February 08, 2007
Stewart Goes West
The Oakland Athletics added Shannon Stewart to their group of outfielders, and Athletics Nation likes the move:
I really like this move. Stewart can be a really great leadoff hitter and is very good defensively when he's healthy. Of course that's a big caveat because he hasn't been that healthy in recent seasons. He was healthiest in 2005 and before that 2003. This is a really good depth move and I like the fact that it was an incentive-laden contract. I do feel much better about it. The person who shouldn't? Dan Johnson.
I wonder if Stewart did something other than physical to show his foot problems were going away? I'm less optimistic about Stewart. He hasn't played well since 2004, and he'll be 33 in 2007. That's an age where a player can disappear as easily as he can make a comeback.
I wonder if Kielty and Stewart will get along in the clubhouse, especially if they're fighting each other for playing time?
Stewart is a horrible fielder, even though he runs fast. His arm is better than Juan Pierre's, but that's about it. I like the signing though, as a LF, he won't hurt much.
He's worth a flier - he has skills that seem to age well - hits for average, not a lot of power or walks but walks enough without striking out much. Of course, as David notes, he's at the age where he could decline precipitously - if he loses a few steps (quite possible with the PF) or a tick of bat speed he's a 270 hitter without speed or a defensive position. If healthy he would make a nice RH half of a platoon at DH/LF. And he's cheap. If he replicates his good years (310, 15 HR, 70 RBI) he'a a useful player.
People always misinterpret "Moneyball" - style baseball and Beane in General - as being obsessed with OBP. That's not what it's about. It's about exploiting inefficiencies in the market, and about winning in the margins, i.e., identifying players who can be gotten on the cheap and getting the most out of them. See: Frank Thomas.
