Portes > Valencia and Hughes?
by Span Man on Mar 12, 2010 1:39 PM EST
17 comments
Granted, spring training statistics should be kept in perspective, but should we start seriously considering Juan Portes as the true Twins 3B of the future?
Comparison of Minor League Stats after the jump.
Stats curtesy of Baseball-Reference.com:
Hughes:
- 2008 (Age 23 - AA / AAA): Batting = .309 / .369 / .524; 3B Field% = .897 (65 games)
- 2009 (Age 24 - AA / AAA): Batting = .254 / .335 / .454; 3B Field% = .893 (81 games)
Portes:
- 2008 (Age 22 - A+): Batting = .270 / .319 / .395; 3B Field% = .932 (38 games)
- 2009 (Age 23 - AA): Batting = .297 / .366 / .494; 3B Field% = .931 (18 games)
Valencia:
- 2008 (Age 23 - A+ / AA): Batting = .311 / .366 / .500; 3B Field% = .952 (110 games)
- 2009 (Age 24 - AA / AAA): Batting = .285 / .337 / .466; 3B Field% = .933 (124 games)
Bottom line, I think Portes should start being part of the conversation. His defense (at least based on Fielding %) puts him ahead of Hughes, but his bat is slightly behind the other two. On the other hand, Portes' 2009 numbers in combination with his strong 2010 Spring may be indicators he has turned the corner. If he does get promoted to AAA, I can't see him continuing to get much time at 3B, but maybe now he has a better case.
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Saying
that Portes is better at 3B than Hughes is preposterous, considering the difference in experience at that position. Sure, it is easy to have a .930 FPCT in only 18 games. Give him as many as 81 games (Hughes) and you may see a lot more mistakes being made. Plus, FPCT is no real way to judge a fielder’s fielding. I have learned this from this site.
There are a lot better statistics to show fielding than just FPCT and errors, and so forth. Range factor, plays in zone, plays outside of zone, UZR/150, etc are all statistics I would show long before FPCT. FPCT is based entirely on errors made…so therefore, it is not so great.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
Agreed, FPCT is lacking
With limited time to research at work, I was hoping someone could fill in the blanks related to UZR/150, etc.
What do the scouts say?
I am a stat man, but sample sizes are pretty small. Portes seems to be off everyone’s radar. He’s not in Sickel’s Top 20.
If they thought he could actually play 3rd base
he would have played 3rd base. Portes’ best future is as a 4C backup, I suspect.
by Eric in Madison on Mar 12, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions
Not preposterous
Hughes is a BAD third baseman. Who was the last guy promoted to the Twins with a sub-.900 fielding percentage?
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Hughes is bad
but I do not think that Portes could be any better. Portes is probably worse than Hughes at third….It is hard to say though based on these small sample sizes.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
No
Portes is much better than Hughes at every position. Just look at the fielding %.Hughes just makes too many errors. He’s actually a little better at second than third. But he’s consistently sub .900 in the infield.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
My squibble
here is that Portes does not have the innings/“experience” at 3B/2B to say if he is better than Hughes. I agree, Hughes is really bad at 3B but I cannot say that Portes is any better since Portes has only played at 3B a maximum 38 games.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any of us." - Kirby Puckett
OK
If you go back over Portes’ minor league career, he actually has played more second than Hughes. Hughes has played more third, but that’s because they’re trying to develop him into a third baseman. Ask anybody in the Twins organization and they will tell you Portes is a better third baseman than Hughes. Not that he’s anywhere near as good as Valencia. But Hughes is one of the worst fielders the Twins have had in their organization in a long time.
Did you see Tolbert yesterday? That’s Hughes most days.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Total zone at 3B
2006 -4
2007 0
2008 -2
2009 -3
That was in less than full time play so it probably prorates to something like -15/150. I’d feel confident saying he’s below average and probably is not major league caliber.
Sample size
I wonder how he would do when given the chance to play 3B every day. They keep moving him around to give him versatility. It’s tough to play well at one position when you’re asked to play four or five.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
I think they move him around because he isn't very good defensively
not to give him versatility. If he could play infield, they would have him playing infield.
Hughes and Portes (and countless minor leaguers before them) have the same problem: enough bat if they were good gloves at a premium position, but not enough bat to carry a corner OF position.
by Eric in Madison on Mar 13, 2010 10:06 AM EST up reply actions
Sounds like Brendan Harris
"Pinch-bunters don't have a ton of value, even with the Twins"
by Steven Ellingson on Mar 15, 2010 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Hughes is the question?
Portes will start in Lf, I hope at Rochester (I hope they cut Jones) Valencia will start at 3B in Rochester. Hughes??? I’ve read the FO likes his bat, but he has no defencive position (same with Dinkelman). They seem to be playing him at 2B in the spring games. Could Rochester starting 2B spot go to Hughes? Or is he a DH with Lis.
I see Juan Portes as much more of a left-fielder than 3B
If Juan Portes could play CENTER-FIELD in addition to the corner OF spots
he’d be my vote for our 4/5th Outfielder to back up Cuddyer and Span
Wow Blackburn makes nearly identical money as Baker does now....
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Mar 13, 2010 12:38 PM EST reply actions
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