From this AM’s Enquirer.
The Reds are hoping for a rebound year with Womack’s return to the National League.
“We feel he’s the prototypical National League player,” O’Brien said.
Womack hit .307 with five home runs and 38 RBI and stole 26 bases for St. Louis in 2004.
The Reds plan to use Womack primarily at second base. He’ll also play some outfield.
The Reds are still trying to sign Rich Aurilia. If that happens, Aurilia will get the bulk of time at second.
Womack and Freel will share the utility role if Aurilia signs. If Aurilia doesn’t sign, Freel and Womack will share second base as well as the utility role.
“I see (Womack) playing a great deal,” Reds manager Jerry Narron. “But there are only a few guys (on the roster) who I call everyday players.”
Womack, if his bat comes around to what it was (he’s a career .271 hitter), will help the Reds manufacture runs. That’s key in the NL Central.
“It seems like every night we’re facing outstanding pitching,” Narron said. “We need guys who can get on base and score runs.”
Gets on base? Does Narron actually think about what he’s saying or just talk? The guy has a .316 career OBA and even in his big year of ’04, it was only .349, which was his career high.
This guy’s a bum. He’s older, more expensive, and not as good as Ryan Freel. This deal should be enough to get OB sent packing.
The Reds may need speed, but speed is only good when you’re on base. Why the Enquirer fails to raise this point is beyond me. So offensively, this is a terrible pick up.
If there’s a silver lining to the deal, it’s that Womack could help their defense in the IF or OF. The 2005 2B fielding %s for Womack, Aurilia and Olmedo are .992, .981, and .975 respectively. The range factors (a measure of balls reached per 9 IPs) are 5.92, 4.98, and 5.23. Womack’s 2005 #s are better than his career, maybe because of the small sample size (he played three times as many games in the OF). His OF defense is respectable, as long as you keep him out of CF.
This reminds me a lot of the Terry Pendleton signing in 1997. A 36-year-old batting-average-heavy infielder, coming of an absolutely terrible season, acquired mostly because fans and sportswriters had heard of him.It’s obvious that The Ritilan Kid doesn’t impress the brass with his glove. If that was teh case then a savy GM would look to replace the 2nd baseman with quality not a reclamation.
Settle for stone soup, drink nothing but stone soup.