Pedro Alvarez has been making the transition to first base in the last few weeks, after a season full of throwing problems at the third base position. Alvarez made his debut tonight at first, batting fifth against right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana. The move puts Ike Davis on the bench, with Davis previously representing the left-handed half of the first base platoon.
The first base platoon hasn’t been the most productive pair this year. There have been times where Davis and Gaby Sanchez have looked great, but largely they have been inconsistent. That said, Alvarez doesn’t look like a big upgrade at the moment.
This season, Alvarez has a .757 OPS against right-handed pitching. Ike Davis hasn’t been great, but has much better numbers, with a .776 OPS against right-handers. The difference isn’t just limited to this season. Alvarez has a career .790 OPS against right-handers, while Davis has a career .818 OPS. Whether the scope is the current season, or their entire careers, Davis has been the better hitter for this half of the platoon.
You also have to factor in the defense. Davis isn’t putting up the best numbers defensively, with a -4.3 UZR/150. That’s similar to what he’s done the last two years. It’s not out of the question to suggest Alvarez could post similar or better numbers one day. But will that happen over the final six weeks of the season, when Alvarez is basically learning the position on the fly?
When Alvarez was drafted, he was viewed as a guy who would carry the lineup in the future. The reality is that this hasn’t happened. He’s been a good player the last two years, but not a great player. He hits a lot of home runs, which draw attention, but that’s about it for his game. This year he isn’t hitting home runs, and the fact that there’s no other value he brings is really starting to show, especially when he starts to detract with his throwing issues.
Over the weekend, I wrote about the first base position, wondering what the Pirates will end up doing this off-season with Alvarez, Davis, and Gaby Sanchez at the position. If it’s a choice between Alvarez and Davis for the spot, the position should go to Davis. Alvarez is the bigger name in Pittsburgh, and has bigger expectations because of his history with the team. The reality is that Davis has been better throughout his career, and is better this year. If Alvarez wasn’t once viewed as the guy who would save the franchise and anchor the Pirates’ lineup (that player ended up being Andrew McCutchen), then there would be no debate at all between him and Davis.
Links and Notes
**The 2014 Prospect Guide is on sale in the Pirates Prospects store. The paperback version has dropped to $14.99 plus shipping. We currently only have one case of books remaining, and the offer is only valid while the books are in stock. There is also an eBook version available for $9.99. The 2013 Prospect Guide is on clearance for $1.
**Prospect Watch: Andrew Lambo Homers Twice, Nick Kingham Goes Eight Strong Innings
**Tyler Glasnow Expects to Remain in Bradenton the Rest of the Season
**Tyler Glasnow Earns Second Straight FSL Pitcher of the Week Award
**2014 Pirates Draft Pick Suspended For HGH
**Clint Barmes Has His Rehab Transferred to Indianapolis
**Top 10 Hitters: JaCoby Jones Has Huge Week, While a Second Baseman Makes Third Straight Top 10 List
