good range and is an overall sound defender. And, unlike Venable and Maybin, Almonte actually hit decently (.265/.305/.378/.682). Now, those numbers are pretty league average. But, he’s a better option that Venable or Maybin.

Amarista will only be a CF option if Spangenberg or Barmes take over SS. Even then, for the same reasons he shouldn’t be the everyday SS apply here. He is a marvelous and entertaining defender, but a liability at the plate.

Spangenberg because why not. If he doesn’t prove to be a major league SS, then try him out in CF. He has the speed to play any position and did play in the outfield a little in the minors. Solarte would be the beneficiary of Spangenberg playing CF. Solarte was a better player offensively last year than any of the other CF options. Frankly, SS is a bigger hole than CF. If it comes down to Spangenberg playing SS or CF, then he should remain in the infield.

Bud Black should: Start Almonte in CF. Black should focus on Spangenberg as an infielder unless all of the CF options fail. Venable and Maybin simply should not play much unless they prove otherwise.

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