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Around SBN: The Ten Worst Swings Of The 2011 Season

Valentino Pascucci, Anyone?

I know I am a one-trick pony, but I thought I would drag my freak sideshow out into the ring one more time: The Mets need Valentino Pascucci. Last year he wasted away another year in AAA, but in the Mets' system, where he hit .280/.403/.508. First base, Pascucci's best position, was occupied by Carlos Delgado, who was having a great season. But Marlon Anderson started three games there and 20 in the outfield. There was no reason to do that, except for Omar Minaya's proclivity for over-the-hill "veteran" types.

But then how do we explain the promotion of Nick Evans from AA to the majors, where he got to start a game at first and 25 more in the outfield?

What about Chris Aguila, Brady Clark, Andy Phillips, and Trot Nixon? Were these players so good with the the glove that they overcame their miserable hitting? Were they all worth promotions when a guy with a carer minor league line of .275/.386/.489 is sitting down there waiting for his chance? Is Angel Pagan (23 starts) really a better hitter from the right side than Valentino Pascucci? No reasonable person could say so.

This year the case is even stronger. A red-hot Carlos Delgado is not playing first base; he is on the Disabled List. Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy and even Jeremy Reed are playing there. Tatis gets the majority of starts against left-handers even though his platoon split (career .799 OPS vs. LHP and .785 vs. RHP) is extremely minor. Pascucci, for comparison, has an extreme split in the minors (.951 and .882 for lefties and righties, respectively).

This year, he is playing for the Dodgers' AAA affiliate in Albuquerque and hitting only .218/.338/.391. His BABIP is .263, far below his career norm, and he is hitting an inordinate amount of balls into the ground, uncharacteristic of this high-HR, high-BB, high-K hitter. He has certainly been slumping in May and June. Perhaps it's the beginning of the end for the slugger; he is 30 and this is his sixth-straight season in either AAA or Japan. But more likely that it's just the most recent slump.

The Mets acquired Pascucci from Philadelphia last year when they had even less of a need for him than they do now. Perhaps they will call for him again? Knowing the Mets and their disdain for "statistical numbers," it's unlikely that they're even looking for a better solution at first base. But if they are, I think Pascucci is the guy.

People say (believe me, I've heard all the arguments) that if he were so good, why hasn't he been given a chance? Well the reasons are obvious. Any scout looking at Pascucci sees a big, slow bat that takes a ridiculous swing and would be totally overmatched in the majors. I find this argument preposterous. No matter what he looks like, the guy has consistently yielded .900+ OPSes in AAA. That talent isn't going to disappear just because the competition is better. People said the same things about Jack Cust, and his talent has translated to the major leagues. Pascucci's will as well.

Finally, having a right-handed power bat, even if from the bench, neutralizes a lot of the advantage the Phillies have on the Mets. Because right now Fernando Tatis, Wilson Valdez, and Omir Santos aren't exactly filling them with dread.

This FanPost was contributed by a member of the community and was not subject to any vetting or approval process. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions, reasoning skills, or attention to grammar and usage rules held by the editors of this site.

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I agree that Pascucci is good and underperforming

But I think Murphy, Tatis, and Martinez would be just as adequate. It seems overly risky to use Pascucci at all, let alone trade for him.

by TheBigStapler on Jun 12, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions  

I think the Cust example

is a bit of a stretch. Custs minor league numbers until age 23 were somewhat inflated due to hitting in the great hitting enviroments of Arizona’s and Colorado’s minor league affilates. He was given a slight chance by the O’s but really didn’t have that great of a AAA season for such a defensive liability. The A’s picked him then the Padres, another very smart organization, picked him up but couldn’t fit his bat into their lineup because of his glove, eventually the A’s re-aquired him. Val has never really been wanted. I know you’ve heard of this argument but while his numbers are great, I have to give some credit to scouting and “smart” teams for not wanting him and not giving him a chance. In addition, his MLE last year was .233/.332/.406/.738, the year before was a .685 OPS. I just don’t see ValPas being an upgrade over Tatis, F!, Murphy and that’s not even considering his defense.

by Sokojoe on Jun 12, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions  

If we still had him, I'd say yesyesyes.

But to acquire him from the Dodgers?…idk.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 12, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions  

Hells

Keep beating the drum, JP. I’ve renewed my b-r sponsorship just in case.

That said, if they’re going to have to acquire a Quad-A masher, they might as well get one that’s currently hitting. I know Shelley Duncan seems like an outrageous jackass, but he can pound the ball. Could the Yanks really want that much for him? Or for Todd Linden, for that matter (who hits switch, to boot)?

by TedBerg on Jun 12, 2009 6:08 PM EDT reply actions  

I dunno JP

I think Val’s time with the Mets came and went. I supported the call-up last year, but it’s probably not wise to trade for a player who we could have had for nothing and is showing signs of decline. I echo Joe’s sentiment that I doubt he’s that much better than our in-house options, defense considered. If Minaya did it, I’d call it uncreative.

Another problem is, if Val really is over the hill, the expectations, coupled with his sucking, would be a horribly painful I-told-you-so moment for all the naysayers from when the team probably should have used him.

P.S. let’s trade for Lastings Milledge

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Jun 12, 2009 6:43 PM EDT reply actions  

Would you consider a Millz reaquire

another example of Omar being uncreative or would you be blinded by awesomeness.

by Sokojoe on Jun 13, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'd consider it penance

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Jun 13, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm pretty sure if he didn't get up with what he did last year, Omar isn't going to trade for him.

I still don’t know why he didn’t get a look last year though.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 13, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions  

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