Padres Editorial: The Padres Options at Shortstop
Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
When I was in college, I had a moment of what can only be described as pure stupidity. I went to Old Country Buffet in an attempt to try all of their food. After five hours I had tried all the breakfast and lunch options and was eagerly awaiting the dinner steak. As soon as the chef brought out the steak I streaked (as fast as a person who has been eating all day can streak) towards the steak but was cut off by the manager. The steak was off limits, due to the fact that dinner cost more than lunch and breakfast, I was furious and left without eating the best thing on the menu. I learned many lessons that day including pacing myself, moderation and good things come with a price. However, the most important thing was that you can’t have everything at once and boy did my stomach pay for it the next day. I believe in 2015, Bud Black will have a similar dilemma at shortstop.
Let me explain further, in every position Black has a buffet of tools: average, power, speed, arm strength and fielding. Now unless you have a Mike Trout on the table, you have to pick and choose players with any number of these tools in order to set a lineup that gives you the best chance to win. In my mind currently, the San Diego Padres have three potential shortstops on their roster and all of them have a different skill set. Let’s take a look at Clint Barmes, Alexi Amarista and Cory Spangenberg to see if we can figure out which one has the set of tools that will help the Padres win.
Jun 19, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes (12) singles against the Cincinnati Reds during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The first option for Bud Black is newly-acquired Clint Barmes. The 12-year veteran from Indiana has had a good career and he has even been great at times. Padres fan might even remember his first ever big league home run, a game-winner against some guy named Trevor Hoffman. In 2009 I would even argue that Barmes was incredible batting .245/.294/.440 with 23 hrs, 32 doubles and 3 triples. Doing all this while playing with superb defense, posting a .982 fielding percentage. That being said his bat has definitely regressed since his days in Colorado, last year he hit .245/.328/.294 with no home runs in a part time role for the Pirates.
With all of Barmes’ history in the MLB, Black knows exactly what he is getting. Barmes is a great glove that has a history of playing all four infield positions, a good throwing arm, average speed, no power, and a low average. Basically Barmes is the corn at Old Country Buffet, everyone likes to have them on their plate, but it is basically just to eat your vegetables. He fills the role that teams love to have the veteran infielder that can play every position. If Bud Black starts Barmes, we can pencil him in to hit somewhere between .230 and .245 with little to no power. But he will play superb defense behind the pitcher and will bring value to the Padres.
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If I were in Bud Black’s shoes I would try to use Barmes as my utility infielder. That way you can use his defense on days when your infield starters need a break but limit the plate appearances that he sees. This will allow Barmes to play to his strengths and give the Padres the most out of an aging player.
Aug 30, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Alexi Amarista (5) hits a game winning walk off single in the tenth inning to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The second option for Bud Black is the incumbent utility infielder Alexi Amarista. The Little Ninja has been a fan favorite since arriving in San Diego and I have to agree he is fun to watch. He plays with fantastic defense and speed. Amarista is almost a throwback player, playing with grit and heart. To me he epitomizes the underdog, looking at him you would never guess he played in the Major Leagues. MLB.com has the left-handed hitter listed at 5’6” weighing 150 pounds; making him the kind of player that you just have to cheer for. That being said, his offensive numbers leave a lot to be desired, in his three-year career, he has hit .234/.279/.336 with 15 home runs.
Bud Black has a couple of things to like about slotting Alexi Amarista in at shortstop. First like I stated before, is his grit and determination. He will give 110 percent every day and will have fun doing it. Secondly, Black knows him; he has been on the team in the past and hopefully by now Black trusts his young infielder. Another advantage Amarista has over Clint Barmes, is his age, at 25 he is just coming into his prime and hopefully will improve this season. To me Alexi Amarista is the dessert of Black’s shortstop options. He looks good playing, is exciting to watch, but after a full season you realize too much of him is bad for your team. He certainly has some tools, a great glove, good arm and good speed, but he will struggle to hit.
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I think that Alexi Amarista has to be the favorite to win the starting job as the Padres head into spring training. It’s time for the Little Ninja to get a shot and the job should be his to lose. If I have to choose between an aging infielder who can field but will struggle to hit and a young infielder who plays with heart and will struggle to hit. I am going to choose the young player every time.
Sep 18, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Cory Spangenberg singles during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The wild card option I am throwing into the mix is Cory Spangenberg. While Spagenberg does not have the history of playing shortstop in the minors or at the pro level, I believe he may have the tools to do so. While in high school and junior college Spangenberg played third base, shortstop, and second base but settled at second due to his lack of arm strength. The advantage that Spangenberg has, is he is a high average and on base guy, while Amarista and Barmes will struggle to swing the bat. Although he doesn’t have the history of playing short, he has been praised for his excellent defense at second base. With Jedd Gyorko at second and Yangervis Solarte and Will Middlebrooks battling for third, there really isn’t a spot for him at the other infield spots, so placing him at short might be an experiment worth trying.
Bud Black certainly has to like watching Spangenberg play, especially his bat, and needs to find a defensive position for him. Tools like his glove, speed and average make it seem like he could play short but arm strength and lack of power may hold him back. In the minors he hit .296/.356/.405 and he just continued hitting last year in the majors with a .290/.313/.452 batting line. With stats like that, it makes you wonder if Spangenberg could solve two issues for the 2015 Padres by playing shortstop and batting lead-off. Spangenberg is the mystery meat at the buffet, it could be good, it could be bad, but it’s worth a try.
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The Padres should let Spangenberg audition for shortstop this spring to see if he can handle the position defensively, sliding in right behind Amarista on the depth chart. If he performs well in spring and proves he can handle the rigors of the position, I would try him at short in the regular season. Sacrificing defense on a team that is already going to struggle in that category might not be worth the risk, but I hope we get to see Spangenberg try short this spring.
Next: Is Luis Sardinas A Good Fit For The Padres?
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