September 20, 200817 yr http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20...sp&c_id=fla Amezaga valuable jack of all trades 09/19/2008 6:20 PM ET By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com MIAMI -- Making the difficult plays look routine is common for the all-purpose Alfredo Amezaga. The Marlins' valuable utility player made yet another spectacular play on Thursday, robbing Lance Berkman with a diving stop at shortstop. From the ground, Amezaga threw across the diamond for the out. Amezaga has filled it at shortstop on Thursday and Friday because Hanley Ramirez is resting a strained left shoulder. Defensively, Amezaga has the capability to stand out at a variety of positions. He can play shortstop, third base, second base and center field at a high level. "We've talked about him before," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "On any given day, he can be the best defender at that position." With the team focusing on improving defensively in 2009, retaining Amezaga is a high priority. Whether he prices himself out of Florida remains to be seen, but the team clearly wants to retain him. Amezaga is making $945,000 this season, and his salary projects to rise to the $1.9 million range in his second year of arbitration. Still, the Marlins would like to retain him. Amezaga provides energy, and his play to rob Berkman swung momentum in the Marlins favor in an 8-1 win. "The pitcher feels good about it," Gonzalez said. "It's a tough play, and he helps [the pitcher] get out of it. For me, he adds so much defensively. He's a special guy." For much of his career, Amezaga has been regarded as a role player. Could he be an everyday player? "People always talk about guys, saying maybe he's not a 160-game guy," Gonzalez said. "But you know what, you can run him out there for 120 [games]. Spell him a game here and there. I think he could do it." Amezaga has had a good year but Fredi wants to play him 3 out of every 4 games. Is that not like a bit too much considering his low OPS, also is he worth the additional salary that would be required to keep him on the Marlins next season or should we look to Andino and others to assume his role
September 20, 200817 yr Author 2003 i know you would have expected me to bring up this topic BTW Amezaga OPS is .679
September 20, 200817 yr I think he is worth the salary, simply because he can fill in anywhere bar pitcher/catcher. It's extremely rare to find a guy who can play 7 positions with quality defence. For me, Andino hasnt yet had enough playing time in the Majors to justify getting rid of our cheery Mexican.
September 20, 200817 yr Freddi has a giant man crush on Alfredo, but he is one of the game's most valuable bench players.
September 20, 200817 yr He's one of the players the Marlins need to keep. He's versatile, plays great defense, and he's not that bad of a hitter.
September 20, 200817 yr Alfredo has 15 RBI in September - I know he was having some clutch hits but I never thought he was doing that well!
September 20, 200817 yr Keep him he is worth the money. As he is very capable of filling 4 positions without any problem.
September 20, 200817 yr I would like to keep Amezaga on the team. He will not be on top of the priority list because of all the other guys who are up for arbitration, but still he does deserve to 1.9 million he is asking for
September 20, 200817 yr I think he is worth the salary, simply because he can fill in anywhere bar pitcher/catcher. It's extremely rare to find a guy who can play 7 positions with quality defence. For me, Andino hasnt yet had enough playing time in the Majors to justify getting rid of our cheery Mexican. he can catch he played catcher 6 games in mexico hes great but i wouldnt sign him for anything over 2 mil
September 20, 200817 yr Ridiculously useful. He needs to be kept... HE ALSO NEEDS TO LEARN THAT HE IS A LEFTY AND NOT A SWITCH HITTER!
September 20, 200817 yr Ridiculously useful. He needs to be kept... HE ALSO NEEDS TO LEARN THAT HE IS A LEFTY AND NOT A SWITCH HITTER! lol, exactly, every time he bats right handed i usually see him pop out
September 20, 200817 yr i just hope wherever he does wind up playing he gets to become an everyday starter! what about the giants or dodgers or a team like that?
September 20, 200817 yr Ridiculously useful. He needs to be kept... HE ALSO NEEDS TO LEARN THAT HE IS A LEFTY AND NOT A SWITCH HITTER! lol, exactly, every time he bats right handed i usually see him pop out Only time I remember him doing some useful right handed was hitting a 2 run homer against the Nats straight after a rain delay to go up 3-2
September 21, 200817 yr I would keep him over other bench players we have. Too versatile to let go. One player of his type is worth what other teams have in a OFer/IFer duo for the bench. In dollar terms that means he actually saves a team $$$. I would say make him one of the first to be signed for another year. But I have no idea what is being talked about with some of the other guys' agents either.
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