UZR rated Jayson Nix as a good defensive second baseman in '09. (AP photo/Mark J. Terrill)
When the White Sox signed Jayson Nix Oct. 28, 2008, it didn't seem like a very consequential move. Chris Getz was expected to be the everyday second baseman with Nix shuttling between triple-A Charlotte and the majors at best.
But injuries and struggles on both offense and defense for Getz opened the door for Nix to get some playing time—and he took advantage of it. His final numbers may not be eye-popping, but he was rated as the most valuable second baseman on the team in 2009.
As you'll find out, a lot of this review involves Getz, too, and that's because the roles of Getz and Nix are ultimately intertwined.
Key stats
GP: 94
PA: 290
AB: 255
Batting average: .224
OBP: .308
Slugging: .408
OPS: .716
OPS+: 83
wOBA: .319
2B: 11
3B: 0
HR: 12
BB/SO: 0.44
RBI: 32
SB/CS: 10/2
BABIP: .251
UZR (2B): 4.5
UZR (SS): -3.1
WAR: 1.1
Nix' full-season stats don't tell the whole story, though. Nix hit very well against lefties, posting a .256/.326/.496 line (.822 OPS) in 135 plate appearances against southpaws.
His triple-slash against righties was far worse, at .194/.292/.328 (.621 OPS) in 155 plate appearances.
While Nix did hit well against lefties, what really separated him was his defense. UZR/150 rated him at a very good 11.3, meaning he would have had that UZR had he played in 150 games. A UZR of 11.3 over 150 games would have put Nix behind only Placido Polanco in my gold glove ballot, for the record.
That UZR/150 of 11.3 is far better than that of Getz, which sat at -5.4. So, using UZR as a measure of defensive efficiency, Nix would have saved 16.7 more runs than Getz over the course of 150 defensive games. That's a very significant difference.
But does that mean Nix should be the team's everyday second baseman? Well, not necessarily. UZR is somewhat limited in explaining year-to-year defensive efficiency and is best used with a larger sample size of a few years. Getz certainly isn't slow, so his problems defensively could have been due to a problem with his positioning or footwork that could be worked out in the offseason.
Conversely, NIx could regress defensively if he actually played 150 games. While there's a better chance he stays above-average, that's not something we would know until he plays a full season.
Plus, if Nix was to play every day, he'd face far more righties than lefties, which would certainly hurt his offensive numbers. He'd hit for more power than Getz (Nix hit four homers off righties, Getz had just two all year in nearly double the at-bats), but Getz likely would end up having the better OPS.
So Nix shouldn't play every day, but he should play against lefties. On that same note, Getz shouldn't play every day, but he should play against righties.
So you know what that screams? Platoon.
While the Sox likely would lose a little bit defensively with a Nix/Getz lefty/righty platoon, it would be pretty solid offensively. I think Getz can improve off his .265/.329/.345 line against righties, and if Nix stays at the same triple-slash against lefties he had in 2009, the Sox will be set at second base next year.
What I'm getting at is I don't think the Sox need to upgrade at second base just yet. Dave Cameron of USS Mariner suggested the M's trade Jose Lopez, Mark Lowe, and Claudio Vargas the White Sox—and while I'm not going to go into why the chances the Sox trade Danks are incredibly low, if they do trade Danks, it shouldn't be for a second baseman.
The Sox have a more pressing need at designated hitter or in the outfield, and since the Mariners are smart enough to hold on to Franklin Gutierrez, there's not a match of a major-league outfielder for Danks there.
Now, if a Getz/Nix platoon doesn't do so hot in 2010, then the Sox should start looking for a second baseman (or, alternatively, a third baseman as Gordon Beckham could be moved over to second). But for right now, I think the team can get by with a platoon of Getz and Nix at second base next year.
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