Hopefully Franciso is not blocking anyone. He makes Edwin look like Rolen.

Hopefully Franciso is not blocking anyone. He makes Edwin look like Rolen.

 

 

How much have you seen Franciso play third?

The catching spot was an offensive black hole for the Reds last season. The catchers as a whole batted .250 with 7 Homeruns 45 Runs Scored and 50 RBIs. Even the shortstop and centerfield positions produced more runs.

 

A lot of that had to do with Hernandez playing a lot of games at 1B.

I think Francisco has been playing LF in winter ball.

A lot of that had to do with Hernandez playing a lot of games at 1B.

 

It had more to do with him not staying healthy. He only played 30 games at first base. His slugging percentage and on base + slugging has been on the downward trend for the last 3 season--last year was his lowest since 2002. His average has remained about .258 for the last 3 seasons. He handles the bat pretty well and is good with runners in scoring position. However, he's going to be 34 in May and is on the decline offensively. Its difficult to imagine him playing more than 110 games at catcher--this is not a plus position for the Reds offensively.

How much have you seen Franciso play third?

 

 

4 times and it would be hard for anyone to say he would be better than Frazier for that position.

I think Francisco has been playing LF in winter ball.

 

He has, they say he has done pretty well.

4 times and it would be hard for anyone to say he would be better than Frazier for that position.

 

 

4 times? Wow that sure is enough time to accurately judge a player. I haven't seen Frazier play either, so you're right it's hard for me to say which one is better.

Lots of scouts say the same thing about Francisco, very strong arm however. Have you not seen anything like that?

ESPN has come out with their Top 100 prospects. Frazier is listed at #66 but, at least to scouts, he has does not have what it takes to play shortstop in the big leagues. They basically said that it doesn't look like he has the power or patience at the plate to put in an outfield corner position, or the footwork to play second base and that he'd be best suited to third--but that his way is blocked by Franciso.

 

The only knock on Frazier that I have heard / read is that people think he's too big to play shortstop. It had nothing to do with his ability to actually play the position.

The only knock on Frazier that I have heard / read is that people think he's too big to play shortstop. It had nothing to do with his ability to actually play the position.

 

 

Too big as in too tall, or too big as in too heavy? How big was Ripken Jr.?

The knock on Frazier at shortstop isn't his size ... it's that he's lacking MLB-quality middle infield skills. A guy that can play 2B or SS competently isn't going to be moved to the outfield in the minors.

Too big as in too tall, or too big as in too heavy? How big was Ripken Jr.?

 

Frazier is listed at 6'3'' 215.

 

Ripken was listed at 6'4'' 225.

The knock on Frazier at shortstop isn't his size ... it's that he's lacking MLB-quality middle infield skills. A guy that can play 2B or SS competently isn't going to be moved to the outfield in the minors.

 

 

That makes sense. Why would you move a guy from the SS position in the minors when that is one of the glaring holes at the ML level.

The OC talks seem to be heating up.