Loading ...How long until Wayne Krivsky trades Edwin Encarnacion?
I’m sure Billy Beane would love to have a player who put up an 832 OPS in the big leagues at age 23 and a 936 OPS in AAA at age 22.
This is a guy who should be one of the cornerstones of this franchise’s turnaround, yet he’s been jerked around by the current administration so much that it’s only natural to wonder if he fits in their plans. Yes, he’s been bad this season…in 100 ABs. Is that enough time to have given up on him? And does anyone in their right mind think that, by the end of the season, Ryan Freel will have better batting numbers than Encarnacion? And does anyone think that Freel will play better defense at third.
I don’t.
I wonder whether Oakland has any mediocre middle relievers they are willing to trade…?
Chad…. I am scared that you are on the right track with this. This organization has jerked him around from day 1 in Cincinnati. He makes an error? Sits the next day. We have a lead, sits in the 7th inning.
Ryan Freel at third base makes Edwin look like a gold glover…. and there is no way his bat is as good as Edwins. While on the subject, does it bother anyone that our middle infielders have more power than our current corner infielders?
Seriously the poo poohing of Edwin Encarnacion is really frightening.
All I’ve heard is how they’re wrecking his confidence, and playing mind games with him.
I’m pretty sure it was Edwin up there batting on the interstate for April before “heating up” and running his BA all the way up to .220.
For six weeks Edwin has played poorly. Offensively, defensively you name it, he’s doing it poorly. At the same time he struggles, he’s making boneheaded plays which you excuse if he’s batting .300 but not when he’s batting .220.
I understand the thought process that we should let him “grind through this” but what has he shown to make you think he’s improving or coming out of the slump?
“boneheaded plays”?
Please elaborate.
And what makes me think he’s coming out of it? An 816 OPS over the last 10 games before he was sent down? And several balls hit hard, just to show you I actually watch the games.
Ryan Freel, the new 3b, over that same stretch: 810, and 2/4 on SB.
Freel – 2 errors in 8 games at 3b.
EE – 6 errors in 29 games at 3b.
This, I posted over at Rosecrans, before I noticed that Chad set up this thread:
I believe Encarnacion will hit because he has done so already, at a very young age. Guys who play, let alone play well, at the major league level at age 22 typically go on to long careers. You can find exceptions, sure. But do you think the Pirates regret trading Aramis Ramirez after he had a horrible season at age 24 (.234 .279 .387)? I bet they do.
Another interesting tidbit – FPct Pct by Age:
Ramirez – age 20: .941
Age 21: .930
Age 22: .917 EE: .944
Age 23: .945 EE: .915
Age 24: .946 EE: .914 (so far)
Age 25: .929
Age 26: .969
Age 27: .947
Age 28: .965
Age 29: .988 so far
I’m not saying EE is, or will be Ramirez. I AM saying that there’s ample recent precedent for a talented young Dominican 3b who reaches the majors early, struggles both at the plate and afield, but rights himself and becomes a top 10 power hitter.
Freel is better defensively than EE. Check out the range factors. And I think EE can use some time in Louisville to clear his head. I just hope that they don’t give up on him, and bring him back up in a month.
Also Freel’s fielding percentage at 3rd is .936. His RFg is 2.64.
Edwin’s fielding percentage is .927 and 2.57.
ZR for Freel is .763, and .685 for Edwin, excluding this year.
I’m pretty sure that those numbers point to Ryan Freel being slightly better. I don’t think that difference is really comparablle to the offensive difference to the two. I also am afraid of what happens when Hamilton cools down. Are the Reds hoping for a Mark Teahan type fix? I hope that turns out to be the case.
As to Edwin’s “free-swinging problem” – he’s ranked at 125 in P/PA at 3.66, which i would argue that is league average.
On another note, what are the Reds doing about David Ross? He’s been hitting far worse than EdE and I see no clamouring for LLM to take over.
Give Ryan Freel 2 weeks at third base. Edwin will look like Scott Rolen.
Just a prediction, on the negative side, EE traded when his value will probably be at an all time low, and Freel will be kept when his value is at an all time high. Freel is the one that needs to be traded. For all the Farney love there is out there Freel has one big game and four stinkers. He has the chance to fix some of the bullpen problems. Let Hatteberg or Hamilton or Phillips lead off (if Phillips can develop any plate discipline), Freel is far overrated right now and this team should turn it around and profit from it.
I doubt Oakland feels like giving anything up for another 3B. I think they’re fine there.
Was a rationale given on what they want EE to do at Louisville? Is he supposed to work on his fielding? Learn a new position?
Oakland, if they could get their hands on EE, would move him to 1B like they did with Hatteberg, and let him play. Either that, or left field.
As long as Narron is around, Encarnacion is not going to be an integral part of the Reds or of the future. Since the Narron Brothers are instrumental in getting Hamilton to the Reds, ownership is in no hurry to get rid of Narron. The best thing is for EE to get his act together and then be traded. Hopefully he’ll have a better chance in another organization.
EE is not going to be traded. He will eventually end up at 1b or in the OF. He had a terrible start and hopefully the time in Louisville will clear his head and he will come back in two weeks ripping.
As far as David Ross, you can’t argue with how he is playing behind the plate. He is throwing out runners and the pitching tends to be better when he’s behind the plate.
I agree about Freel. He is not an every day player at any position, but a fill in at many.
Freel the best backup to all we have. Hemight be our best rounded player. He is not a full time player though. EE needs lots of help, Dare I say a change of scenery very similarly to the of Nats closer Cordero.