Betemit or Jose Lopez?

by Mean Dean on Dec 18, 2006 12:01 PM EST

Which one of these guys would you rather have? Evaluating the two of them, I am getting:

Betemit:

Much better plate discipline

More power

Better major league performance

J. Lopez:

Plays more difficult position

Two years younger

Better minor league performance:

Tougher hitting environments

Better age relative to league

High doubles rate in minors & majors may indicate future power

I'm finding it to be a very tough call. What do you all think?

Poll

Would you rather have Wilson Betemit or Jose Lopez?

Wilson Betemit

44 votes

Jose Lopez

55 votes

99 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Which one of these guys would you rather have?

You can't really answer that question unless you have some context. If my team needs a 2B, then I'd take Lopez, if my team needs a 3B, then I'd take Betemit.

I haven't watched much of Lopez, but I'd think that players who start from day one tend to turn out better than players who float from the bench to AAA for their first few years. Then again, Betemit's skillset tends to peak a little later than Lopez' and the Braves are pretty much the opposite of the Mariners.

The only team I really care about, the Dodgers, could probably use Betemit to start the season as LaRoche could very well need some time in AAA. But with Kent's age, and defensive limitations, they could probably use Lopez more. If I'm Ned Colletti I'd rather have Lopez than Betemit, I guess. To bad Bavasi's no dummy ...

by sanchez101 on Dec 18, 2006 12:41 PM EST reply actions

I have heard....

... talk that Betemit is 2 years younger than that date which would make him 23(season)/24(now) instead of 25(season)/26(now).

Does anyone know the truth on this?

Seems he would be more highly thought of if he was a 23 year old putting up the numbers he has shown in limited time.

by grozzy on Dec 18, 2006 12:55 PM EST reply actions

born

I think most sources have his correct BD now (November, 1981). Rotoworld.com still has him listed at the incorrect BD (July, 1980). So, my understanding is that he just turned 25 in November.

by BobbyMac on Dec 18, 2006 1:06 PM EST up reply actions