Monday, December 12, 2011

A Few Good Men: 40 - Lombardozzi

The Home Stretch!

Steve Lombardozzi - Age 23 - MLB Service Time 0.023 Years

How He Became A Nat: Drafted by the Nationals in the 19th round of the 2008 entry level draft

The Raw Numbers:
MLB
PA - 32
AVG - .194
Fielding % (3 Positions) - .960 (1 E at 3B)
MiLB
PA - 616
AVG - .309
Fielding % - (3 Positions) - .997

Key Stat: 2 - The number of errors he made in over 500 chances in time split between Harrisburg and Syracuse, playing mostly shortstop and second base. That's insane. Pair him with Danny Espinosa and you got one heck of a defense up the middle.

Best Game: September 12th against the Mets. Batting behind stellar leadoff man Brian Bixler, Steve went 1-4, but he made that one count, knocking in the eventually winning run in the 7th against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

Worst Game: September 9th versus the last place Astros. Steve went 0-5 with a K while the Nats won in extra innings. He led off, seeing only 16 pitches and didn't even sniff the basepaths.

2011 Capball Grade: B. It's hard to judge the cup-of-coffee players, it's based mostly on flashes and extrapolation. He didn't do much at the plate and wasn't given a whole lot of opportunities, but he showed that he is special in the field. Fielding is half the game, so it feels like he has the potential to be a quality Major Leaguer.

2012 Nats Status: Steve is stuck behind two young, talented guys in Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa. Danny is a long term, core piece. Desi is a polarizing player who could finally reach his potential, be traded, or simply given up on. I am in the camp who thinks he is special and will eventually reach a high level. So, Steve Lombardozzi is in the unenviable position of being the future while the present is still young and talented. I think the odds are good that Espi and Lombardozzi are given the keys to the middle infield and Desi is traded. Or perhaps moved to outfield.

3 comments:

  1. As much as I think Desmond has upside, I don't see him getting there... His ugly spinning swing will produce the same results next year. Lombo might have a better shot than some people think.

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  2. You're turning into a soft grader in the homestretch. I had high hopes for Lombo, but to say he "didn't do much" at the plate, is being way too charitable. He didn't do anything at the plate. Sure it was just a cup of coffee, but compare Espi's cup of coffee the year before. You have to hope that the Nats find someone with a better bat to be our utility infielder this year. Let Lombo play every day in the minors and try to develop his skills at the plate.

    I guess I'd give him a C.

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  3. sec 222: you are right...I started with a C and felt bad giving a kid with 32 plate appearances that low a grade so I amended my choice. i will be grading yunesky maya on Wednesday...that will put me back in the harsh grading mood.

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