2010 Player Profile: Blake DeWitt- The Solution?
by Michael White on Mar 8, 2010 7:00 AM PST
in Community Projections
120 comments
The Blake DeWitt story begins in the spring of 2008, when before the season began both of the candidates for the starting third base job (Andy LaRoche and Nomar Garciaparra) were hurt and both started the season on the disabled list. Dewitt (22 at the time) was called upon by the club to fill in, with instructions for DeWitt simple, just don't hurt the team. To the surprise of probably everyone, DeWitt did an excellent job filling in at third base. In April of 2008 DeWitt posted an OPS of .761 and in May posted an OPS of .896 (but with a very high BABIP of .328 and .343 respectively) whilst playing an excellent third base defensively. Understandably, DeWitt leveled off a bit in June and with a healthy LaRoche and occasionally healthy Garciaparra, DeWitt was optioned to AAA for a brief period. During the trips to AAA, DeWitt started getting reps at second base, and at this point DeWitt was clearly valued pretty favorably within the organization. The most logical spot for DeWitt long term was second base as Jeff Kent was clearly in his last run in the major leagues. After a few trades near the deadline in 2008 saw LaRoche out but Casey Blake in (in separate trades) DeWitt effectively became the backup infielder at both second base and third. In the postseason, Blake DeWitt was able to contribute when Jeff Kent was sidelined and DeWitt was again called upon to fill in for an injured starter. While DeWitt didn't exactly crush the ball in the 2008 playoffs (he did drive in 5 runs in the NLCS despite posting an OPS of only .364) the season was a huge success. DeWitt had gone from being the third man on the depth chart at third base, to being the starting second baseman in the National League playoffs. DeWitt had arrived.
Unfortunately, 2009 did not go as planned.
In the offseason, the Dodgers seemed content to have Blake DeWitt as the starting second baseman. The club reached a 3 year deal with Casey Blake in the offseason but didn't make any real effort to sign a veteran second baseman to start in front of DeWitt. It wasn't until the market had really bottomed out that the Dodgers were able to sign Orlando Hudson to a 1 year contract who would certainly start at second base. Even with DeWitt being relegated to a backup role, it still seemed likely that he would spend the majority of his time with the big league club as DeWitt could fill in at third, second and (in a pinch) short stop. DeWitt did not perform well at the beginning of 2009 and posted a .176/.222/.176 batting line in only 18 plate appearances in April and DeWitt was quickly sent to AAA. DeWitt would get used to making the trip from Albuquerque to Los Angeles as he would be sent to the minors a total of 5 times in 2009 and by late summer, it appeared DeWitt had been passed in the organizational depth chart by Tony Abreu, who was outplaying DeWitt even in the minors (Abreu AAA wOBA .425, DeWitt wOBA .343.) However, Abreu did not last long in Los Angeles either as he was included in a late season waiver deal for Jon Garland, leaving DeWitt, again, in a position to compete for a starting job coming into 2010.
| Year | Age | 2B | HR | Runs | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | wOBA |
| 2008 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 45 | 52 | .264 | .344 | .383 | .319 |
| 2009 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | .204 | .245 | .388 | .271 |
| 2010 Projections - Age 24 Season | |||||||||
| CHONE | 22 | 10 | 51 | 47 | .254 | .327 | .398 | .320 | |
| Marcel | 11 | 7 | 30 | 32 | .267 | .343 | .411 | .328 | |
| Baseball HQ | 7 | 4 | 19 | 17 | .256 | .320 | .388 | ||
| ZiPS | 3 | 10 | 61 | 70 | .250 | .329 | .397 | ||
2010 Expectations
The 2010 offseason was not as active for the Dodgers as it had been the year before. Orlando Hudson was not offered arbitration and subsequently signed a contract in Minnesota, and the Dodgers re-signed Ronnie Belliard to compete with Blake DeWitt for the starting job at second base. I expect Blake DeWitt to again make the 25 man roster out of camp, and will be given a chance to get more regular playing time in 2010. DeWitt and Belliard will likely platoon at second base, and while DeWitt's glove is not great at second base, neither is Belliard's. Interstingly, despite the 2009 slide for DeWitt, because of trades, DeWitt still figures to be an important peice for the Dodgers. The club has essentially traded away all of the third base depth (LaRoche, Abreu, Josh Bell and Carlos Santana) and Casey Blake is entering his age 36 season. If Casey Blake is injured for an extended period of time, DeWitt is the logical replacement. But even though in the field DeWitt is a much better third baseman, he doesn't quite hit enough to be considered an adequate corner infielder in the major leagues. So 2010 figures to be a big year for DeWitt. Hopefully more consistent plate appearances will allow DeWitt to perform at the level he showed in 2008, and with a few years of work now as a second baseman, his glove may yet prove adequate to be a starting second baseman in the long run.
I predict DeWitt will spend all of 2010 in the major leagues and will hit
.270 / .350 / .410 in 145 games.
What are your community projections for Blake DeWitt?
0 recs |
120 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
RT @dylanohernandez: Dodgers lineup for B game: Robinson 8, Carroll 5, Giles DH, Ausmus 2, Lindsey 3, DeJesus 6, Reyes 4, Restovich 7, Barton 9. Elbert SP.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 8, 2010 7:40 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Reminder
Probable pitchers for the Dodgers are Scott Elbert, Josh Lindblom, Ramon Troncoso, Travis Schlichting, Kenley Jansen, Javy Guerra, and Armando Zerpa.
DeWitt
didn’t just replace Kent in the post season, his stellar Sept in 2008 during a heated pennant race was to me the most impressive part of his interesting 2008 season.
.283/.365/.435
A game lineup
per Gurnick:
Furcal SS Kemp CF Ethier RF Ramirez DH Loney 1B Blake 3B DeWitt 2B Johnson LF Ellis C Billingsley P
AJ Ellis begins
Remember when we did the Martin home run watch last spring. AJ Ellis has not hit a professional home run since 2008. Interesting that AJ had a slug % in the same league of .456 in 2008 compared to .375 the following year.
I have no idea about Ellis’ pop times (Kensai: help!), but he must have a good (well, decent maybe) arm, because he pitched for Jacksonville, eight innings over five games in 2006-2007.
From Dylan Hernandez on Brad Ausmus:
Brad Ausmus said he thinks he could catch every day if Russell Martin is out for longer than expected. “Just because I’m turning 41 doesn’t mean I’m out of shape,” Ausmus said
Jon Morosi has a nice article up on Fox Sports about the Dodgers & McCourt (he was at CBR on Saturday for McCourt’s impromptu meeting with the media). Aside from thinking Jarrod Washburn would be better than anything the Dodgers already have for 5th starter, I enjoyed the article, particularly these two quotes:
It would take a heinous level of incompetence to ruin this year’s roster. Neither of the McCourts could do that, even if they tried really, really hard
.
The Dodgers’ 2010 season isn’t going to be perfectly pleasant. We know that. Yet, once the games begin, Frank McCourt won’t have much to do with whether the Dodgers can beat the Giants. And that’s fine. Kemp, Kershaw & Company don’t need any help from him. Just pay the bills and stay out of the way.
From Cubs’ MLB.com beat reporter Carrie Muskat yesterday:
Former #cubs OF and nice guy Reed Johnson stopped to sign autographs at HoHoKam before leaving with #dodgers after Sunday’s game called
I'm an idiot
Today’s B game is against the White Sox, not the Cubs. I mistyped that last night (fell for the “Chicago” listing, and had the Cubs on my mind)
B Game underway
from Tony Jackson:
B game action with the Sox in the main stadium. Giles thrown out at home on single by Lindsey to end top first
I wonder how he looked running.
Per same source
Elbert gives up leadoff double
by Michael White on Mar 8, 2010 8:44 AM PST up reply actions
We were going RickMonday
on him the other day. Totally forgot what our mission is here.
by meercatjohn on Mar 8, 2010 8:47 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Elbert drops the throw on a 3-1 grounder, two runs score. Close play at first anyway, maybe a hit. No official scoring for B games
When Bellisario was gone in the beginning
it seemed no big deal, but this is starting to be more then a tad late.
It sounds like it is out of his hands now, but the only thing I would like to know is how much of the delay is due to Belisario filing for his visa late?
I blame the agent
what the hell else does he have to do besides collect his % for players in Beliario’s condition?
For that matter
you’d think our management would make visa’s a top priority for all the players who need them.
Agreed
Why can’t an agent have a visa filing day on his PDA or whatever and just call his players.
It’s important to know that we don’t really know if Belisario filed late or not. All we know is that his visa is delayed, and currently tied up in Washington. Sometimes shit just happens.
Do we know if this delay has something to do with his DUI or other legal troubles?
by Michael White on Mar 8, 2010 9:38 AM PST up reply actions
From TJ last Thursday:
Because of the DUI charge, the visa application was sent back from Washington to Venezuela for some additional clarification, and then sent back to Washington for final approval. Once that approval is granted — that, apparently, is what Belisario is presently waiting for — Belisario would be permitted to enter the U.S. within a couple of days.
Jackson further speculates (and his first word is key):
Presumably, Belisario knew that the procedure would be prolonged when he went home for the winter, but for whatever reason, he still waited too long to begin the process.
Per Jackson
Elbert plunks first batter in 2nd. Runner then steals second base. Kind of sounds like a little league game.
Giants lineup
Aaron Rowand CF
Edgar Renteria SS
Pablo Sandoval 3B
Bengie Molina C
Fred Lewis DH
Juan Uribe 2B
John Bowker LF
Kevin Frandsen 1B
Eugenio Velez RF
Barry Zito LHP
Not in a poor sportsmanship way
but I’m kind of hoping Billz plunks someone to send an early message.
The Giants’ everyday lineup is shit. I mean, seriously, Huff at 1B and DeRosa in LF — how were these good additions??
Their defense behind their solid pitching
might also be crap, too. That might be more worrisome if I were a Giant fan than the lineup. Some of those guys will hit, but not enough. DeRosa’s got a decent bat, though I don’t know about as an everyday player for a full year. Huff may only be a slight improvement over Ryan Garko this year. Molina as a cleanup hitter would make me cry if it were my team.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants country, and damned proud of it.
DeRosa
especially as a left fielder. I could make arguments about him as a 2nd baseman, 3rd not so much, LF not at all. When we wonder if Xavier Paul is a fourth outfielder and the Giants use Lewis/DeRosa/Winn over the past few years I’d say we might be short changing Paul.
Huff moving to Pac Bell will make Loney look like Hercules. What the hell was his agent thinking. If baseball management has not embraced sabremetrics it would also appear that some agents could use some work in that area. They put Huff in the worse possible offensive environment for his game.
And now that Burriss
is out for awhile where will the rest of their offense come from?! Who will reign supreme? :-/ (Well, no ill will meant toward Burriss, hope he recovers, etc.)
Yeah, Huff in that park shouldnt work at all. Hope miracles don’t happen. DeRosa and Huff will just be part of that horrible defense. Rowand is going to be a busy guy.
There's no need to fear, Underdog is here! / Broncos/Dodgers fan in Niners/Raiders/Giants country, and damned proud of it.
I just clicked on the article in the Yahoo Sports sidebar
about Jonah Hill playing DePodesta. Then I checked IMDB, and it has Demetri Martin as playing DePo. Either way, what is the casting director thinking? Both of those choices are pretty ridiculous. Aside from the lack of physical resemblance, do they think DePo was some sort of comedian?
I doubt Depo is all that funny
but then again, neither is Jonah Hill.
by Michael White on Mar 8, 2010 9:47 AM PST up reply actions
the movie will have to have some funny bits
or it won’t be that good. They might make DePo into a clownish figure. Sounds like it if they’re going for Jonah Hill!
I'd have to think I'm in the top 10%
of being a baseball fan and I would have zero interest in watching a moneyball movie. Who is their target audience?
Date Movie – No
Horror Movie – No
Suspense Movie – No
SciFi Movie – No
Special Effect Movie – No
Super Hero Movie – No
Foreign Language Film – No
Hot chick in movie – No
Hot guy in movie – No
Smart guy makes old entrenched group look bad – Yes, big demographic for that I’m sure.
Hot guy in movie – No
Not that this changes everything, but I think Brad Pitt probably qualifies.
how many copies
did Moneyball the book sell?
It’s a good story, if it’s well told it has as much chance of being a successful movie as many others.
How many book adaptations
have been told well? It is a boring book to the common person, they will need to jazz it up and when they do it will lose the essence of what it was about. By the time the movie gets made the people who loved the book will hate the movie and the no one else will be interested.
Plenty of crappy movies
out there, in fact most of the stuff Hollywood puts out is crap imo – so I don’t see the bar set too high for the Moneyball movie.
vr, Xei
From Andrew Baggarly (Giants / San Jose Mercury News), regarding today’s lineup:
Both teams agreed to use a DH today…
I believe that is the “procedure” for ST games…if both teams agree, there can be a DH; otherwise nope
Thanks
I believe that’s just as in AAA. If NL teams want to let their pitchers get some batting/bunting practice, they both (have to) agree for it to happen. Otherwise, there’s a DH. I believe that in minor leagues lesser than AAA, there’s only DH, no agreeing. You’ve got to wonder how pitchers manage, never batting once they’re drafted, until they suddenly get moved to AAA NL – or get traded to an NL team in the majors.
For ST, it makes sense to give more position players more PA with DHs, and keep pitchers out of trouble, in early ST. Let’s watch to see when they play the first game without a DH. End of 2nd week, 3rd week? I’m going to guess 3rd week, when they start moving non-roster-to-be players into minor league camp.
Not sure
We lost our source as Jackson left to Scottsdale for the A game.
by Michael White on Mar 8, 2010 9:55 AM PST up reply actions
What we do know
from the B game, per the Dodger notes:
LHP Scott Elbert made the start, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and a walk with three strikeouts in 2.0 innings. OF Brian Giles made his Dodger debut and chipped in two singles
Nothing after that just yet
3 K's
Giles was able to run around all four bases before getting thrown out at home. He’s not dead yet. I guess now we have to see how he feels tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow at Camelback Ranch
against the Rockies, on Prime Ticket…schedule to pitch for Dodgers:
Kuroda
Haeger
KuoGeoBro
Ubaldo is starting for Rox
There are still two innings to fill, so I imagine one of the other 5th starter candidates will pitch as well (or maybe two relievers)
by Eric Stephen on Mar 8, 2010 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
Re: Proj
Blake DeWitt
AB: 400
Hits: 103
1B: 64
2B: 25
3B: 2
HR: 12
Ave: .258
OBP: .321
SLG: .424
OPS: .745
wOBA: .326
BABIP: .281
If he does this everyone will be happy,
but i’m boosting him up a little …
.261, 15 hr
by 68elcamino427 on Mar 8, 2010 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
I think the Situation has some size on him. But DeWitt is a professional athlete, so he probably has the higher tolerance of pain. I think the Solution would wear him down as the fight wore on, and ultimately win via knockout in the 10th.
by Michael White on Mar 8, 2010 10:53 AM PST up reply actions
Is the A game on tv?
Also just heard that if the yanks don’t put Hoffman on the roster, they have to give him back. Man, ST sounds like so much fun. Maybe next year I can go.
by Skunkburner on Mar 8, 2010 10:48 AM PST via mobile reply actions
No TV.
Hoffmann would have to clear waivers first before the Yankees can offer him back to the Dodgers
by Eric Stephen on Mar 8, 2010 10:49 AM PST up reply actions
Have to admit
in all the years I’ve followed rule five picks I was unaware that anyone could add him if they put him on the 25 man roster. Still seems to me that any player who was picked in the rule five and could not make it was never picked by another team before ending back on his original team.
Do you remember when Hoffman was picked by the Yankee’s, a Dodger official said they were glad it was the Yankee’s since it was doubtful he’d stick with them. Why would he make that statement if he knew that Hoffman would have to clear every team to actually make it back to the Dodgers?
So Isotope outfield could be:
Repko/Hoffman/Paul – exactly as last year. What do Barton and Restovich do?
It is still unlikely that teams would claim him, because usually it’s right at the end of spring training, when most team’s 40-man rosters are full anyway. So unless some team really wanted him he will likely still go unclaimed.
Luis Perdomo last year was an example of a waiver claim. He was selected by the Giants from the Cards in the Rule 5 draft, but DFA’d right before the season began. The Padres claimed him, and kept him on the roster all year.
by Eric Stephen on Mar 8, 2010 11:13 AM PST up reply actions
Thanks
The Padres made a great rule five pickup in Everth Cabrera from the Rockies last year. I no nothing of this Perdomo.
I wonder how Steve Johnson is doing in Giant camp.
Feels weird
knowing a game was played and we know nothing of what transpired. I feel like I’m waiting for the boat to show up from China with the latest news.
Maybe today’s afternoon newspaper will inform us :)
by Eric Stephen on Mar 8, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
I only got to watch the NRI batting practice for the Dodgers on Friday
and then the regular batting practice on Sunday for the Angels, so there isn’t a whole big group out of those guys who can really mash, but Brandon Wood from the Angels was putting on a pretty good show. Idk if anyone here has been to the Angels ST facility, but there is a grass hill in left behind the outfield wall, and the top is about 40 or so feet behind the wall, if not more: Brandon Wood cleared that thing at least 4 or 5 times, when only 1 or 2 other balls went that far period. I wonder if Scioscia will find a way to bury him on the bench behind Izturis.
Also, in that LF spot, Alfredo Griffin was being a jerk and taking away any hr balls or foul balls from the fans in the area, and then shooing them away. I ran to get a foul ball and a lady came up to me and my friend and told her “a coach” scolded her for letting people over there and getting baseballs. She then proceeded to take the ball I had gotten. Lame.
In 2005
I got to watch Wood break the AFL home run record. Impressive power, hope he gets 500 at bats this year.
I’d be very happy if the Dodgers pulled off a trade for him. I know we’ve got blake through at least this year (option year next year, right?), but I like Wood’s potential and I’d be willing to trade Elbert plus a couple low prospects for him. They could use more young pitching, as I’ve been hearing they are pitching thin in the minors (though Elbert should be in the majors), Brandon Wood might get backup duty anyway thanks to Izturis, and Elbert doesn’t seem like he’ll ever get a shot here in LA. I think it works well.
Casey Blake is signed through 2011, with an option for 2012
by Eric Stephen on Mar 8, 2010 12:12 PM PST up reply actions
Game thread is up
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/3/8/1362696/billingsley-kershaw-to-make-spring
but continue to make your DeWitt projections here.
DeWitt's Sudden patience in 2008
Looks like a fluke at first, but then doesn’t
You start by comparing his 2008 MLB platoon splits:
vs RHP .250/.316/.366, .275 BABIP
vs LHP .281/.393/.449, .324 BABIP
His career minors platoon splits:
vs RHP: .280/.340/.454, .304 BABIP
vs LHP: .266/.323/.391, .304 BABIP
But then you look at his 2009 minor league platoon splits (because the 2009 major league total of 63 PA is worthless) and you see:
.257/.355/.434, .281 BABIP
.263/.336/.412, .280 BABIP
Those are low BABIP rates for a 21% LD rate, so I’ll make my Dewitt Projection
.261/.348/.389
Because I still have not reason to think he can hit the ball hard.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
NL West Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Diego
|
79 | 59 | .572 | 0 | Won 3 |
|
San Francisco
|
78 | 62 | .557 | 2 | Lost 1 |
|
Colorado
|
75 | 64 | .539 | 4.5 | Won 6 |
|
Los Angeles
|
69 | 71 | .492 | 11 | Lost 5 |
|
Arizona
|
57 | 83 | .407 | 23 | Won 1 |
(updated 9.8.2010 at 10:10 PM PDT)
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Create-a-Caption: Dusty Baker wants YOU to buy playoff tickets
- Padres' Heath Bell wistful about Trevor Hoffman's 600th save
- Want your first career home run? Face a pitcher from Chicago
- Slumpbot .200: Phil Hughes runs into New York's Joba Rules
- Grandstand Gems: A trio of fans got defensive on Tuesday night
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
