Hudson? No, Kennedy.
I wouldn't get too emotional over Orlando Hudson picking the Twins over the Nationals, and the Nats ending up with Adam Kennedy to play second base.
I never saw Hudson as a true difference-maker. True, he's solid defensively, and a career .280+ hitter. But his production at the plate tailed off in the second half of 2009, and while he's two years younger than Kennedy, career-wise they're not that far apart.
Kennedy is far more of a stolen base threat, with 156 career steals compared to Hudson's 50. Kennedy's career average is just 5 points lower than Hudson's, .277 to .282. Hudson has the higher sluigging percentage, .431 to .391.
Their career fielding percentages are roughly the same, .986 (Hudson) to .983 (Kennedy), but the scouts I've spoken with in the past 24 hours think Kennedy is a better overall second baseman. Kennedy has 78 post-season at-bats compared to Hudson's 4, but that's more a function of the caliber of teams they've both played with.
There's no downside to this transaction. The Nationals were looking for someone to keep second base warm until Jeff Kobernus is ready to take over there, which I believe will be sooner than later.
Yes, Cristian Guzman remains at shortstop for the final year of his contract. Guzman is a player who routinely takes the field when he's banged up. We've known for some time his reluctance to voice complaints about his health. He is reported to be in the best physical shape he's been in for quite some time, but that type of rhetoric means little until he takes the field. Has his range at short improved since last year? We'll find out soon enouigh.
The last Kennedy to wear a Washington uniform was infielder John Kennedy, 1962-64. John homered in his first at-bat in the major leagues, and later was part of the trade that brought Frank Howard to Washington. Adam Kennedy's tenure in DC will likely be shorter, but hopefully memorable for the right reasons.
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Categories (click for archive)Phil Wood |
Phil, They better get someone.I still think they need a decent 2nd basemen. Kennedy's first Homerun was off Dick Stigman of the Twins.Labor day i think? Any word on another starter? Keep up the good work. ========= Adam Kennedy's not a decent second baseman? Gee, you're tough. John Kennedy the ballplayer also had the same birthday as President Kennedy, but neither one hit the curveball very well. Kennedy was batting for Ed Hobaugh when he homered that day. They're still talking to John Smoltz.
Glad you mentioned Jeff Kobernus, Phil. After he got hurt in July he seemed to fall off the radar... what's up with that?
And do you see Kobernus' upside as higher than Steve Lombardozzi's? ======= He was a better prospect coming out of major college program,, but we'll have a better idea in another year. I don't think Kobernus fell off the Nats' radar. They know what they've got.
"Advanced defensive metrics rate the 34-year-old Kennedy as a below-average fielder."
Mediocracy continues. The Nats will once again have the worst infield in the majors. Phil, obviously you're saying Kennedy is a decent 2B. Didn't you say the same thing about Gonzalez last year? ======= Whoop-de-do. I'll take a veteran scout's word over "advanced defensive metrics." The same "metrics" say that Derek Jeter isn't a very good shortstop. In last year's Baseball Prospectus 2009 they wrote that Kennedy "...played outstanding defense" with St. Louis, and was part of "the best infield defense in the majors." And no, I don't recall ever praising Gonzalez' defense, other than it's more than adequate for a utility guy. You're so sure of yourself, why not bet on the Nats' infield in Vegas? I'm sure someone out there will take your money.
I'm not upset at this signing in the least. I think that you're mentioning Kobernus as being ready in the near future bodes well for 2011, with Desmond and Kobernus manning the middle infield positions. If Guzmans range is sufficient to get thru this season all will be well and his bat alone is reason enough not to panic, plus there won't be any internal griping as Guz will likely bat second in the order, a slot that likely would not have been his had Hudson been signed. I can remember his pouting in the past when moved out of the #2 hole, so at the least he should be satisified more than anyone else with the addition of Kennedy.
Let's remember that Guzman is in his final contract year. Remember how he played in his previous final contract year with the Nats? Good enough to get a 2 year renewal. (OK, it was a Bowden renewal.) He has to play well this year unless he wants to receive virtually no offers from another team for 2011. Thus he hopefully will exceed our low expectations. Remember too that he was hitiing .330 in the second half of the 2009 season before his bunions became an issue. Hudson's defensive skills have been eroding with age. Also he has been hurt (last 2 years with the D-backs) or benched (last year with the Dodgers) for the forgettable Belliard). This move by Rizzo is vastly superior to what we have been accustomed to in the past. Give the guy at least 2 years to build a team. He has not brought in any "dogs" so far.