Jorge Cantu

[cbbryan]

What would you guys/gals think of Cantu? I've always like him and thought he could be a productive player, but I don't know if he'd fit w/ this team.

 

From CBSsportsline.com:

 

MLB.com reports that Tampa Bay demoted 2B Jorge Cantu down to Triple-A Durham on Saturday and he requested a trade. "What can I say, I'm not a minor league player," Cantu said. "I think a change of scenery would be best." Manager Joe Maddon tried to explain the decision. "We just chose Jon's (Gomes) bat right now," Maddon said. "Jorge, we just felt like there was a lack of a position. Jon, we feel we can put him in the outfield now because he is functional. Jorge, we weren't going to play him at second base. We didn't see first base as a viable option right now. And we had other things we wanted to do with the DH role. On all three counts, it kind of knocked him out of there."

 

Fantasy Implications:

Cantu led the club two seasons ago with 28 homers and a franchise-record 117 RBI. "It was like I didn't do anything -- like I just sat on my butt and waited for spring to begin," Cantu said. "But it's OK, it's a business. ... They just decided it was best. And I guess they decided I didn't fit into their plans for this season. That's pretty much what it's all about. Whatever, I don't even have any words any more." He plans to go home to Mexico to think about his next course of action. B.J. Upton appears to be the next starting second baseman for Tampa Bay.

[brinoch]

Cantu would be another crappy middle infielder in a long line of undistinguished crappy middle infielders. I think we should stay far away.

[cbbryan]

Cantu would be another crappy middle infielder in a long line of undistinguished crappy middle infielders. I think we should stay far away.

 

 

SEASON TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS 
2004 TB 50 173 25 52 20 1 2 17 9 44 0 0 .301 .341 .462 .803 
2005 TB 150 598 73 171 40 1 28 117 19 83 1 0 .286 .311 .497 .808 
2006 TB 107 413 40 103 18 2 14 62 26 91 1 1 .249 .295 .404 .699 
Total -- 307 1184 138 326 78 4 44 196 54 218 2 1 .275 .310 .459 .769 

 

I don't think he's "crappy." He's a decent player and still young at 25. It's not like we're talking about Tony Womack.

[brinoch]

His career OBP is what, .310? He had 50 decent games in 2004 followed by two years of solid suckage. We need guys who get on base a lot.

[Post Count Padder]

His career OBP is what, .310? He had 50 decent games in 2004 followed by two years of solid suckage. We need guys who get on base a lot.

Hitting .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI's is hardly suckage, but he was terrible last year and was terrible in ST this year and is now a defensive liability.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

His career OBP is what, .310? He had 50 decent games in 2004 followed by two years of solid suckage. We need guys who get on base a lot.

 

His minor league career(while he was young for his levels) is similarly unimpressive too.

[cbbryan]

His career OBP is what, .310? He had 50 decent games in 2004 followed by two years of solid suckage. We need guys who get on base a lot.

Hitting .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI's is hardly suckage, but he was terrible last year and was terrible in ST this year and is now a defensive liability.

 

Yeah, I realize he wasn't as good last year and in ST. My thoughts were that he was so young he could regain his form. Again, I don't know that he'd fit well w/ this club anyway considering DeRosa, Theriot, EPatt, etc.

[Tracer Bullet]

His career OBP is what, .310? He had 50 decent games in 2004 followed by two years of solid suckage. We need guys who get on base a lot.

Hitting .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI's is hardly suckage, but he was terrible last year and was terrible in ST this year and is now a defensive liability.

 

Hitting .286 but almost never taking a walk puts your OBP in Neifi-esque territory (.311). He made up for it in part with the power numbers that year. But he's not a guy I'd be running out to acquire.

[RynoRules]

If I could get him on the cheap - for the sort of prospects we got in the Juan Cruz deal - I'd do it. Maybe if he received some good instruction at AAA he could become a valuable commodity.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If I could get him on the cheap - for the sort of prospects we got in the Juan Cruz deal - I'd do it. Maybe if he received some good instruction at AAA he could become a valuable commodity.

 

If he'd go to AAA.

[TruffleShuffle]

roids might've had something to do with those 28 HR too...not saying we know that, but when a guy gets power seemingly out of nowhere, you have to ask the question

[rawaction]

roids might've had something to do with those 28 HR too...not saying we know that, but when a guy gets power seemingly out of nowhere, you have to ask the question

 

28 HR that year. He had 22 the year before in the minors, but has only hit about 40 HRs in his other 5-6 years as a pro.

[BigbadB]

I'd stay away from Cantu. He seems to think he's a whole lot better than he really is.

[biittner77]

I'd stay away from Cantu. He seems to think he's a whole lot better than he really is.

 

I'd be interested to hear what Lou Piniella thought about Cantu. It seems like he was reluctant to play him at one point.

[BigbadB]

I remember that. They brought in Roberto Alomar that year, and Alomar offered nothing.

[Post Count Padder]

His career OBP is what, .310? He had 50 decent games in 2004 followed by two years of solid suckage. We need guys who get on base a lot.

Hitting .286 with 28 homers and 117 RBI's is hardly suckage, but he was terrible last year and was terrible in ST this year and is now a defensive liability.

 

Hitting .286 but almost never taking a walk puts your OBP in Neifi-esque territory (.311). He made up for it in part with the power numbers that year. But he's not a guy I'd be running out to acquire.

I didn't suggest obtaining him either. I was just pointing out that he wasn't terrible 2 years ago. I'm a firm believer in walks and getting on base, and I don't want to see his paltry OBP near this team either.