The Official Josh Vitters Thread

[Jntg4]

Remember, he doesn't turn 22 until late August, and is already playing in AA.

2011 Through June 19
AVG: .288
HR: 7
RBI: 32
Hits: 62
R: 31
OBP: .325
OPS: .790
OBP-AVG: 37

Not bad, not bad.

 

[Rice Cube]

OBP could be better, but given the Cubs' reliance on batting average over on-base, you take what you can get.

 

[dabynsky]

He is certainly not a bust at this point, but what position he plays is going to go a long way to determine his value. If he can stick at 3B and produce at even just that level would be huge. However, there are serious questions about sticking him at the hot corner.

Currently he has an amazing .865 fielding percentage and a range factor of 1.88. To compare that the defensive whiz Aramis Ramirez .965 and 2.24 range factor, and I think you get the picture.

If Vitters could play some outfield that wouldn't be bad, but if he is just a 1B he really needs to develop more power to be an impact bat.

 

[Rice Cube]

Haven't they tried Vitters in the OF for a bit? I think they want to keep him at 3B for as much of the season as possible before they commit him in OF, and before they banish him to 1B.

 

[dabynsky]

Hasn't played a game of the OF, and prior to this year he never played anything but 3B in the minors. He has played 22 games at 1B and 45 at 3B.

 

[Rice Cube]

Hasn't played a game of the OF, and prior to this year he never played anything but 3B in the minors. He has played 22 games at 1B and 45 at 3B.

On the other hand I think they've played guys like Matt Camp and maybe even LeMahieu and Flaherty in the OF. I'd have to look that up though...

 

[beardown28]

he is certainly not a bust at this point, but what position he plays is going to go a long way to determine his value. If he can stick at 3b and produce at even just that level would be huge. However, there are serious questions about sticking him at the hot corner.

Currently he has an amazing .865 fielding percentage and a range factor of 1.88. To compare that the defensive whiz aramis ramirez .965 and 2.24 range factor, and i think you get the picture.

If vitters could play some outfield that wouldn't be bad, but if he is just a 1b he really needs to develop more power to be an impact bat.

range factor bro!

 

[dabynsky]

range factor bro!

[

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

[

You didnt post during that debate..

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

I think at this point he is truly a 1B..

The defense isn't improving.. much at all for him to play anywhere else.

 

[poodski]

[

It's a stat you aren't allowed to use on here due to reasons that are still not clear.

I think at this point he is truly a 1B..

The defense isn't improving.. much at all for him to play anywhere else.

He definitely needs to be tried in RF/LF before going to 1B.

As a 1B I don't think he has nearly as much value.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

He definitely needs to be tried in RF/LF before going to 1B.

As a 1B I don't think he has nearly as much value.

Yeah might as well..

Idk he still would have good value if the bat holds.

 

[dabynsky]

While I agree there are flaws with the statistic range factor, since I don't think many of us getting to TN frequently to watch Josh Vitters play defense I thought it might be useful to actual have something to talk about. Silly me.

 

[dabynsky]

Yeah might as well..

Idk he still would have good value if the bat holds.

It depends. If Vitters is a guy that develops into a 30 HR guy then I think he could be valuable as a 1B. If he stays around a 15-20 HR guy then he needs to be able to play somewhere else to be a really valuable player. What is clear is that like Colvin he is going to need to hit for a high average because the guy won't draw walks. He has done a nice job of cutting down on strikeouts and if he could be a guy that plays some 1B and a little corner OF that could be a useful piece in a year or two.

 

[poodski]

While I agree there are flaws with the statistic range factor, since I don't think many of us getting to TN frequently to watch Josh Vitters play defense I thought it might be useful to actual have something to talk about. Silly me.

I am completely on your side, I am just trying to let you know how this place is.

Using advanced metrics (especially on defense) is for the most part frowned upon.

I wish Minorleaguesplits.com was still up and operational though, that was a nice site for minor league defense something I am not aware of anywhere else on the net.

 

[Captain Obvious]

What about 2B? Can Vitters play there? I think that his bat would be really awesome there, but I'm concerned that his glove would be Soriano-status.

 

[dabynsky]

What about 2B? Can Vitters play there? I think that his bat would be really awesome there, but I'm concerned that his glove would be Soriano-status.

I think it would be worse than Soriano since there are questions about his footwork at 3B, I shudder to think what it would be at 2B. Plus Vitters doesn't have the raw athleticism that Soriano had earlier in his career. His bat though right now would be amazing for 2B though.

 

[poodski]

I think it would be worse than Soriano since there are questions about his footwork at 3B, I shudder to think what it would be at 2B. Plus Vitters doesn't have the raw athleticism that Soriano had earlier in his career. His bat though right now would be amazing for 2B though.

2B is the new 3B though.

I doubt he could handle it but defense at 2B is getting worse and worse.