EXPECTATIONS FOR 18: Asdrubal Cabrera

[Edgy MD]

I was your shortstop, and then I was your third baseman, and now I'm your secondbaseman. I may bitch, but if you keep paying me like a starting shortstop, I don't really care if I'm your third base camera operator. That's just how it is. I want my money.

Good hands, but not much range. Good power. Plays through pain and stays modestly productive doing it. This is what you know about me from my past. I also like unhatting people.

But what does that say about my future — my Venezualan, number-13-wearing, switch-hitting, soul-patch-sporting, sometimes-blonde-dying future? Dígame usted.

[fimg=322:13om4omp]https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gdEIAzCBj9U/WAugzFDRKTI/AAAAAAAA9Vw/aORdbBTvLZ8_YhRI04YGN6tB5UTTvVmtQCLcB/s400/9396606-asdrubal-cabrera-mlb-new-york-mets-miami-marlins-850x560.jpg[/fimg:13om4omp] [fimg=378:13om4omp]http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2017/0612/r219325_608x342_16-9.jpg[/fimg:13om4omp]
[fimg=380:13om4omp]https://media.giphy.com/media/l3vR5iPMYVMDAyxry/giphy.gif[/fimg:13om4omp] [fimg=320:13om4omp]http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/b/4b144a386e94b2ac385427e34e5bac259d0f319f/lp_crop/9558624.jpg[/fimg:13om4omp]

Play me wherever you want. I got good hands.

[youtube:13om4omp]aFzicvVhIZ0[/youtube:13om4omp]

[Guest d'Kong76]

On page two with no comments? C'mon people now, smile on your brother,
everybody get together...

I dunno, 85% of his 2016-2017 sounds reasonable.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Tough guy, but so limpy lately.

.270/.335/.420, something like 12 bombs and 55 rib-eye steaks in about 475 ABs.

[Benjamin Grimm]

No matter what happens going forward, I'll always have great admiration for how he played in 2016. He's not the player that Keith Hernandez was, of course, but there was something about his drive and determination that reminded me of Keith.

I'm going to be optimistic about Asdrubal's 2018 season: 20 homers, .280.

[Ceetar]

Asdrubal. Gives way to David Wright who only misses...

*sigh*

fine.

I like his taking his walks with the Mets last year. fluke or dedicated effort? we shall see.


.281/.348/.445 good for 3.1 fWAR and a 115 wRC+

Lets' say 155 games. 128 games at second, 14 at third, 9 at SS.

[Centerfield]

Gets hurt early. Replaced by newly musclebound, I-changed-my-launch-angle Gavin Cecchini, who takes over for the rest of the season.

[Edgy MD]

Hmm ... interesting. You should post some numbers into Gavin's thread.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think this guy's on his way out. Terrific 2016 as mentioned above but already lost his role with this club twice, already asked for a trade, had a worse year in 2017, and there are many contenders for his role still around. He's actually less than old than I thought.

I think he'll do okay but won't last the season. Really he's a lot like Reyes and ideally would have Reyes' role on the Mets (switch hits, plays all over the infield, a little pop) but there's only so much "demotion" you can give a guy over the course of a three-year deal.

He'll be an acceptable infielder until he's not. 60 games, 269/325/410. Traded to the 1st American League team with an lengthy infield injury that agrees to take on his $$ in exchange for a Class A relief suspect.

[Edgy MD]

Mike Hair-of-the-Puma-That-Bit-Me suggests in the Post today that Cabrera has a leg up on his teammates in the search for a leadoff hitter.

He suggests that it's not even clear if Brandon Nimmo will get the majority of reps before Conforto's return. It seems strange how reluctant the team is to give opportunities to their top draft picks, as Smith and Cecchini have also seen their depth chart position recede since January 1. I guess I should find that refreshing, but I'm kind of a Nimmo believer.