Wilson Betemit's Role

Wilson Betemit had some great run production despite a low batting average (.226 w/NYY). He managed to drive in 24 runs - 24 - in just 84 ABs. He's a slugger in the making; the question is whether or not he can make enough contact, especially against lefties. The switch-hitting utility infielder has managed well on the on-base percentage front, however - he posted an impressive .359 before coming over from the Dodgers in addition to a .474 slugging percentage. That definitely takes the sting out of a low batting average. Are you beginning to see a trend with this OPS thing?

The biggest question for Willie is where he plays. If he can man first base with some authority, expect him to get a lot of time against righthanders. His power is certainly good enough for your average first baseman and I would consider him a plus power hitter at any other infield position. He smacked 10 HRs for the Dodgers in just 156 ABs in 2007 - which, if projected over 550 ABs, would mean as many as 35 HRs. Wow. Anything close to that would be fantastic, like 25.

If Betemit can't figure out the decisively slow position that is the cold corner, his playing time will drop significantly. He won't be DH-ing; there's sort of a gigantic roadblock on that road, and third, short and second are locked up unless an injury (God forbid) manifests itself. I always thought he was sort of a diamond in the rough that somebody would figure out eventually. Heck, the whole trade rumor community thought he was going to the Yankees for Scott Proctor for an entire year. Now that he's on a team that could actually use him for something other than a stopgap, it will be interesting to see what he can do.