Heroes of the Zeros: Utility Players

by Slyde on Dec 29, 2009 8:00 AM EST Comment 66 comments

As we move toward wrapping up the decade and the All Decade team, we take a look at the bench over the next two days. Today, we'll look for the guys that can do it all. We have two separate votes for you today. The first is the vote for a utility infielder. My requirement for utility infielder was that the player must have played at least 10 games at 2 different positions on the infield, not including 1B or catcher. We won't have a true backup at 1B, but don't worry, Adam Dunn can play there.

The second vote will be for the utility outfielder. The requirement for that poll is that you must have played at least 10 games at every outfield position. We need somebody who can handle all the spots because that outfield can be a bit fragile. The player table for the outfield along with both ballots are after the jump.

Click header to sort table by column
Util IF	Years	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	wOBA	WAR
Rich Aurilia	2005-2006	236	949	866	122	252	48	3	37	138	71	118	.291	.344	.482	.825	110	.352	3.2
Juan Castro	2000-2008	571	1469	1361	130	323	70	6	25	125	76	244	.237	.276	.353	.628	61	.269	-4.6
Wilton Guerrero	2001-2002	119	236	220	25	67	6	2	1	12	9	30	.305	.332	.364	.696	78	.302	-0.7
Jerry Hairston	2008-2009	166	637	568	94	163	38	3	14	63	44	82	.287	.342	.438	.780	103	.334	1.9
Jeff Keppinger	2007-2008	188	778	700	84	202	40	4	8	75	54	36	.289	.342	.391	.733	90	.318	1.1
Felipe Lopez	2003-2006	371	1566	1384	215	367	73	10	41	159	157	317	.265	.340	.421	.761	97	.331	2.7
Ray Olmedo	2003-2006	171	388	352	39	81	12	2	2	25	24	72	.230	.280	.293	.573	52	.254	-2.3
Pokey Reese	2000-2001	268	1051	946	126	228	40	8	21	86	79	168	.241	.303	.367	.670	68	.289	1.5
Donnie Sadler	2001	39	95	84	9	17	3	0	1	3	9	20	.202	.280	.274	.553	42	.251	-0.6
Chris Sexton	2000	35	118	100	9	21	4	0	0	10	13	12	.210	.310	.250	.560	43	.258	-0.3
Chris Stynes	2000	119	420	380	71	127	24	1	12	40	32	54	.334	.386	.497	.883	120	.378	2.5

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used Generated 12/28/2009.

WAR data made available from BaseballProjection.com
wOBA calculated via the formula included in The Book and does not include SB data.

Click header to sort table by column
Util OF	Years	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	wOBA	WAR
Brady Clark	2000-2002	151	242	206	29	47	7	0	6	29	28	27	.228	.325	.350	.674	73	.291	-0.6
Chris Denorfia	2005-2006	67	164	144	22	40	9	0	2	9	17	30	.278	.358	.382	.740	90	.326	1.1
Chris Dickerson	2008-2009	128	421	357	51	101	22	5	8	30	56	101	.283	.383	.440	.823	116	.361	2.7
Ryan Freel	2003-2008	544	2146	1873	294	509	97	17	22	114	210	323	.272	.357	.377	.734	91	.329	6.4
Norris Hopper	2006-2008	168	440	396	60	125	15	2	1	20	31	43	.316	.367	.371	.738	90	.325	2.9
Wily Mo Pena	2002-2005	302	898	830	108	206	33	2	51	134	54	288	.248	.303	.477	.780	101	.331	0.5
Ruben Rivera	2001	117	290	263	37	67	13	1	10	34	21	83	.255	.321	.426	.747	87	.324	0.9
Michael Tucker	2000-2001	234	588	501	86	128	23	5	22	66	67	119	.255	.348	.453	.801	100	.344	2.1

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used Generated 12/28/2009.

WAR data made available from BaseballProjection.com
wOBA calculated via the formula included in The Book and does not include SB data.

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Comments

Felipe!

Switch-hitter, good baserunner, can get on base and has some pop. Ideal bench player. Aurilia is obviously up there as well, but some of Lopez’s numbers are held back by a poor age-23 season. And Aurilia had basically no range.

Also, the slash rates for Stynes are off. Little man hit .334/.386/.497/.883.

by ken on Dec 29, 2009 8:26 AM EST reply actions

It's a bad decade

when the list of your utility outfielders is head-and-shoulders better than any other.

by kcgard2 on Dec 29, 2009 8:49 AM EST reply actions

Damn

I voted Aurilia and Freel. Two guys I didn’t like very much.

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Dec 29, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions

i did the same

"There is no harder thing than to have Glenn Beck outlive your child."-The Onion

by justin007000 on Dec 29, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

Me too

But I liked Aurilia. He had a couple of really solid season with the team. Plus, I couldn’t vote for Lopez cause he wasn’t a UTIL. player

If I hear the word 'perky' again, I'll puke

by nycredsfan on Dec 29, 2009 10:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Same here

But they both would have been just fine had they been used as utility players instead of being depended on to produce every day.

"Santa Claus doesn't use Craigslist." -- 'tHan

by jch24 on Dec 29, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

I too went with Aurllia (who i really like) and Freel (who I liked less and less as time went on)

Incompetents invariably make trouble for people other than themselves.
Larry Mcmurtry

by Madville on Dec 29, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed on all counts

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on Dec 29, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Styne was pretty GD valuable over those 420 PAs in 2000

He’s got a legitimate case for decade UTL, though I suppose the edge should go to FeLo for his WAR, well-roundedness and tenure.

I’m also tempted to vote for Dickerson, but I think Freel has it on PAs and platoon splits. I think C-Dick will prove to be the more valuable 3/4 outfielder.

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Dec 29, 2009 10:30 AM EST reply actions

All I can say is F U C K Juan Castro

This organization’s fascination with Castro is embarrassing.

by Brian B on Dec 29, 2009 10:33 AM EST reply actions

No te gusta los Manos de Oro?

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Dec 29, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone for Cherry?

You could put him pretty much anywhere on the diamond. He got on base at a decent clip, had a little pop and speed. I guess maybe he gets the nod in round two.

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Dec 29, 2009 11:02 AM EST reply actions

And, according to MLBTR

Jerry’s under consideration to play LF for the Yankees next year. That’s gotta give him a bump in the polling.

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Dec 29, 2009 11:09 AM EST reply actions

I had no idea Brady Clark was so bad for the Reds

he was pretty solid as long as he was with the Brewers.

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Dec 29, 2009 12:34 PM EST reply actions

My key for utility guys is versatility.

Thus, Hairston gets the nod over Aurilia (but barely) and Freel gets the outfield vote.

"If it wasn't this, it'd be something else."

by ZJiff30 on Dec 29, 2009 12:49 PM EST reply actions

it was hard leaving The Bad Man off the list

but I did

Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

by Caleb on Dec 29, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

That was my ballot.

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Dec 29, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

I voted Aurillia and Freel

and I liked them both. I would have replied above but for some reason I couldn’t get the box to come up.

by fourrunhomer on Dec 29, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions

no Rosales?

Seriously? He played third, first and short (in the legendary South Milwaukee game). He had 290+ plate appearances which is more than Guerrero, Sexton and Sadler.

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 6:17 PM EST reply actions

he played 6 games at 2B and SS

didn’t qualify.

Red Reporter or follow on Twitter: @redreporter

by Slyde on Dec 29, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions

Who?

Incompetents invariably make trouble for people other than themselves.
Larry Mcmurtry

by Madville on Dec 29, 2009 10:26 PM EST up reply actions

You know

for half of the ’09 season. Which is 1/20th of the time period this team spans.

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on Dec 30, 2009 12:43 AM EST up reply actions

I think the rules for this category were constructed to intentionally

omit Adam Rosales. Not cool. I give him a write-in vote!

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 6:24 PM EST reply actions

i agree

the 10 game minimum was arbitrary. i say playing all four infield positions in one season trumps minimum requirements.

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

i really dont get everyones fascination to adam rosales....

He plays awful defense…. cant hit…. is the most awkward professional athlete i have ever seen…. whats to like?

"strikeouts are a lot sexier than groundouts"

by smitty3 on Dec 29, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

he plays so hard!

he runs much more often and with much more intensity than all the others on this list, and he’s got a spectacular nose!

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

i agree

i kind of resented him because he was loved by the fans and media so much.

"There is no harder thing than to have Glenn Beck outlive your child."-The Onion

by justin007000 on Dec 29, 2009 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

I have it on good authority that he wears ed hardy shirts

how can you argue with that?

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 7:14 PM EST up reply actions

why resent what others love?

i cant stand that.

you’d better better off liking what others hate. PBR. Quatmans. Bands who speed up the drums. Susan Sontag. Carlos Mencia.

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

it was more they were teh same people who hated Dunn for being lazy

i resented him because he lacked talent and people loved him for running out a walk.

"There is no harder thing than to have Glenn Beck outlive your child."-The Onion

by justin007000 on Dec 29, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions

yes, I rigged it so that Rosales couldn't get his 3 votes

Red Reporter or follow on Twitter: @redreporter

by Slyde on Dec 29, 2009 7:25 PM EST up reply actions

at least you admit it :-)

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

he was the 2nd most popular player at Redsfest!!!

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

HOLY SHIT

Did you guys see the play John Wall just made?

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 7:36 PM EST reply actions

no

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

watch the replays tonight

it’s incredible

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions

stuck hosting a sleepover

eazy bake oven time, son.

ten minutes to “That Thing You Do” which is a quality flick, very underrated.

i’ll catch the replay once they snooze. did he do the heisman pose?

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 7:49 PM EST up reply actions

He should have.

It was a reverse dunk on an alley-oop.

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

He also had 11 assists in the first half

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions

I can't find the dunk on youtube yet, but check out this clip from early in the game

Big Jump

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

and here

is the dunk!

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

Ho-Hum

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Dec 29, 2009 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

they're playing Elon

isnt that school named after Tiger’s wife?

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 8:16 PM EST up reply actions

they're playing hartford

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 8:25 PM EST up reply actions

the whalers can skate!

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 8:26 PM EST up reply actions

And John Wall just broke the UK Single Game Assist Record with 16

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 8:34 PM EST up reply actions

you could have 16 assists vs Hartford

"Nate Silver is a genius" .... BK

by obc2 on Dec 29, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

Adam Rosales could have 16 assists against Hartford!

He’s got a stronger arm than anyone on this list!

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by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 8:46 PM EST up reply actions

I expected much better than that

Red Reporter or follow on Twitter: @redreporter

by Slyde on Dec 29, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

yeah i get that feeling a lot when i'm around here

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Dec 29, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

luckily for you

there are plenty of other blogs out there that actually address the subjects you discuss on this site.

Red Reporter or follow on Twitter: @redreporter

by Slyde on Dec 30, 2009 8:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Here are the best sites for some of the topics you mentioned:

Jimmy Buffett
Kentucky Wildcats
MMA

I’m not sure what the best Colts site is, or which blog has the best movie/chick flick coverage. However, this site does a good job of covering a lot of these topics. One thing that is for certain though, is that most of the SBNation blogs suck.

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Dec 30, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions