The Yankees are a star-studded team, but a lot of their 2008 success will depend on how a number of lesser known players develop. Before the season begins, this blog will profile some of these players and discuss how the team will need them to develop. Today’s player is Wilson Betemit.
Betemit is a familiar name to Yankees fans. He came to the team at the 2007 Trade Deadline from the Dodgers. New York sent Scott Proctor back to his original team in exchange. For the last two months of 2007, the switch hitter served as New York’s utility infielder and saw time at all four infield positions.
Betemit began his career as a highly touted shortstop prospect for the Braves. Eventually he put on too much weight, which cut down on his range. He can still play shortstop adequately over a short term, but he is not a great option for the long haul. He also never hit enough upon reaching the Majors to capture an everyday role. His .260/.332/.439 (BA/OPS/SLG) career numbers are very good for a bench player, and his athleticism have allowed him to move all over the infield.
After letting Andy Phillips and Doug Mientkiewicz walk, the Yankees will presumably give Betemit significant playing time at first base in 2008 at least as part of a platoon. His career stats make him a very viable bottom of the order hitter for a team loaded with offense. His .277/.355/.486 splits while batting lefty since 2005 make him an excellent option as part of a platoon with a lefty pitching masher like Shelley Duncan. At 26 years old, Wilson still has time to develop and could hit enough to become a quality everyday player.
The issue with Betemit at first base will not be his hitting. The Yankees should expect decent production, but there is enough offensive talent to carry a subpar hitter at the bottom. Betemit’s defense at first will be very important to the team. Phillips and Mientkiewicz were both superb in the field. Their departures leave the Yanks with Betemit and a pair of players whose defensive skills suggest their best position is DH, Jason Giambi and Shelley Duncan, to man first base.
With a pair of sinkerballers, Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang, at the top of the rotation, infield defense will be very important for the Yankees. A good first baseman must not only have good range but also great hands to save errors on bad throws. In late inning situations, defense also becomes critical as one bad play can cost a team a game. Many experts believe that shortstops have the tools to excel anywhere on the field. Betemit has shortstop range from his time there and the soft hands and reflexes necessary to handle bad throws. He will need to work strenuously with Tino Martinez in Spring Training to learn the intricacies of the position.
If Betemit can turn himself into a defensive ace, the Yankees can go into 2008 feeling good about their infield. They will not have to fret every grounder in critical situations and can save runs defensively. If Betemit cannot, the defense could cost this team games or force the team to waste a roster spot on an all glove, no hit player. First base defense might not be important relative to other positions, but every game will matter in what should be a tight pennant race in a loaded American League His comfort level at first base could be the difference between postseason and an empty October schedule.
