What can we reasonably expect from Mike Fontenot?

[inari]

I expect that this guy's going to draw a lot of mixed opinions. He was obviously great at first, but dreadful after that. Really really dreadful. So it's pretty easy to just brush off his hot start and say it was a fluke, but going by his minor league numbers, it's hard to imagine he's anywhere near as bad as he appeared in the last few months.

 

In the minors, the guy is a career .291/.362/.437 hitter. This includes four full seasons where he put up an OBP above .370 and three with an OPS over .800. Granted, he might have been getting a little bit old for AAA in a couple of those seasons, but I find it hard to believe that Mike Fontenot can't be a valuable part of a 25 man roster given the production he's had throughout his career. I'm not advocating we trade Mark DeRosa by any means, but Fontenot shouldn't be written off as someone that has no business on a major league roster. And if he could learn to play shortstop competently, I think he would certainly be an upgrade over Riot.

[Abe Frohman]

I just don't see him fitting. He was great for a stretch, but then just seemed he couldn't do anything. I can think of three guys on the roster who ought to play before him at 2B - his only position.

[mdwilla]

Cedeno has more upside. Which says a lot in its self. If we hadn't moved Patterson to the outfield he would be better also.

[BigbadB]

With limited bench options, it's difficult to hang on to a guy who can't play many positions. A team would really be doing a disservice by hanging onto a guy who can only play 2b and isn't good enough to be a starter.

 

Daryle Ward can play either corner OF spot and 1b. Theriot can at least play 2b and SS, and Cedeno can play those two and 3b. Murton can play the corners and Blanco is behind the plate. One of Cedeno or Theriot will likely start at SS, which leaves you with a bench so far that can cover every position on the field except CF and only 1 opening if the team carries 11 pitchers. Fuld has the upper hand for that spot, but I'd guess they'll get someone outside the organization to fill it since it sounds like they want a RH complement to Pie.

 

Fontenot will likely be playing 2b at Iowa unless Cedeno is involved in a trade, and even then I'm not so sure he has a spot on the team if he can't play SS.

[d_money]

Once opposing pitchers learned he couldn't hit the deuce, he saw a steady diet of these. Until he can't hit offspeed pitches, he'll either be in the minors or eventually out of baseball in 2 years.

[CuseCubFan69]

With limited bench options, it's difficult to hang on to a guy who can't play many positions. A team would really be doing a disservice by hanging onto a guy who can only play 2b and isn't good enough to be a starter.

 

Daryle Ward can play either corner OF spot and 1b. Theriot can at least play 2b and SS, and Cedeno can play those two and 3b. Murton can play the corners and Blanco is behind the plate. One of Cedeno or Theriot will likely start at SS, which leaves you with a bench so far that can cover every position on the field except CF and only 1 opening if the team carries 11 pitchers. Fuld has the upper hand for that spot, but I'd guess they'll get someone outside the organization to fill it since it sounds like they want a RH complement to Pie.

 

Fontenot will likely be playing 2b at Iowa unless Cedeno is involved in a trade, and even then I'm not so sure he has a spot on the team if he can't play SS.

 

 

I thought Fontenot could play 3rd too?

[anabiono]

i was kind of hoping i wasn't going to be seeing him this season

 

that was my reasonable expectation

[biittner77]

I thought Fontenot could play 3rd too?

 

He has logged time there in the minors IIRC. But he wouldn't be able to add enough power to play him there even occassionally- at least that's the sense I'm getting.

 

Given Hendry's LH fettish I could see him making the team as the 25th man since Derosa can back up SS.