This season I'm letting my aging big bat/weak glove catcher go. To replace him, I'm going to platoon two cheap, early career players, one v LHP and another v RHP.

V LHP I'm set with Bobby Kennedy

"http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=2388123"

but v RHP, I haven't made up my mind on strong defense/weak bat Cory Kelly

"http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1238480"

OR better offense/weak defense Victor Velazquez

"http://www.whatifsports.com/hbd/Pages/Popups/PlayerProfile.aspx?pid=1660891"

What would you do with your own team? Would Kelly's great defense outweigh his potentially abysmal batting average? Even though Kennedy's role would be v LHP, with his acceptable defense, I will probably try to give him some at-bats against RHP once in a while, too.

I would personally go Kelly; Velasquez won't be able to throw anyone out, and that will most likely offset his marginally better offensive skill set (which is not that good in the first place).

If you have a deep lineup, go with the glove.

Velazquez. I'd find it hard to justify 100 starts and 400 AB for a player with Kelly's bat at any position but SS. But everyone builds differently.

Additionally, most lineups are much less strong vsR overall than vsL, so you can less afford a cypher bat in the lineup. I'd be much more likely to platoon a guy like Kelly (obviously with reversed splits, etc) as a vsL guy.

I'd go Kelly. I don't think Velaquez will be that much better with the bat against righties. Kelly will help your pitching staff more than Velaquez will help your offense.

I would go with Velazquez. I think Velazquez is at least .100 OPS points better and I don't think the defense is quite offset by that. It's pretty close though.

I'd go w/ Kelly as well. Kennedy is going to need a defensive replacement for late in games, and Kelly can give you that. Kennedy should also be decent vs Righties.

Playing in Madison is something to take into account as well. I think Velazquez' split/power/eye combo will play pretty nicely there, and his PC isn't half bad. His throwing arm stinks but base stealing is less of a factor in a walk-walk-3-run-HR kind of park like Madison.

I don't think that Velazquez's bat is far enough ahead of Kelly to justify it... but he should still be batting 8th or 9th. If he has to hit any higher (first, that means you have an awful lineup), you may wish to reconsider.

Of course, I'm usually okay with a guy hitting .178 if he's a GG SS, so maybe I'm in the minority.

Also, Kennedy's a starting C, imho, save for his DUR.

Having him play against the best teams, and having Kelly for late inning D (only) in the playoffs would be a pretty solid catching situation.

Ditto with iain, but there's some math you have to do with SS or C (which seem to be the two cost benefit analysis positions when it comes to bat/glove)

SS - for each hit you lose with a weak bat, are you making it up in range factor and + plays? A .300 SS gets 50 more hits than a .200 SS in 500 AB. If your .200 SS gets to 10% more balls than the .300, has 30 + plays a season vs 15 minus plays for the other guy...it becomes a decision. If the .300 guy holds his own defensively, even if he doesn't generate pluses...not easy.

C - same as SS except with catcher ERA and SB/CS ratio.

Quote: Originally Posted By iain on 3/25/2010
Also, Kennedy's a starting C, imho, save for his DUR.

Having him play against the best teams, and having Kelly for late inning D (only) in the playoffs would be a pretty solid catching situation.

This is probably the correct answer. You might consider looking for a veteran backup Catcher on the FA market. You can often find a guy with solid hitting and defensive #s, but 50/50 Dur/Hea and a low OVR, who is asking less than $500k.

The K brothers it is, then. Thank you. Thank you, all.

Velasquez. Decent enough PC. Much better hitter. Kelly looks like a terrible bat.