Jaso's upside (historical, btw) is why I want to see him as the 120 game catcher (OK..give Montero the rest of the catching games if it makes you happy).
As an offensive player, I have more confidence in Jaso than I do in Guti. And that seems to be a likely either/or.
If Montero catches, Carp DH's, Wells goes to left, Guti is in center (or something similar).
If Jaso catches, Montero DH's, Carp is in left and Wells is in CF. I like that.
If Montero catches and Wells is in CF and Liddi DH's....I like that more than the Guti deal. Guti can not play vs. RHP
But there is a better solution!
Career vs. RHP Guti is .246-.294-.354, that's deadly! Brendan Ryan's vR career splits are .252-.303-.341! Guti OPs's .648 and Ryan .644. Guti = Ryan vR. You can't pack that production in CF for nearly 70%-75% of the AB's and go very far. Not in the AL West in 2012. You can not win with two Brendan Ryans in the lineup for 70-75% of your games.
Wells' career vR splits (very limited AB's, I know) look like .264-.326-.485. That's an .811 OPS. Even in '09, Guti's "breakout" season (and the one everyone hopes he returns to) he only had vR numbers of .262-.309-.372 (only 25 xbase hits 436 PA's).
If it's me pulling the levers, and if Guti must stay, then he is my 4th OF. His starts come against LHP, where his career numbers are .282-.343-.454.
Doc, that's what Earl would do. Guti would be a terrific 8th inning defensive replacement and great bench bat.
Jaso stuggles against LHP, btw. Let him start just against righties, Montero catches against lefties. Guti then goes to CF, Wells to LF, and Carp to DH....all against lefties.
Jaso is the primary catcher (vR's...where he's a career .254-.342-.379 104 OPS bat, despite a low .271 babip), which gets Guti out of the lineup the 70-75% of the time when we see RHP.
You have to let Olivo go. That ain't a hard thing to do.
There's part one of the fix. Part two is that you either pray that Figgins is a player again (unlikely) or you eat his salary and go with Liddi or Seager. The more I think about it, the more I would platoon those guys, too. Take advantage of their leftie/rightie makeup. Both did show a platoon advantage last year. Liddi stays warm with 20 starts at DH, when you rest Smoak.
Give up on Figgins. Go with the young guys.
With such a set up you keep Ryan for his glove and you field better than decent bats everywhere else. Seeking two 130 OPS guys and a bunch more in the 100-110 region? This is the route.
Doc, conjure up the ghost of Earl Weaver and show him that lineup. Watch him smile.
moe
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