Orange County Register: Angels' Johnny Giavotella continues to establish himself

[AngelsWin.com]

CHICAGO – Johnny Giavotella still checks the lineup every day to see if he’s in it.It’s partly an old habit, partly an attitude.“I still take the approach that I’m trying to make the team,” Giavotella said. “I am trying to impress...

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[Angelsjunky]

The thread title is incomplete. It should finish "...as a replacement level player."

[Chris]

Chase Utley cleared waivers.  Bye, bye Giavotella.

 

 

 

 

jk

[UndertheHalo]

Giavatella is not good. At all.

[zenmaster]

He wouldn't start on any other team. That's how good he is.

[DMVol]

He isn't a bad player but he could use another element to his skill set, more speed would be nice....and his defense doesn't help him....

[mulwin444]

He's the infield version of J.B. Schuck...you only miss him if you end up with someone worse (Joyce).

[aznhockeyguy]

.5 WAR so far this year.  If his D improves he'd be a pretty solid everyday player.  

[UndertheHalo]

Yea, but the d is a thing. So he's terrible. Dude has no range. I also think he ****'s up double plays frequently which is infuriating.

Edited August 12, 2015 by UndertheHalo

[bloodbrother]

Gia hasn't been horrible to where the team must make a change during the season, but he also isn't good enough to be content with him as the 2B going forward. He isn't good defensively....he can't hit for power, he can't steal, he doesn't get on base at a good clip and he doesn't hit for average. There isn't much here that he offers. He's better suited for a backup role off the bench

[aznhockeyguy]

I wasn't expecting very much from Johnny, I mean Howie was a borderline all-star caliber player averaging 3.5 WAR the last 5 seasons.  I can't complain about a player making near league minimum and playing as a league average player.  That was the knock when he was in the Royals system, great bat, no glove.  

[UndertheHalo]

Yea, I mean I'm being really hard on him. He's not replace immediately disaster like Ianetta and Joyce(was) but he definitely can't be the plan going forward. He's a fine guy to have off the bench. He's proven that much at least.

[Frieri Meatball]

I didn't think losing Howie would have such a big impact but it did. Gia botches alot of plays that Howie would of easily made. He would make a good backup at second base but thats about it. Bring back Howie! :-/

[aznhockeyguy]

The thing is, his bat is only better as a middle infielder, you put his bat anywhere else and it's not as great.  You wouldn't play him as a DH.  I don't mind playing him as a regular, but Scioscia needs to replace him if the team has a lead with a defensive replacement, that'll keep his glove off while maintaining some semblance of value for Johnny.

[Hollyw00d]

this guy is better than grant green?

 

sorry, I went there

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Gio sucks.

[2112]

He's flawed.  He is better than I thought he would be considering it was an open tryout.

[HaloNArizona]

Gio is a serviceable 2nd baseman, but when you think about it.....

His offensive war is 2.0, right behind Abyar (2.2), Calhoun (2.3) and Pujols at 2.8

 

He is a -1.0 of defense, but he is not the reason we suck.

 

It's the holes in LF, 3rd and Catcher.

 

Hell, we released a guy who was playing LF for us and hitting .260 (77 AB's) and we sent another guy to AAA who in 83 AB's was .288, but why should I judge, I mean Joyce, Victoronio, Murphy, Dejesus are all much better.   Right.

[Oz27]

I keep seeing people say Giavotella is an "average" 2B. He's not even close. He's barely above replacement level and well below average. It's bizarre that someone who is a trainwreck defensively and isn't very good with the bat either gets overrated by so many. We absolutely must upgrade 2B this offseason.

[HaloNArizona]

Overall, he is a +1.0 WAR.  In my personal opinion, 2nd base is not a top priority, unless we struggle to do something in the OF/3B.

 

LF, 3B and C are my top three positions to revamp.  than 2nd/SS

[Oz27]

Overall, he is a +1.0 WAR.  In my personal opinion, 2nd base is not a top priority, unless we struggle to do something in the OF/3B.

 

LF, 3B and C are my top three positions to revamp.  than 2nd/SS

He's 0.6 WAR, both on FanGraphs and Baseball Reference. Baseball Reference has him at -1.0 wins above average.

[Reveille1984]

He is definitely the J.B. Schuck of the infield.  Mediocre power, mediocre hit tool, terrible defensively, doesn't walk and he's not even that fast.  

 

I guess he is establishing himself as another replaceable fill-in until we can find something better, which is pretty much 2/3 of our offense.