We all thought we were done with every day Eduardo Nunez, huh? Well, with third baseman Alex Rodriguez out for 4-6 weeks following successful surgery, we’re going to see Nunez every day, just like he did when he filled in for Derek Jeter during the captain’s DL stint. The shoes Nunez is going to be called on to fill now, though, are definitely bigger. He may not be manning the most important defensive position in front of home plate, but Rodriguez’s bat is beyond hard to replace, even if he’s slumping.
I’m not thrilled about this, but since Eric Chavez is still on the shelf and just experienced a setback, it’s something we all have to live with again. But, was Nunez that bad in his time starting and has he been all that bad overall in 2011?
Nunez is sporting a 107 wRC+ right now (.332 wOBA) thanks to an inflated .156 IsoP, due to that monster series he had against the Mets. Despite the just-above-average offensive output, Nunez has been exactly replacement level (0.0 fWAR) thanks to a -6.4 runs defensive mark.
Before starting for Jeter, Nunez hit .224/.255/.367/.622. During the time he started in place of the injured Jeter, Nunez rocked an impressive .318/.366/.485/.851 line, though that was buoyed by the Mets series; before that series, he was hitting just .241/.302/.328/.629. Discounting that Mets series is unfair, though.
Nunez has shown a few things during his 2011 campaign. He has definitely shown flashes of great brilliance–like that Mets series–but the whole picture hasn’t yet been painted. There are times when I watch him at the plate and I wonder if he has any sort of approach up there at all. He’ll make a flashy play in the field, then bobble a ball that’s hit right at him. Maybe consistent playing time will help that, but I still don’t have too much faith in Nunez to be anything more than replacement level.
But that’s okay. Because that’s exactly what the Yankees will need out of third base while Rodriguez recovers from his surgery. Nunez may not be the best option, but with Chavez hurt and Brandon Laird not knocking on the door, he’s the default choice.
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32 Responses to Nunez’s new shot
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Agreed. While Nunez skill set is nothing impressive there are no other better options out there. Hopefully, he can throw the ball to first without missing Tex completely.
Why not give Laird a chance? He is on the 40 man roster. His natural position is third and while I doubt he’ll hit for average he does have some power.
I like Laird too. But at the bottom of the order I also like Eddie’s more proven ability to give us baserunners and productive at bats. On days Derek needs a break, I also wouldn’t shudder at the specter of Eddie at SS and Brandon at the corner batting in the 8th and 9th holes, respectively.
Man, the loss of Chavez is turning into a real ballbuster, isn’t it?
I would hardly say that Nunez gives productive at bats.
He puts the bat on the ball, gets on and moves baserunners more than Laird would. That was my sole point of comparison.
I do think consistent playing time will help. I’m sure its hard to be on the bench for a few days in between actual live pitching at bats
His troubles were consistently there when playing nearly every day for Jeter.
To protect from having to use Pena every day should another IF get hurt, the Yankees need a backup plan. Unless someone is handed to them (Can’t give up more than an Org player in the minors), then I feel Laird is the best option. If someone verstile enough is a relative freebee and a free agaent at the end of the year, then go for it.
Marcus Thames was DFA’d by the Dodgers. Punt Jones and bring him back.
I miss Thames and am unfamiliar with the reasons LA decided to give him the boot. But in any event, punting ol’ Smiley should certainly be among the top items on our to-do list.
Jones is better than Thames defensively.
Careerwise certainly, but he hasn’t seemed to be playing up to his reputation in that regard this season. And he’s a black hole in the order, like Pena. Stone waste of a roster spot. I’d rather see Nickerson getting reps in his place.
Jones this year has played way better than Thames has in the field. I love what Marcus brought but he shouldn’t even be allowed to own a glove, and his bat was awful with the Dodgers.
I neither advocated a deal for Thames nor did I compare him in any way to Jones. All I did was agree we should punt on him. He’s hardly been sparkling in the field, his bat has been next to useless and his lack of intensity is glaring.
I think Eddie could really thrive at third base defensively. While he may say SS is his more comfortable and natural position, the corner is a somewhat less demanding position to play; better suited to his raw but instinctive skill set; and his fielding stats to date (small sample size acknowledged) would appear to confirm he’s been distinctly less of a defensive liability in that role.
What about Omar Vizquel for 3B? Veteran chasing 3000 hits who would cost nothing in the way of prospects. Maybe joining the Yankees rejuvenates his bat. He had a nice 2010 for his age and I think he’s currently batting .269 a point lower than Jeter albeit in less than half the plate appearances. Give Vizquel ten starts at 3B and in the ninth slot to see what he can do and if he sucks, just make him the backup infielder who starts games to give guys rest in September, what he’d probably be for the Chi-Sox. I know he’s ancient but he does have intangibles and tons of experience. Would Nunez or Pena be that much better than him with the bat and glove over ten games? I know I’d rather have Vizquel be the backup infielder for the postseason over Nunez or Pena. Kenny Williams has a good head for baseball and I doubt Vizquel would still be on the Chi-Sox if Williams thought he wasn’t cutting it.
Vizquel has struck out only 14 times in 129 PAs, so he strikes out once every a little over 9 PAs. Not bad. At least he makes contact. If he didn’t strike out in his next 11 PAs, that’s a strikeout every 10 PA.
Love the Omar idea, especially if it means ending Joe G’s bromance with Pena. Our run prevention and infield defensive metrics would just be sick!
I don’t care what anyone says or what the stats say, Vizquel is better than Nunez or Pena defensively because unlike Nunez and Pena he makes the routine plays. I haven’t heard anyone bemoan the return of Jeter to SS. Pena has already cost the Yankees a game with his inability to make a routine play (rubber game vs. the Mets at Citi Field) and as much as I like Nunez’s bat, I could see him lose a game or two for the Yankees with his defense. I can’t see Vizquel doing that.
Vizquel is low risk, high-reward and again if he doesn’t strike out in his next 11 PAs, he has a once every 10 PA strikeout rate which would be fantastic for a #9 hitter. His once every 9+ PA K rate is already great esp. considering his age. Remember he’s doing what he’s doing at age 44. Also he’s never won it all, so I see him relishing the opportunity for perhaps his final stand.
Not to pile on too hard, but don’t forget Pena’s three errors in Cincy either.
That’s what I mean. He’s a BACKUP INFIELDER WHO CAN’T HIT yet he makes three errors in one game and costs the Yankees a game with his defense in another, so he’s a backup IF who can’t field either. He sucks.
You’re preaching to the choir on this one, DI. I’ve taken a ton of flak by some here in the past for saying I thought Pena had no business being on an MLB roster, least of all ours.
One cool thing about Vizquel is say the Yankees acquired him just before the series at TB next week and still maintain a six-game lead over TB going into that series (the Yankees split with Toronto and TB splits with whoever.) If Vizquel helps the Yankees take 3 out of 4 in TB for an eight-game lead with 70 games left to play for the Yankees, the trade was worth it. I think Vizquel even at his advanced age is still good enough to make an impact in a series. He’s the kind of guy I could see snap a tie in the 8th with an RBI groundout or move the runners to 2B and 3B to set up a two-run single. Give a chance to The Ancient Mariner haha.
Sold. Brian and Joe, are ya listenin’?? Heehee!
I’m not kidding about Vizquel. I’m sick of looking at Pena and wondering when he’ll next cost or almost cost the Yankees a game.
Is Nunez REALLY ready to step into A-Rod’s shoes? Filling in for Jeter for two plus weeks is one thing, filling in for A-Rod for 4 to 6 weeks (probably 6) is another animal altogether. I don’t think he has what it takes. Get Vizquel sometime during the Toronto series and start him vs. TB and for the rest of July (Nunez could get some ABs of course.) 3B and the #9 slot. Again if he really blows, start Nunez. Anyone but Pena!
Mora’s steep falloff from last season’s output and the D-backs’ futile effort to find any takers for him screams he’s probably injured or playing hurt and one bad step away from another trip to the DL. So I’d have to say yes to Omar in pinstripes, and no thank you to Melvin.
Another guy the Yankees could give a looksee to is Melvin “Sextodad” Mora.
I nickname him “Sextodad” (a take on “Octomom”) because his wife gave birth to sextuplets awhile back. I remember YES showing a pic of all six of them lined up like puppies LOL! Thankfully and miraculously all six are still alive as babies tend to die in multiple birth. I wonder if MM joked with his wife “A year of salary for every baby!” – that’s alot of years to play to earn that haha.
I just found this pic of MM, his wife, and their sextuplets in a Google search – cute wife and adorable kids!
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2008/05/ipt/1210491308.jpg
Correction: Melvin Mora’s nickname is “Pentadad” because his wife gave birth to quintuplets. I could’ve swore it was sextuplets. I guess he had a kid before or after the quintuplets with the six kids I see in the photo I posted.
Why go after Mora or Vizquel when the obvious option is Jerry Hairston Jr? He’s already played for us, won’t cost much at all, and he can play every position on the diamond almost. The Nationals are improved, but no in that org thinks they are making the playoffs. I’ve wanted Jerry back since he left, and to do it now makes as much sense, or more, than anyone else.
Jerry was definitely solid for us, but he’s due $2 mil plus another $1 mil in bonuses this season; and he’s at least a week away from coming off the DL and showing if the busted wrist he’s rehabbing is 100 percent. That sounds pretty pricey and dicey for a defensive stopgap; not to mention the tiny window it leaves to evaluate him before the TD.
I really doubt the Yankees are sweating 2 million dollars.
It’s not like we don’t have a history of taking on a player coming off the DL. We traded for Kerry Wood last season before he ever even pitched coming of the DL.
Bring up Jorge Vazquez. Give him at bats
Vazquez can’t play third at the big league level. He would cost us way too many runs, and in turn games. Not to mention that his bat is probably going to be majorly exposed by big league pitchers.