Forecasts for Fifteen: Eric Campbell

[Edgy MD]

Part way through last season Eric replaced Josh Satin who replaced as Justin Turner in that key role:

• the infield reserve that's more bat than glove
  
• the infield reserve that's more corner guy than second baseman
  
• the infield reserve that's more white than pigmented
  
• the infield reserve that, if he's playing shortstop, you're probably not having a good day
  
• the infield reserve that's also your emergency catcher, because little thought goes into whether he busts up his body practicing blocking curves in the dirt, because he's expendable.

And that's what he is — the expendable guy. And his job is to keep hitting and keep from being expended as long as possible. And maybe he can hang in there a little while. I mean, look at this sweet hip rotation.

[fimg=450]http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Eric+Campbell+Los+Angeles+Dodgers+v+New+York+0tpS_MlEeZml.jpg[/fimg]

Plus, he gives good beard.

So what do you see Eric Campbell providing in 2015? How long will he be able Matt Reynolds and Rylan Sandoval at bay, before he too gets a taste from the DFA banquet, gets claimed off waivers by Los Angeles, and forever joins his fellow sons of Joe McEwing, grandsons of Bob Bailor?

[G-Fafif]

Campbell already suffering under the yoke of Guy I Forget Is Still There designation.

[Ceetar]

cool nickname.

Struggled in the second half. Struggled as a sub. Lots of small sample sized involved in that, however.

I don't think he makes the team. I think he eventually gets DFAd for roster space.

There's probably just one spot for him, as the CI backup bench guy, and I just think the Mets go elsewhere. Points for being able to play 3B which as a backup is a position that I hope gets a wee bit more time this year to rest a certain plays too hard while hurt guy, but I just don't think it's Soup.

I'll peg him as a future National pickup though, not Dodgers.

[Edgy MD]

You don't think he'll make the team? That's some bold forecasting. Who breaks camp with his job?

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: You don't think he'll make the team? That's some bold forecasting. Who breaks camp with his job?

shouldn't that be reserved for his or her's forecast for fifteen? ;-)

Someone they bring in last minute perhaps, or they roll with Niewuenhuis and den Dekker (And Tejada and Mayberry) and just shuttle Murphy and/or Flores to third if David needs a day off in April (they'll both say they won't do this and David also probably won't take a day off)

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: Who breaks camp with his job?

With all the stories about how Flores can't play short (and I don't believe any of them) they'll give his spot to a player who can play adequate middle infield defense. Then, when they find out that Wilmer can do a good job, Campbell will be on some other team.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Well, it's not like carrying Campbell will mean there won't be anyone who can play adequate middle infield defense. There'll be two infield backups, and unless something modestly dramatic happens, one of them will be Tejada.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Oh, he'll break camp with the team. Despite an early season walk-off pinch-hit... say... double, I think his performance will be a little less meaty than your average brand.

62 G, 176 PAs, 16 R, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 15 XBH, .244/.318/.346

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm betting on the drama.

I've said this a million times but I don't see where Tejada clicks into this team. If what you're really looking for is someone to adequately complement Flores, he'd be lefthanded, fast and a wizard with the glove, and Tejada isn't any of these things. His presence would in fact make guys like Campbell somewhat less useful since we're already looking at a right-leaning bench with Mayberry.

I'm thinking then what we need is Campbell's lefthanded-hitting doppleganger or a lefty hitting reserve SS. Or a switch hitter like Everth F. Cabrera.

All that said if things don;t change I see Campbell doing less in less opportunity than a year ago:

Let's say 85 PA, 2 homers, 5 doubles, .268/.310/.360

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: Well, it's not like carrying Campbell will mean there won't be anyone who can play adequate middle infield defense. There'll be two infield backups, and unless something modestly dramatic happens, one of them will be Tejada.

I dunno. I just get the feeling that he will be (to channel Dizzy Dean) squozed out of a spot on the 25 man because they need the spot elsewhere (another LOOGY? a backup center fielder?). You are probably right, but Eric should do his own laundry around the final cut downs in training camp.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Gotta have two infield backups. Just gotta. This ain't the American League. You can kid yourself that Cuddyer is your second infield backup, but it still leaves one guy to back up second and short. That would be un-Met-like and un-National League-like.

[ashie62]

Does not make team in favor of Matt Reynolds.

[Lefty Specialist]

Makes the team. He's the only realistic 3B backup.

Modest production. 2/20/.260 in 150 AB.

[Guest themetfairy]

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Makes the team. He's the only realistic 3B backup.

Cuddyer? Flores? Murphy? Or a rising minor-league jack-of-all-trades like Reynolds? All these guys do the Dew.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah plus if were in a situation where we needed an everyday 3Bman, Campbell wouldn't be it.

[Ceetar]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Yeah plus if were in a situation where we needed an everyday 3Bman, Campbell wouldn't be it.

but that's DL talk. Herrera and Murphy to third?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah lots of options, most more realistic than Campbell. The point is, this idea of Campbell making the team because there are no backups at 3B is poorly thought out.

[Edgy MD]

Maybe, but an infield depth chart where the only backups are Tejada and the starting right fielder isn't very practicable. It leaves you with one guy backing up both second and short and nobody else.

Cuddyer's versatility — an outfielder who can play infield — is a great asset, but I wouldn't want to build the roster around it. I mean, they had Eric Young the last two years, but they still carried two infield backups who were infielders first and foremost.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Maybe, but an infield depth chart where the only backups are Tejada and the starting right fielder isn't very practicable. It leaves you with one guy backing up both second and short and nobody else. Cuddyer's versatility — an outfielder who can play infield — is a great asset, but I wouldn't want to build the roster around it. I mean, they had Eric Young the last two years, but they still carried two infield backups who were infielders first and foremost.

I think one MI and one CI backup is pretty standard. there is often some overlap, but not always. The Mets actually went through a lot of last year with very few MI backups.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYM/2014-fielding.shtml

I mean, they used Murphy as the 3B most often besides Wright. and at second? It was Flores who wasn't always around and then Hererra who was just later on.

0 got a few games as the backup SS but it was mostly just Tejada and Flores, and just Tejada when Flores was down.

Campbell got a cup of coffee everywhere except CF/P and C which he claims now to want to do, but he didn't really stick anywhere, particularly since he stopped hitting halfway through.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Can't see him going north with the team in April.

[smg58]

I see him going north, but he's already had his career year. Gets DFAd in June.

[Frayed Knot]

To increase his chances of sticking around, Campbell is working out with the pitchers and catchers this week (as a catcher obviously).
With just two catchers on a roster being too few and three generally being too many, this is a smart move, particularly with no other backstops even on the 40-man roster right now.
If either d'Arnaud or Recker need a DL stint then you wouldn't want to depend on Campbell as the only backup. But if he can show himself to be even marginally competent it'll at least allow the backup catcher to PH with less worry about being caught short.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Pretty savvy move, SouperJoe.

Smart money has to be on his making the bench.

[Theoldmole]

Starts the season, doesn't finish.