Can Mather play 3B?

by rlgosnell on Aug 16, 2008 5:25 PM EDT Comment 22 comments

I'm going to research some of Mather's MiLB history and see where he played and how he performed, but at the moment I'm feeling lazy and hoping that someone with more and direct familiarity with the farm system (i live in TX so i dont get to see the young kids live) could speak on Mather's ability to play 3B. Dan and Al rave about his athletic ability and he seems to be competent enough in LF and considering he has played a little in CF maybe they're right. If he could play 3B and we could move Glaus for an offensive (statistically) MIF as opposed to the offensive (morally) MIF we already have then that could be a significant upgrade. I'm thinking Rollins and Orlando Hudson up the middle with Mather and Albert at the corners might suffice.

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Um,

don’t pass that stuff over here…Glaus doesn’t suck…not sure we have the money to buy what you’re smoking!

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by bukowski on Aug 16, 2008 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

In all seriousness,

I don’t see how we could get there from here given current environment, payroll, contracts, etc. But hey – it’s change you can believe in!

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by bukowski on Aug 16, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

this is bizarre. Glaus is among the team leaders in rbi’s, and his defense is stellar

strikeouts from left-center

by Cards Fan in Chitown on Aug 16, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where did he say Glaus sucks?

Cardinal fan in the heart of Braves country
DFA Adam Kennedy and Randy Flores!
"Just because nobody understands you doesn't make you an artist."

by Mr Redbird on Aug 17, 2008 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

just plain rude

It was a reasonable comment, thought—we have a vacant spot on the roster for a backup corner IF as we currently play with 2 backup MI. Instead of respectful discussion, the guy gets jumped on for absolutely no good reason.

by jjray on Aug 18, 2008 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And that is why I replied to myself.

Sometimes I pull the trigger too fast.

I have discovered in twenty years of moving around a ball park, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats. ~Bill Veeck

by bukowski on Aug 18, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mather has some experience at third

He played 22 games there in Peoria and 2 more the next year (2005) in Palm Beach. His fielding percentage at 3B is .917 (with 5 errors)…so not exactly a ringing endorsement.

by jdub176 on Aug 16, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't really see Mather

as an everyday player, but he makes a fantastic 4th outfielder. I don’t know if I’d move Glaus, period. The cards have both the money and the prospects to bring in a better MIF without having to move Glaus.

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Aug 16, 2008 6:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont necessarily see that they do.

If so, why didn’t they make a deal already? Either there wasn’t an attractive MIF available or they didn’t have the juice to get one – Rasmus notwithstanding.

As far as the money goes, I agree that they – meaning DeWitt – may have the money, but he hasn’t shown that he is willing to part with it, ie. AJ Burnett. Truthfully I have been dissapointed that the team hasn’t found a player or two they are willing to knowingly overpay for in order to maximize the time Pujols has in a Cardinal uniform. His career is at the halfway mark so that issue remains to be seen.

by rlgosnell on Aug 16, 2008 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I'm sure Dewitt

has money to go out and get any player he wants, but I’m specifically referring to the roughly 30 million in payroll coming off the books this offseason. There hasn’t been any middle infielders available that would be worth selling prospects for. I pushed hard for Brian Roberts, but apparently he wasn’t available. Who were the top MIF’s that were moved??? This upcoming offseason, I fully expect at least one MIF spot to be filled by someone we won’t bitch and moan about all season. Now whether that happens through free agency or a trade remains to be seen.

"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak

by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Aug 16, 2008 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't

there just isn’t any MIF available that won’t cause criticism. They’re either bad or hurt.

In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.

by Tackle Box on Aug 17, 2008 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, 4th outfielder

Especially with 2 starting lefty outfielders next year most likely, this is where Mather needs to be. We all know LaRussa loves to rotate his outfielders anyway so 4th OF is a significant role.

by mikedallas45 on Aug 16, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

4th outfielder?

If Mather had a normal BABIP and his major league line looked like .270/.330/.500 would he still be a 4th outfielder for the future? Right in line his Memphis MLE was .265/.336/.515. If the dude doesn’t improve a bit he’s an ~.850 OPS with plus corner OF defense and athletic upside for even more. Not too many “4th outfielders” can claim that. Just because Ankiel/Ludwick/probably Rasmus are better doesn’t mean he’s actually of 4th outfielder talent and it’s misleading to say it like that.

"Regression to the mean is so much more fun to watch when it’s a Cub who is regressing." SleepyCA

by joker24 on Aug 17, 2008 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he's our 4th outfielder next year

he’ll the the best 4th outfielder in all of baseball.

I understand his rather rapid rise to the majors, but I honestly see something in the mold of Ryan Ludwick emerging. I may be wrong, but I’d like to be proven wrong. Bottom line, this kid can play and i honestly think he’s going to improve a lot.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I see a better version of Ankiel at the plate and a lesser version of Ankiel in the field.

(oh, and to keep in line with the main topic…………keep him in the outfield and away from 3rd. We have enough 3rd basemen)

by Tackle Box on Aug 17, 2008 3:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What I like is...

If Ramsus turns out to be a 25 hr/ 75 rbi guy like many think he could be next year…more in the future…is that we could legitimately have 4 guys with 25+ hr, 4 guys with 75+ rbi, and keep them well rested by rotating the four. That is absolutely ridiculous. I truly believe that they could do that only playing 3/4 of the time. Now, I could be WAY off. I don’t know.

This would be the Cardinals best OF since Lankford, Whiten, Jordan, and Gilkey.

by stlfan on Aug 17, 2008 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

errr...best OF potential

by stlfan on Aug 17, 2008 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

wasn't sanders/edmonds/walker better than that one?

actually e'contending mang

by nycbirdo on Aug 18, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

eesh.

i just time-traveled back through b-p’s database, and got an eyeful of craig paquette and felix jose. what gets that out, besides sulfuric acid?

to answer the question, at least going by the top 4 in VORP, the best two outfields the cards have had in the last 15 years are actually something of a trick question – they were 2002 and (by far) 2003, when albert was in LF. those two seasons got a combined VORP from the top 4 OFs of ~ 155 and 190, respectively.

after that, the 2004 effort of edmonds, walker (in only part of a season), sanders, and mabry is basically tied with 1998’s lankford/jordan/gant/drew, with each coming in at ~130 VORP. i think the 1998 team was actually a couple points better. the lankford-led OF was actually pretty bad outside of that year.

as an aside, the 2008 top 4 – ludwick, ankiel, skip, and mather – is just under 100 VORP, and has a fighting chance to end up as the best non-pujols outfield by VORP of the entire period – better than 2004, better than 1998. and that’s after giving 400 PAs to duncan/barton, for a grand VORP total of 0.

actually e'contending mang

by nycbirdo on Aug 18, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...that's why I said "potential" as an addendum...I thought of that one.

by stlfan on Aug 18, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glaus for Hudson?

I believe Hudson is a free agent at the end of the season. No need to trade for him. Keep Glaus and make bids on Hudson and Furcal in the offseason. Don’t be shocked if Lopez is the SS for the Cards next year.

How about handin' me another helpin' of those mashed taters...thank you very much!

by Elvis on Aug 17, 2008 5:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs