I’ve been finding MLB.com’s On the Move column analyzing the offseason player movement to be pretty good, but today’s take on Corey Patterson strikes me as oh soooo knee jerk. Everyone knows that Patterson crumpled last year in the face of insane pressure for him to change his game. Does that mean he “is worth no more than speculative AL-only bench bid” this year?
I don’t think so. Sure, there’s a chance Patterson’s career was wrecked with his confidence last year, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that this guy walked 46 times in 2004 while tallying 63 extra base hits and stealing 32 bases. And he turns just 27 years old this year. Look at Juan Encarnacion for a less talented hitter with no better patience, less power and speed, and his apparent collapse in 2001 as an antecedent. Get Patterson away from the top of the lineup, let him hack and run and the Orioles are going to enjoy what he gives them.
Meanwhile I’m hoping he has a bad spring that drops his price some.