First, a note that Fangraphs has done a Fangraphesque take on my post topic from earlier this week, Jeremy Affeldt’s wowie-zowie ground ball rate this year.
Now let’s talk about Fred Lewis, just like reader 50andstillfly asked for this morning. (I please to aim.) Seeing how the Giants have gone and gotten all Bowkered up, their outfield is extremely crowded. Short-term, Torres and Rowand and Winn and Lewis and Schierholtz and The Big LeBowker can squeeze in, but something’s got to give. Right now the odd man out is Lewis, who is so banished to the doghouse he might as well strap on a leather helmet and goggles and pretend he’s flying a Sopwith Camel.
With all of 10 at-bats in July, he’s basically rotting on the bench. Perhaps Fred could be part of an upcoming trade, but he certainly won’t be a major component. He also could be sent to the minors but he’ll have to clear waivers first, which I don’t see happening. Freddie has his flaws, but if the Giants are giving him away, no doubt there will be takers.
Release him? Only if the Giants see his current malaise of cringeworthy D and out-of-whack swing as irreversible. That’s really the big question: Can Fred be fixed?
I don’t know the answer. No one really knows the answer. He’s shown enough at the big-league level — a great eye, excellent speed, the ability to hit for at least occasional power — that throwing in the towel seems foolish. As recently as this winter, Giants brass, fans, and others were all expecting solid work from him. Statistically, 2009 hasn’t been the disaster so often described in the press. In the field, he’s still above average (according to UZR). At the plate, his discipline numbers aren’t all that different from last year; he’s just swinging and missing a little bit more at strikes. He’s striking out more and hitting with less power, but it’s not like he’s gone in the tank, statistically speaking.
Naked eye-speaking, though, it’s clear something’s wrong.
Here’s my prescription for the Giants. Try to trade him. Get something for him, perhaps as part of a larger package. Don’t give him away for free.
But if no one wants Fred, do what you can to keep him because he might come in handy next year. Winn will probably be gone, Rowand will be a year older, Schierholtz and Bowker might still be big question marks, and Torres will still be a backup outfielder. There probably won’t be reinforcements coming from the minors. Meanwhile, Fred will still be relatively young, cheap, fast, and willing to take a walk. (But in the morning, I’ll be sober.)
If Bowker goes bananas in the next two weeks, he’ll force the Giants’ hand. But if he’s closer to mezzo-mezzo, send him back down to Fresno for more minor-league Bowkermania and tell him to be ready to compete for a big-league job in 2010. Meanwhile, having spent a couple months riding serious pine, Fred might be more sober, too (figuratively), and work his ass off all winter and spring to re-win a roster spot. He might even return to the player he was in 2008 — good, not great, but very useful.
