Ben Zobrist

[TheK]

What are the Rays plans for Ben Zobrist? I'm an Indians fan and while watching some archived rays vs tribe games on mlb.com, was impressed with his glove. I looked him up and he had the 5th best range factor of any MLB SS in 2006. Are the Rays going to give him a chance to let his bat develop or is he going to get brushed aside with the future signing of Iwamura and with Brignac on the way up in a season or two?

[EvanAparra]

Zorbist should definately be given a chance. Good glove and so-so bat, which is usually all you can ask for in a SS. Not everybody can have Nomar and Jeter manning that position.

[Mad Guru]

Not everybody can have Nomar and Jeter manning that position.

Or Tejada or Young or Guillen or Furcal or Reyes or Ramirez or Hall....

But the Cardinals won the World Series with Eckstein so maybe a trend is developing for teams succeeding despite having a shortstop (and in the Cardinals case, a catcher also) who cannot hit.

[EvanAparra]

Or Tejada or Young or Guillen or Furcal or Reyes or Ramirez or Hall....
.
:rolleyes: nevermind..

[TheK]

I think that Zobrist should be given a little bit of time to develop his bat. He never surpassed AA in the Astros organization. As soon as he was traded to the Rays he played only 18 games in AAA before being called up to the majors. He's never been much of a home run hitter but it's possible that he could develop into 30+ double territory. In each stop in his minor league career, he's walked more than he's struck out, so maybe time will tell.

[raysnbran]

Brignac won't be ready until 2008 I beleive. Zobrist had an excellent season in the AFL and will be given every opportunity to win the starting job. That creates another question. Where to play Upton? He didn't get called up because he was adamant about playing SS, and it hindered his development being at AAA so long. If Iwamura takes over the 3B job, does Upton get moved for a young SP?

[TheKingofKings]

Zorbist should definately be given a chance. Good glove and so-so bat, which is usually all you can ask for in a SS. Not everybody can have Nomar and Jeter manning that position.
He's like Alex Gonzalez ...

http://onlineathens.com/images/050705/17710_512.jpg http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/11/images/large/SPORTS_sp_rays_799333.jpg

[TheKingofKings]

Brignac won't be ready until 2008 I beleive. Zobrist had an excellent season in the AFL and will be given every opportunity to win the starting job. That creates another question. Where to play Upton? He didn't get called up because he was adamant about playing SS, and it hindered his development being at AAA so long. If Iwamura takes over the 3B job, does Upton get moved for a young SP?
Upton could be converted to the OF, he has Great Speed and a Great Glove, why not ???

[Eddiey]

There are lots of reasons not to convert Upton to the OF. Four good reasons
for starters are Crawford, Young, Baldelli and Dukes. Add to that list the fact that he has shown virtually no power or plate discipline. I say trade him. There appears to be no place on the Rays for him to play.

[cubsfan1073]

i saw zobrist when he was at low-A and he was great
he had a 300+ BA and had great range in the field
he was also a good leader and #2 hitter
he will be a good SS in the majors and develop into a decent hitter