Lateral Quicks wrote:1. He can't field.
Agreed. No one says that he can. We're talking about him filling DH, not 1B.
If he can't field at all (and he can't), it limits his utility to the team. But that isn't why it makes no sense to use him as a primary DH on a contending team.
2. He can't run.
Agreed. No one says that he can. How many other DH's can run?
If he can't run at all (and he can't), it limits his value to the team. But that isn't why it makes no sense to use him as a primary DH on a contending team.
3. He can't hit for power.
I'd wager he'll hit at least 50% more home runs over a full major league season than Melky Cabrera
Irrelevant (Melky Cabrera's value as a LF has absolutely nothing to do with David Cooper or finding a good DH) and also based on nothing in the way of facts (considering the guy couldn't even hit HRs in Vegas).
, and unlike many power hitters he'll figure to hit for a decent average.
Based on what? His mediocre minor league career? The unsustainably high PCL numbers that are largely meaningless in a major league context? The insignificant sample size of MLB ABs where he hit .270?
The Jays don't need 30HR power out of the DH spot this season.
The Jays need as much power as they can get out of the DH spot this season for the best value possible. David Cooper doesn't figure to give you much in that regard.
4. He's young and inexperienced/unreliable.
What guy embarking on their major league career isn't inexperienced/unreliable? Cooper put up dominating numbers in Vegas over a large sample size (show me another guy who had an OBP over .400 over 800+ ABs), and batted .300 in 1/4 of a season - a small sample to be sure - in the majors last year. I'll take my chances with him.
Two things.
#1. If you grant that Cooper is inexperienced and unreliable, why exactly would a team that has contending aspirations want to trust a guy like that with a full-time roster spot when there are superior and more reliable options readily available? Beyond the fact that there is nothing to support that he'll be good, his inexperience is a huge reason not to use him as a primary DH.
#2. Proven scrub Adam Lind had a .392/.448/.664 line in the PCL last year for the Las Vegas 51s. And you're telling me I'm supposed to care about David Cooper putting up .314/.395/.540? If you're going to make a ridiculous argument that PCL numbers equate to MLB success, at least try to keep it consistent with all the players.
5. There are better options available on the market.
Of course there are. Unless you're Mike Trout, there are always better options. If the Jays' have unlimited payroll this year, by all means let's go get an established player. But it's a questions of priorities and cost/benefit.
If the Jays are really trying to go all-in for 2013, it makes absolutely no sense to half-ass this attempt at contention. They need to make the playoffs next season and they need to do everything they possibly can to make that happen. The value of an extra win or two for the Jays right now is so huge that it would be worth it for them to go after an established player for DH (or at least an established lefty masher) rather than hand the job to an unproven, unreliable bat who has never shown much of anything outside of the PCL.
It isn't just the market, though. There are better options in-house too. Platooning Lind with Rajai Davis will get you better production than anything David Cooper projects to do. It would also be preferable due to the reliability factor of two veterans with long track records.
6. A contending team can't afford a guy like Cooper in their lineup.
Nonsense. World Series champions usually have multiple worse offensive players than Cooper in their lineups.
It all depends on what kind of lineup the contending team has. Considering the division the Jays are in and how good their competition is, it makes sense to try to get as good an offense as possible and especially not skimp at the DH position where it is fairly easy to find good bats.
The numbers indicate he has great potential to be a very solid ~.750-.800 OPS DH in the 7th hole for a bargain-basement price of ~500K, allowing the Jays to focus on other areas.
The numbers don't indicate he will be that kind of bat (which, it should be noted, would be a very mediocre one at the DH position), they indicate he could be that kind of bat. Big difference. The Jays need fewer question marks right now, not more.
And if he doesn't work out, they can always try to upgrade at the trade deadline. I really don't understand how objective baseball people can look at that benefit/cost ratio and think he's a trash option.
Or they can just upgrade now and have a full season with a superior bat/platoon pairing that could gain them a win or two. How is that not more preferable than taking a chance on a guy who at best will be a mediocrity?
Anyways, I've said all that I can say on this topic.
You've said more than enough already. We all have. The fact that this thread even exists is exasperating enough. Don't you guys realize what's going on here? It's something bigger than debates about scrubs like David Cooper getting PA at DH.
