So for those who defended CJ 2 years ago when most of us thought his BABIP/BA was unsustainable and 2 years later we see that to be the case with major regression, do you still like CJ?
I liked him, too. I think if they'd been just a tad more patient and seen how this year went with Seitzer and regular at bats he would be at .300 with gap power and a little better plate discipline. He's a guy who clearly needs regular at bats to stay tuned up. That's a long swing.
He got all screwed up last year, he even told you why - he was trying to add power, became vulnerable to soft stuff away, couldn't lay off anything. Seitzer's "back through the middle" gap-to-gap approach is exactly what Chris needed. While the year before was unsustainable, it also wasn't fluky - the guy was ripping line drives all over the yard.
And as I've said, I think he's ok at third. Sure handed, makes the plays he should. And while I'll concede he's not Arenado over there, without getting into the whole advanced stat thing, I don't think he gave back half his offensive value in 2013 with defense.
I've always kind of felt he was a winning ballplayer - on a capped team, you can't pay everybody, you need a couple guys who make modest money and contribute. I suspect when he gets dealt, and he needs to now, he'll go somewhere and give them decent production for middle money for a couple years - which was probably what Wren had in mind when he signed him.
Somebody will be pleasantly surprised when they get him. While readily admitting he has sucked hairy ass the last year and a half, I think he's a nice piece for somebody who needs a complementary player.
