Valido?

[jabrch]

Why Lopez over Valido? I think I know the answer (Lopez plays great D and Valido is a bit away still) Is there any more details anyone knows? Lopez doesn't look like much a hitter...

[Daver]

Originally Posted by jabrch

Why Lopez over Valido? I think I know the answer (Lopez plays great D and Valido is a bit away still) Is there any more details anyone knows? Lopez doesn't look like much a hitter...

Valido plays D just as well, but he is also two years removed from high school, and still adjusting to pro pitching, to bring him up now would probably be a big strike against his confidence.

[Randar68]

Originally Posted by Daver

Valido plays D just as well, but he is also two years removed from high school, and still adjusting to pro pitching, to bring him up now would probably be a big strike against his confidence.

Yep. Lopez has clearly been rushed along. He only spent a few weeks in AA at the end of last season after spending most of it in W-S and then was thrown right in to Charlotte to start this year. He is going to be overmatched at that level for a while, let alone here at the MLB level. If he can lay down bunts when asked and play excellent Defense in the absense of Uribe for what we hope to be just a short period of time, that will be sufficient.

Valido spent last year in Kannapolis in his first full-season experience and hit a huge wall mid-season, really wore down, and had a hard time finding his groove after that. He's started out hot so far but he's still only in W-S. I don't think he's close enough now that you want to start his clock by adding him to the 40-man roster anytime in the next 2 years unless you absolutely have to. He needs to experience some sustained success. He's got a higher ceiling than Pedro does, and there is no reason to rush him just so he can bat .175 in the majors for a couple weeks and then go back to Winston-Salem after that...

[jabrch]

Thanks guys...

Do you guys think either of those two projects to be an every day SS a few years down the road?

[Randar68]

Originally Posted by jabrch

Thanks guys...

Do you guys think either of those two projects to be an every day SS a few years down the road?

Valido's got a much better chance to be a major league hitter than Lopez, IMO. Lopez is a slap hitter with almost no power at all. Ball sounds dead when he hits it, no crack, sounds like he hit a 16" softball. Lopez could have a long career as a utility man, can play near gold glove quality SS and 2B.

I think they're about equivalent in the field, but Valido's got more potential, IMO. He has a pretty good chance to be an everyday SS in the majors if his bat continues to develop.