Justin Huber

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 20, 2008 10:49 AM EST Comment 19 comments

Why exactly does Kansas City not want to give Huber an extended chance in the bigs? He's apparently finally out of options but they're still not sold on him. I understood when they had Mike Sweeney blocking him but, now that 1st base is relatively unoccupied, shouldn't he be on the short list? This is, of course, assuming Butler takes the majority of the DH time. Does he have anything left to prove in the minors?

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Well

Now they've got Ross Gload blocking him.

I don't understand why they haven't given him a shot. Maybe they don't like Aussies.

by MontrealMets on Feb 20, 2008 10:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

M's should trade Reed for him

Huber desperately needs out of the KC org, just as Jeremy Reed desperately needs out of the Seattle org.

Both players are now out of options. Both have talent, but have stagnated, and the past few years have actually reduced both guys' value.

The M's need help at 1b, especially if Sexson struggles again, and while it'd be nice to have a lefty, it's not a deal breaker.
The Royals might want a platoon partner for Guillen, and Reed's platoon splits show he'd be good in that role. They don't need a lefty all that much, but again, it's not a deal breaker and spelling Guillen here and there might help them get the most out of Jose's 3 years.

This needs to happen.

by marc w on Feb 20, 2008 12:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Huber for Reed

I would think that trade would favor the M's simply because Huber is still an unknown with power/onbase potential whereas Reed just hasn't been able to hit major league hitting consistently. Maybe the M's would have to throw a low level prospect in as well.

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 20, 2008 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huber hasn't exactly excelled

in his call-ups either.
Tiny sample size, but if performance in MLB trials is what counts, then neither have a leg to stand on.

in 2007, their hitting performance was relatively equal, once park factors are in play (Tacoma annihilated Reed). Add in position, and I think it's easy to say Reed was much more valuable at least in 2007. Huber also had a poor 2006 in AAA.

I'd say it's a fairly even deal.

by marc w on Feb 20, 2008 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

At bats

There's a huge difference between Huber's few dozen at bats and Reed's hundreds of at bats (he's already had a season of 400+ plate appearances). I don't think they compare at all. Huber is still unknown. Reed stinks.

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 20, 2008 1:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Reed in 2007 outside of Tacoma:

.324/.377/.519

Huber, away: .288/.327/.493

Huber mashes at home, where Omaha has a positive HR park factor (1.07). Reed simply can't get a ball out of tacoma - where the HR park factor is .77.

by marc w on Feb 20, 2008 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What possible use...

Would the Royals have for Reed?

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Feb 20, 2008 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

not much, it's true

I just think it'd be cool to see a platoon of Reed and Jose Guillen.
Reed can be a decent platoon guy.

Too bad they've got Costa.

by marc w on Feb 20, 2008 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huber

I hope we give him a shot this spring. He has nothing to prove in the minors. Should have been starting in 2006 instead of signing "Dougie".

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Feb 20, 2008 1:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dougie Eye-Chart

Who somehow managed to sign with the Pirates. How does a no-hit 1st baseman continue to have a job in the majors?

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 20, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's the Grit

Just ask Buddy Bell.

Ugh...

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Feb 20, 2008 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huber

Forget him. He has been passed by Butler and Shealy both.

by Jim Wiser on Feb 20, 2008 2:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well....

Someone is going to enjoy him then because he's out of options. If Billy Beane didn't already have a roster full of 1st basemen and DH's, I'd say he'd be a perfect fit in Oakland. Failing that, couldn't the Giants use ANYONE?

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 20, 2008 2:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Huber could be a valuable player for NL

roster. KC is too foolish to give him a chance to be useful for them. Huber can play 1B, OF and passable 3rd catcher. He has some pop off the bench for a PH. There may be some upside to him but the Royals won't ever know. If he doesn't make the KC roster, an NL team will snap him up - maybe Marlins or Giants.

by daveyork on Feb 21, 2008 3:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Catcher

I don't know about his abilities at 1st base and corner OF but I do know he hasn't donned the tools of ignorance since his last days in the Mets organization.

by Lunkwill Fook on Feb 21, 2008 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Munson

Eric Munson didn't don 'em in Detroit either, but when it came down to pumping gas or wearing 'em, he found a set of tools that fit. Heck, didn't Josh Phelps catch a bit last year too?

I think Huber would do whatever it took to play in MLB. The reason he took them off in the first place is because he didn't play defense well enough to be a #1 catcher, and the hope was he'd hit enough to be an everyday corner OF/1bman. Now that that isn't going to happen, perhaps the best thing he could do is strap the shinguards back on.

by drwmsu1 on Feb 21, 2008 9:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"in Detroit"

should be in the Detroit organization

by drwmsu1 on Feb 21, 2008 9:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

both those players

only went back to the catchers mitt after acknowledging they couldn't cut it as 1bs, and were basically failures as prospects in that regard

by nms on Feb 22, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Summary

I don't know if you just summed up what I said a little more clearly, or didn't understand my point. I do agree that they are failed as prospects, but they both are sticking in MLB because they have the ability to catch, even if it is in a pinch. And being a 3rd catcher/PH/whatever in MLB is better than being a AAA slugger.

by drwmsu1 on Feb 22, 2008 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs