RSS
Home
Holliday trade leaves former Dirtbag in the middle
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
This year’s blockbuster trade that moved Matt Holliday from the Oakland A’s to the St. Louis Cardinals for a package of top-tier prospects has thrust one of those prospects, former Dirtbag Shane Peterson, into the spotlight. Peterson, as well as Brett Wallace and Clayton Mortensen, have come under harsh scrutiny since the deal late last week. With Holliday looking to have returned to old form since the All-Star break, this trade leaves many wondering which team is on the winning side.
Peterson and Wallace, a first round pick out of Arizona State a year ago, have drawn mixed reviews from critics, much so than Mortensen, a right-hander out of Gonzaga. Coming out of college last year, Peterson was an all-Big West Conference first baseman with a strong lefty bat and an arm good enough to pitch a few innings.
However, Peterson’s power came in flashes. Scouts wondered if playing at pitcher-friendly Blair Field was stifling his power.
Peterson now owns a .293 minor league career average and has been converted to a left fielder, but his on-base numbers have dipped slightly and the power still only comes in streaks. Scouts are still critical of this aspect of Peterson’s game.
A recent article on ESPN.com said Baseball America “doesn’t care much for Peterson”, but then again, BA has never cared much for Long Beach State or many who came out of the Dirtbag program. One report described Peterson as having average speed and “fringy” defense. Scouts question whether or not he can make it at the next level with power that doesn’t appear to be sustainable — especially when playing at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Having covered Peterson during his last two seasons at The Beach, I can tell you that his work ethic may be a key intangible. Petey is a perfectionist; he doesn’t want a polished game, he wants it perfect. He can’t stand making mistakes, and when he does he works diligently to fix them. Peterson graduated college in three years with three majors before he could even legally drink.
I’m not saying that Petey is one of those all-heart, grinder types that sometimes make it up The Show based on the hard work they’ve put in — he was a second round pick last year. His natural talent is effortless, it’s the work he puts in to elevate that talent that makes him great.
With most of their offense either aging or flailing, the A’s are in dire need of just about everything except pitching. Mortensen may have a hard time finding a spot with such a crowded young rotation, but Peterson and Wallace may be two essential pieces of the puzzle.
Wallace, better known to some as “Walrus” with his pear-shaped stature, projects more as first baseman than at third, and with the failed Daric Barton/Jason Giambi/Nomar Garciaparra experiment currently on display in the bottom of the American League West standings, Wallace power-average combo would be a welcome change. If Wallace stays at third replacing the injury-prone Eric Chavez, moving Peterson back to first could be an option as well.
Criticisms aside, this trade looks like it will add some much needed excitement to post-Moneyball A’s.
Related Articles:
Comments
