Why Marcus Thames in left for the Dodgers beats the alternative

Know how they say everything is relative?

Well, relatively speaking, the Dodgers outfield is better today after coming to terms with Marcus Thames than it was yesterday.

There wasn’t a whole lot remaining on the outfield free-agent market, so signing Thames was about as good as signing any of the other leftovers.

Yet this black hole in left was the Dodgers’ own doing. They got themselves into this quagmire, so it is only because previous options were so poor that adding Thames counts as something of a modest upgrade.

He does have a little pop, something they desperately need, though it’s hard to get excited about a Jay Gibbons-Thames platoon, if indeed that is their plan.

The two are remarkably similar. Born just four days apart in March, both have reasonable power but something sadly below reasonable defense.

Here are their lifetime stats, the right-handed Thames against lefties and the left-handed Gibbons against right-handers:

                 AVG    OBP    SLG
Gibbons    .259    .319    .464
Thames    .264    .333    .505

Last season, Thames hit a career-high .288 with 12 home runs and 33 runs batted in in 237 at-bats for the Yankees. He also struck out 61 times, which is Matt Kemp territory.

Plus, in recent years, he has been used more as a designated hitter than outfielder. Between Gibbons and Thames, left field figures to be a nightly defensive adventure.

The Times’ Dylan Hernandez reports the Dodgers are also close to signing right-handed hitting outfielder Gabe Kapler to a minor-league contract, which looks like their biggest reach of the off-season. One more in their ongoing series of what-do-we-have-to-lose signings. Other than some spring at-bats for the kids.

All this doesn’t bode well for Xavier Paul, who is out of options and looks headed for a trade. It can’t do anything for Trayvon Robinson or Jamie Hoffman, either.

This also makes turning Casey Blake into an outfielder a seemingly distant Plan B, though still ahead of Plan C -- crossing fingers and hoping Tony Gwynn Jr. hits something better than the .204 he batted last season, or even using Jamey Carroll as a semi-regular outfielder.

All those options figure to remain in play should Gibbons-Thames struggle. Even struggling, of course, can prove relative.

-- Steve Dilbeck

Comments

[68elcamino427]

Thames has not started in the field consistently for a few years.
Why should anyone expect him to do this successfully now?
Thames is perfectly suited to be a Pinch Hitter in the National League.

[Bill]

In 2009 Marcus performed this way vs. Right handers:
82 AB 7 HR 19 RBI 27 Ks .268 AVG .347OPB . 549 SLG . 896 OPS

What stands out for me are some pretty decent power numbers and an awful lot of strikeouts. I am also concerned by the law of diminishing return for players of his age. At 34 when the season begins and a recent history of playing mostly as a DH, this looks more like a signing of a pinch hitter, rather then an everyday or even a platoon type of a player. It appears to be a stop-gap measure until either a younger player emerges or a more talented player becomes available.

[Hollywood Dodger Mark]

He's a pinch hitter.

[Jim McVeigh]

Same old frank. He was bragging the other day about all the free agents he has signed. I am impressed, the city is finally emptying out the rescue missions. frank NEEDS TO GO PERIOD! he was also bragging about improving the team. If this guy is so good, he would still be with the Yankees. this poor excuse for an owner is still insulting the fans. This particular Dodger team is going to finish third at best, unless some team with an owner (it just doesn`t exist) as cheap as frank needs to unload a contract of a big name player ala Manny. But all those kind of guys are happy where they are. Lets face it until this man is GONE and we get an owner who, like Steinbrenner, knows you make money with money, you know frank, spend it on the team. Al Dodger fans have got to stay away from the stadium. If bud selig was any kind of commissioner, he would force a sale. But bud is just as cheap as frank. buds big priority right now is expanding the playoffs. This way he can bs every fan by saying a rotten team is good enough for post season baseball.. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

[HI Dodger Fan]

we're expecting matt diaz, or someone like him, and he's just not out there anymore. thames is probably the best we can hope for, although i'd rather see jermaine dye than gabe kapler. does ned really think that kapler can still play at the major league level? oh yeah, wait, he signed gwynn, navarro, castro, velez, none of whom can play either. sigh...

[FormerLifelongDodgerFan]

Horrific off-season, pathetic franchise.

[Rhianna]

RE: "He also struck out 61 times, which is Matt Kemp teritory."
.
I would advise Uncle Neddy to trade Marcus Thames today like I traded Matt Kemp.

[righty32]

why can't they work their butts off and get better defensively?

[OldBrooklynFan]

Anything will be better than the speedy good fielding but very light hitting, lack of power Tony Gwynn Jr in CF. But my instincts tells me all JR has to do is improve his BA and he'll be in the Dodger outfield because it's been shown in the recent past that HR hitting outfielders are not high on the Dodger priority list.
Although the shaky fielding of Gibbons and Thames is not desired, IMO I'd prefer them over TG Jr.

[Kirk Davenport]

Manny was passable in left field due to his great offense and his P.R. appeal. Kemp and Ethier are passable at their present positions due to their offense and since the Dodgers and fans like them and see them as future hopes despite weak defense from both. Had there been a strong pitching leader like Sutton or Drysdale, the pitching staff would have had much to say about a weak outfield defense.
Loney is barely tolerable since he plays a great defense and is relatively cheap.
XPaul and Gibbons have only shown brief flashes of offensive talent - not enough to depend upon. Despite a strong arm, XPaul is still not considered even a mediocre defender and Gibbons will make Manny look like Clemente.
Now there is Thames - probably a nice guy and does not beat his wife or dog, but a major liability in the field.
Can you remember when the Dodgers professed their players were trained well and the book "The Dodger Way To Play Baseball" was the team bible?
Pitching, Defense. Execution. Now what - play patchwork offense and defense?
The Dodgers have a pitching coach, batting coach and infield coach - is anyone their outfield coach?
Forget all the stop gap measures, Dodgers - get back to basic baseball - find and develop talent - coach it well - look for all-round players. You did it before - can you do it again?

[vtadave]

A Thames/Kemp/Ethier outfield has the potential to be among the game's worst defensive outfield in big league history. Just bruuuutal.

SS Furcal
1B Loney
CF Kemp
RF Ethier
2B Uribe
LF Thames/Gibbons
3B Blake
C Barajas

Not championship-caliber, but not terrible either, especially with a healthy Furcal and a step forward by Kemp.

[Guess Again]

The ONLY reason that this guy EVER preformed in NY was those big hitters behind him.

With the punchless bums around him here, he's a .235 hitter now and a highlight reel of about 5 at bats ...

[Steve Wimer]

The Dodgers definitely need an outfield coach, although Kemp has the potential to become the best center-fielder in baseball. His defense suffered last season. Ethier has a good arm, and some drills on his defense might improve his game to All-Star level. Kemp also needs to improve his hitting against right-handers. A lot of practice and coaching in this area could bring him up to 35-40 homeruns a year. Ethier hits like Lou Gehrig when he's healthy and hot, with a zen-like ability in the clutch. The other two have the potential of two ugly cougars at the bar, it's midnight, and the girls look better at closing time. The potential to become coyote dates in the light of morning.

[Justin]

Matt Diaz???? You cannot compare Matt Diaz to Thames! I am not sure why some of you are saying that he is nothing more than a pinch hitter, the guy is a nine year vet and hits a home run every 15.6 at bats. That is pretty impressive and guys that hit the ball out of the park that frequently usually strikeout a little bit (Adam Dunn) but he adds a much needed punch to a pretty weak offensive. I am not saying that Thames/Gibbons = World Series but it definetly beats the likes of Gwynn Jr. or any of the alternatives until Robinson or Sands are ready to contribute. Give this guys a chance, he will surprise you!

[N.P.Krohn]

Well said Justin. We are talking about a guy who has made a living for nine years cause he tortures lefties. And not just in a Yankee supported line up. He had at least one 3hr game in Comerica which is bigger than Dodger Stadium and more than a handful of multi HR game scattered throughout the rest of the parks. But more to the point of why this signing is bigger than you would think a part time player would be. There's talk of Thames playing some 1B meaning no more lefties for Loney. Meaning Blake is back in the outfield mix. Less than 30% of NL starters are LHP but the Gynts are one of the few clubs that sport 3 in their rotation. If Loney sits 4-8 in the line up will all be RHB's that all have better than avg numbers against Lefties. Kemp, Uribe, Blake, Thames, and Barajas. There is no way the Gynts can match that kind of power no matter how they juggle their line up. This signing gives us an exclusive match up advantage in terms of power if only against them. Close pennant races are always decided by these types of advantages. It'll be nice to have the bottom of our line up ruining there night for a change.