Valbuena/Cabrera Comp

Past and future middle infield?

almost 3 years ago mcrose 26 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Fun. Although everything after “the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Valbuena is more physical than Cabrera, who is six feet, 170 pounds” is just noise. Valbuena won’t make it past age 55.

Seriously though, I am excited to see how Valbuena and Cabrera progress. Anyone who dismisses Valbuena as a slap-hitting middle infielder could be in for a big surprise. He’s kinda been lost in the DeRosa signing, which is fine.

by dgcambridge on Feb 20, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions

DeRosa signing

nitpick, but trade

"Less of an Indians fan" - Jay

by Voltaire on Feb 20, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

right.

by dgcambridge on Feb 20, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

might just be early. i bet you wedge pushes to re-up him during or after the season.

by Brick. on Feb 20, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions

See, are you intentionally trying to make me under appreciate and grumble against DeRosa? I was kinda liking the guy. And then you have to go point out he’s most likely Wedgies current man-crush. Shall we start the list of players he’s blocking, or at least preventing Wedge from having no excuse from not playing. How long before Valbuena and Hodges both have their career completely stalled?

Still the local "Barfield Bounces Back Believer" and confident that there's still a lot of Pronk in Hafner. Oh, and for all the love of Cliffy, there's still a Sleepy Kitten inside.

by mjmarble on Feb 20, 2009 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

Well played.

by Jay on Feb 21, 2009 12:52 AM EST up reply actions

this is the very long version of what i was getting at and am worried about.

by Brick. on Feb 21, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t worry about it. Hodges needs to step it up considerably in order to earn a reserved spot — as it stands, having someone “block” him is a good thing. As for Valbuena, he’s in his “block year” right now, and if everyone proceeds as expected, I think he’s our Opening Day 2010 second baseman.

by Jay on Feb 21, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t help but think of Peralta as the Third Baseman of the Future™

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 21, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think of Peralta that way. I think of Cabrera-Valbuena as The Guys Worth Moving Peralta to Third Base For™. If both guys were just 20% more ready and steady for a starting job in the majors, then Peralta would already be playing third. But give it another year.

by Jay on Feb 21, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

Well, that’s kind of it; I like Valbuena better than Hodges, frankly. And Peralta’s bat will play at third.

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Feb 21, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

In 2008, Valbuena had a slightly better OPS than Hodges. Also:

Valbuena was one level higher.
Valbuena was (and still is) a year younger.
Valbuena hit for a higher average, walked more and struck out less.
Valbuena is a solid-plus second baseman, not a mediocre third baseman.

So that’s a lot of reasons to prefer him. Valbuena is a legit major leaguer right now, and Hodges isn’t. The only thing Hodges does better is hit for power, but not enough to offset Valbeuna’s big OBP advantage, and his peripherals are simply less projectable against good pitching.

by Jay on Feb 21, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

rec

by Brick. on Feb 22, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

i like this.

by Brick. on Feb 21, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

We just dominate Venezuela.

by afh4 on Feb 20, 2009 4:35 PM EST reply actions

too bad it can’t get us an “in” with the Cubans

by APV on Feb 20, 2009 4:45 PM EST up reply actions

That is precious

by Roger Dorn on Feb 20, 2009 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

that picture is epic comedy

So 2009.

by Gradyforpresident on Feb 20, 2009 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

While we’re discussing Valbuena, here’s Castro from today:

The more I see of Luis Valbuena, the more I like. He looks quite polished in the field, and he has a smooth swing. One line on Valbuena when the Indians acquired him this winter was that he’s a bit on the stocky side, but he looks to be in pretty good shape to me.

Fausto Carmona, on the other hand, must be a regular at the Andy Marte Buffet.

Not cool!

by NickFantana on Feb 21, 2009 4:39 PM EST reply actions

Looks like the previously spotted pudge wasn’t a fluke

I'm *always* in the driver's seat, cugino -- Chuck

by Turkmenbashi on Feb 21, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

Darn. I stand unfortunately corrected.

"Less of an Indians fan" - Jay

by Voltaire on Feb 21, 2009 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

did they bring manny’s old pink bicycle from winter haven?

by macasson on Feb 22, 2009 3:38 AM EST up reply actions

Oh pshaw. The man finally went into an off-season with both teeth and money. I’ve heard multiple higher-ups in the organization call him the hardest worker on the roster, and I really doubt he would do anything to jeopardize his health or productivity.

by fleerdon on Feb 22, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Teeth and money rec.

by afh4 on Feb 22, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

sounds like a Big Tymerz song

by Roger Dorn on Feb 22, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

The Andy Marte Buffet: 65 feet of all you can eat! From cuchifritos to guava nectar, from sopas riojas to tamarind jelly, it’s the best value for miles around! All you can eat for $12.95. Tell them Andy sent you!

by odradek on Feb 22, 2009 9:25 PM EST up reply actions