Earth to Bobby

From DOB's blog:

As for Kelly, with his torrid late-season push, including his current 21-game hitting streak, he’s certainly building a strong case for being retained as the starting second baseman. I get a sense, from talking to more than one team official, that the team is pleased with Kelly, just want him to be more consistent. 

The defense, many of us have noted, can get ugly form time to time. But when I asked Bobby Cox about it yesterday, the manager looked at me like I was crazy. “Kelly’s great,” Cox said. “He was great last year.”

No, he was -- and remains -- below average. It's hard to judge a second basemen by statistics -- Kelly's are mediocre. He's tied for second-to-last in errors at his position (13) and his .981 fielding percentage ranks in the middle. I'm more bothered by the timing of his miscues. They tend to come at pivotal moments, as you may have noticed. Apparently Bobby hasn't. 

Granted, KJ has opened our eyes with his torrid run at the plate -- enough so that I would be comfortable with him as our LF next year. We need one, and moving Kelly would open up a spot for Martin Prado. 

He's much better with the glove, and only Chipper and McCann have a higher OPS. Project MP's '08 numbers over a full season you're talking roughly 50 doubles, 10 triples and 80 RBI. I don't want that potential sitting on the bench anymore than I want to see KJ back at second. 

 --CB

Comments

[niekromurphy]

I posted something about Kelly's defense over at talkingchop awhile back. His defenders talk about how he has above average range at 2nd. I don't like him at 2nd base.

At the end of the season he has been on fire at the plate. On the whole, I see him and Kotchman as the same hitter. Kelly is not a good 2nd baseman, would be an okay outfielder. Kotchman is a gold glover.

[torippu]

Some of Bobby's comments this year (Glavine throwing lights out before his injury, saying the Dessens was a good one when he was signed) have me a little worried.

[rankin' rob]

Play Kelly in LF to placate lame-duck Cox. Prado at second. Spend money on pitching. Sabathia looks to be a true warrior in the Marichal mode. Otherwise ignore top-tier free agents. Jettison Hampton. He's bad luck.

[Viva Rufino Linares!]

That really worries me. KJ has a great bat, but if they leave him at second that doesn't improve the '09 team.