Hatteberg vs. Votto

by 3Com Park on Nov 2, 2007 6:21 PM EDT Comment 22 comments

As I feared, the Reds exercised their 2008 option on Scott Hatteberg.

I'm not sure how to read this:

It's possible they're going to deal him so that Joey Votto can play.
It's possible they're going to move Votto to the outfield, but they just exercised their option on Adam Dunn so that seems out of the question.
(My fear) Dusty Baker gives some veteran love to Hatteberg and Votto languishes on the bench or spends a good portion of next year back in AAA.

How do you interpret this?

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i'm sorry but

you have no idea what you are talking about if you FEARED the Reds picking up a 1.8 million option on Hatteberg. That is NOOOOTHING! for a guy who hit 289/389/436 last year and 310/394/474 (thats a 120 OPS+) this year.

That isnt outstanding but for less than two million its a great deal.
Why shouldn't the Reds have declined it?

Even if you are oh-so-overparanoid of Dusty you don't just dump good players for cheap for nothing in return. OF COURSE you pick up his option, it gives you options. You can trade him to some team needing a good bench bat or stopgap 1b and get a decent prospect for him, or you can keep him around til the deadline or you can let him share time with Votto until Votto earns the job

by nms on Nov 2, 2007 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

by abbreviatedman on Nov 2, 2007 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

fear

I understand what you're saying, but I think the fear he's speaking of is that the Reds would not give Votto the opportunity he deserves. That's a legitimate concern, given recent Reds managerial and front office ineptitude.

I do agree, and 3Com might too, that Hatteberg is a great value at 1.8 mil.

by greg456 on Nov 3, 2007 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about

Votto is a rookie and he's still an unknown for the most part. Going out and signing or trading for an above average 1B would be something. This is not. This is Scott Hatteberg. He's cheap and provides a fall back option for Votto. Any team is going to have plan b, regardless of who else is there, especially a rookie w/ 84 AB's.

You realize that prospect lists have a time horizon of like 5-10 years, not 5-10 days, right?

by slurve on Nov 2, 2007 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

platoon?

hatty had a very solid season last year (a career best i believe) and i love the idea of making votto earn the job, but the problem is their both lefties........if either was a righty the platoon would work, but with two lefties it's a bad situation and has problem written all over it

what i see happening - the two start the season splitting time, votto doesn't produce in limited opportunities, loses time to hatty, and eventually get sent down till september

what should happen - trade hatty or make him the best pinch hitter in the league and stick with votto even if he starts slow

by Wheelhouse on Nov 2, 2007 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hatte is already being talked about in trade rumor

I would be more surprised if he takes an at bat as a Red in 2008 than if I go on a date with Mandy Moore in 2008.

Votto will get 450 at bats next seasn barring an injury.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Nov 2, 2007 7:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Backwards

Hatteburg will be the one getting 450 ABs. :) Mahalo

Matt

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.

by WayneCampbell05 on Nov 3, 2007 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mandy Moore

Do you know her and does she have a thing for you? Otherwise my money is Hatteberg taking an AB for the Reds. :)

by PS on Nov 2, 2007 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I can dream.....

but still, its a long winter and maybe there is a chance I run into her.... because I really don't think Hatteberg takes an at bat for the Reds next year.

http://www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Nov 2, 2007 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yankees need a 1B

I'd much rather see him than Duncan or Phillips

by hallofamer2000 on Nov 3, 2007 12:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

a more likely scenario would be

betemit at 1B, and lowell at 3B.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEPTH REPORTS (link fixed)
variables don't; constants aren't

by overlord on Nov 3, 2007 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yuck

Betemit's bat would look even worse at 1B than 3B. No idea why the Yankees would want to do that.

by mraver on Nov 3, 2007 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit is fine with enough ABs

but better at 3B or 1B. Sadly though, much better than Phillips. Not really interested in Hatteberg when you consider his splits.

Todd Frazier for President

by FrazierFan on Nov 3, 2007 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I honestly think

Betemit will hit about .260/.320/.460 given 500+ ABs in a season. I guess that's okay if he's good with a glove, but otherwise, you're looking at a very sub-standard regular at 3B. And at first, well, that's just pathetic.

by mraver on Nov 4, 2007 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get Real!

Much love fellas but, shake it off!

The yankees have exactly ZERO CHANCE of starting the seaon with Betamit at 3b OR ib...lol

It's the Yankees!! They are RICH and there are many other better options out there and they will figure out something Im sure. Then again they DID play Mietkeiwics last year so maybe Im giving them too much credit.

by casejud on Nov 4, 2007 4:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant 2B

'twas a typo.

Todd Frazier for President

by FrazierFan on Nov 4, 2007 10:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit

Can play 2B in a pinch, but there's no way he can hold down 2B as a defensive starter.

Also, Cano's pretty much got 2B locked up for the Yanks for a long, long time.

by Yakker on Nov 5, 2007 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like Hatteberg for 08

He had a great year and has been great in Cin. He crushed RHP last year. He is so cheap you should be outraged if they didn't pick up that option.

Also, he is not a big HR guy so his home and away stats are much more fluky than a deterrent. You are only talkin about a 2 HR difference over 2/3rds a season of ABs.

I think he will definitely start the season with the Reds in some capacity unless they are blown away in a trade offer. But it is very likely he receives less ABs than last year until he is traded(if they are not in contention).

Make the world a better place. Punch Tim Purpura in the face.

by Shamus on Nov 4, 2007 3:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs