EXPANSION (1967-1998) Infielders--NO CARD Edition

Many have said that we don't know what we are getting when we nominate cards, so I've taken some time to put some stats together from some cards, using Diamond Dope and Veterans 1975 for the park, since it's kind of neutral (10,10,10,10). I asked Bill for his permission/blessing to do this. So I'll be posting some card add ideas, thoughts, etc to hopefully keep interest up and give folks some stuff to actually discuss on the boards.

1997 Ron Coomer, MIN, Bats-R, 6L Balance, 3b-3e14, 1b-3e8, RF-4(+2)e25
LH--12.9 2b, 1.2 3b, 2 HR, 0 BB 488/488/686, 1.174 OPS
RH--4.3 2b, 0.2 3b, 2.2 HR, 0 BB 3112/312/417, .729 OPS
Twins 1990s 3b, takes plenty of hacks vs LHP

1978 Ivan DeJesus, CHC, Bats-R, 1L Balance, SS-2e28, Steal: *3-6/-(18-13)
LH--1.2 2b, 3.4 3b, 0.8 HR, 14 Bb 327/421/438, .858
RH--3.5 2b, 0.4 3b, 1 HR, 14 BB 301/398/379, .777 OPS
Longtime Cubs/Phillies SS, SHOULD BE in any set, Not a bad add for low cap leagues. Shouldn't be all about just adding CARDS, but adding players who have long distinguished careers.

1991 Greg Gagne, MIN, Bats-R, 2L Balance, SS-1e12
LH--7.9 2b, 2.6 3b, 0.6 HR, 10 BB 292/370/447, .817 OPS
RH--5.4 2b, 0 3b, 1.5 HR, 1 BB 262/282/356, .639 OPS
Another card that should be in the set, and gives the Twins Exp a 1 at SS (they are weak at SS).

1980 Art Howe, HOU, Bats-R, 4L Balance, 3b-2e10, 1b-3e23, 2b-3e8, SS-4e48
LH--2 2b, 2.2 3b, 5.3 HR, 9 BB 374/432/601, 1.033 OPS
RH--3 2b, 2.1 3b, 2.3 HR, 12 BB 185/283/334, .617 OPS
Old-time Astro, gives a good platoon vs LHP and plays enough IF positions well to make him a valuable infield sub as well. Give old Art a card and tell Billy Beane he's a jerk.

1988 Jose Lind, PIT, Bats-R, 1R Balance, 2b-1e12
LH--4 2b, 0 3b, 0 HR, 9 BB 226/291/267, .557 OPS
RH--1.5 2b, 1.4 3b, 1.1 HR, 6 BB 312/350/385, .735 OPS
Another player from those early 90s Pirates, GREAT defense, should be in set.

1992 Pat Listach, MIL, Bats-S, 4L Balance, SS-2e27, 2b-2e17, CF-4(+3)e16, Steal: *2-6/-(18-15)
LH--5.6 2b, 2.2 3b, 1.5 HR, 1 BB 430/436/565, 1.001 OPS
RH--0.4 2b, 0.6 3b, 0 HR, 12 BB 293/372/310, .682 OPS
1992 Rookie of the Year, was an exciting player for Brewers, very nice line vs LHP and plays both 2b & SS well.

1995 Mickey Morandini, PHI, Bats-L, 3R Balance, 2b-2e10
LH--4.5 2b, 2.8 3b, 0 HR, 4 BB 205/262/305, .568 OPS
RH--9.3 2b, 1.8 3b, 0.2 HR, 6 BB 335/396/471, .868 OPS
Phillies 2b with good defense...…...

1996 Dean Palmer, TEX, Bats-R, 2L Balance, 3b-3e18
LH--3 2b, 0.8 3b, 13.2 HR, 7 BB 338/393/784, 1.117 OPS
RH--3.2 2b, 0 3b, 9.2 HR, 15 BB 309/148/645, 1.063 OPS
Power-hitting 3b for Rangers, good HR numbers, probably fairly cheap due to lower OBP

1990 Jody Reed, BOS, Bats-R, E Balance, 2b-2e10, SS-4e42
LH--11.1 2b, 0 3b, 0 HR, 14 BB 328/422/448, .870 OPS
RH--8.4 2b, 0 3b, 2.4 HR, 14 BB 320/414/483, .897 OPS
Would be a good cheap 2b alternative for Red Sox exp teams, well-balance, good defense

1997 John Valentin, BOS, Bats-R, 3R Balance, 3b-3e29, 2b-3e23
LH--9 2b, 0.6 3b, 3.3 HR, 16 BB 234/362/456, .818 OPS
RH--10.9 2b, 1.4 3b, 3.5 HR, 7 BB 402/451/644, 1.096 OPS
Led League in Doubles, good line vs RHP, decent vs LHP. Don't ask about his 1995 Season, it's a little bit of an outlier on HR power and his defense is a SS-3e22, not enough to get used. This 1997 card is a much better option and highlights what he did: hit a lot of doubles off of the Monstah……….

Mike Epstein 1969
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/33511/1660/1/60

Mike Epstein 1969
https://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/33511/1660/1/60

1969 Mike Epstein, WAS, Bats-L, 1R Balance, 1b-4e16
LH--0 2b, 0 3b, 12.3 HR, 20 BB 307/468/750, 1.218 OPS
RH--0.9 2b, 0 3b, 11.8 HR, 24 BB 265/463/723, 1.185 OPS
Maybe Ted Williams becoming his manager in 1969 helped him put together a very good season. Epstein was a guy who walked and hit home runs, despite a low batting average. Compares very favorably to the Carlos Pena card we have currently in that way. This would be a nice power card. Would be part of the TEX exp subset.
Imagine how bad a LF Epstein must have been. Drafted by the Orioles, who wanted to play him in LF because they had Boog Powell at 1b, but the O's gave up and shipped him to Washington. The attempt by the Orioles to make him an outfielder must have made an impression, because Frank Howard "patrolled" LF to keep Epstein in the lineup at 1b.

Plus we don't have a guy in the ATG nicknamed "Super Jew".

1995 or 1997 Luis Alicea

1986 Sid Bream

1995 Gary Disarcina

1998 Damion Easley

1987 Greg Gagne

1967 Julio Gotay

1979 or 1982 Ron Jackson

1997 Neifi Perez

1988 or 1989 Kurt Stillwell

1993 Jose Vizcaino

1995 or 1997 Luis Alicea

1986 Sid Bream

1995 Gary Disarcina

1998 Damion Easley

1987 Greg Gagne

1967 Julio Gotay

1979 or 1982 Ron Jackson

1997 Neifi Perez

1988 or 1989 Kurt Stillwell

1993 Jose Vizcaino

1995 Luis Alicea, BOS, Bats-S, E Balance, 2b-3e20
LH--0 2b, 0 3b, 0.6 HR, 19 BB 318/457/339, .796 OPS
RH--4.4 2b, 0.8 3b, 2.2 HR, 17 BB 241/381/384 .765 OPS

1997 Luis Alicea, CAL, Bats-S, 2R Balance, 2b-3e18, 3b-4e17
LH--5 2b, 0 3b, 0 HR, 7 BB 224/303/276, .579 OPS
RH--0.6 2b, 3.6 3b, 2.8 HR, 26 BB 222/438/430, .869 OPS

Guy who was only a starter for 2-3 seasons. Would be more of a scrub, but defense isn't that good. These cards take turns producing a decent OBP against one side or the other. I could think of a lot more current needs than Alicea.



1986 Sid Bream, PIT, Bats-L, 4R Balance, 1b-3e20, LF-4(+3)e8
LH--9.6 2b, 0.5 3b, 1.1 HR, 6 BB 212/256/348, .604 OPS
RH--7 2b, 1.3 3b, 5.5 HR, 13 BB 308/391/581, .972 OPS
I split up the Expansion IF and C/1b, so I have 1990 Bream in that thread.

1990 Sid Bream, PIT, Bats-L, 1R Balance, 1b-2e12
LH--12.3 2b, 1.7 3b, 2.3 HR, 3 BB 271/298/486, .783 OPS
RH--4.5 2b, 0 3b, 6.8 HR, 15 BB 307/416/579, .995 OPS

1986 Bream is a 4R, yet 1990 Bream is better vs RHP and much better against LHP than 1986. 1990 is the one we want.




1995 Gary Disarcina, CAL, Bats-R, 1R Balance, SS-2e10
LH--17.2 2b, 1.8 3b, 1 HR, 0 BB 309/315/531, .847 OPS
RH--8.2 2b, 2.6 3b, 2.3 HR, 1 BB 361/379/552, .931 OPS
His best offense by a long shot, he's gonna be at least a 4 INJ. People seem willing to go for a 2 INJ and 15-game risk, but 4 INJ and up usually don't get used much. Would make him cheaper.



1998 Damion Easley, DET, Bats-R, 1R Balance, 2b-2e13, SS-4e12
LH--6.6 2b, 0 3b, 2.3 HR, 2 BB 293/345/426, .771 OPS
RH--7.1 2b, 0.2 3b, 6 HR, 5 BB 256/331/518, .849 OPS
Poor OBP, good power for a 2b. He's better offensively in 1997 but a 3 on defense. Not a bad 1990s add, Maybe a cheaper 2b who's decent on defense and provides some bottom of the order pop.




1987 Greg Gagne, MIN, Bats-R, 1R Balance, SS-2e24, 2b-2e17, CF-4(+3)e16
LH--6.2 2b, 4 3b, 0 HR, 0 BB 266/279/400, .679 OPS
RH--8.7 2b, 2 3b, 2.8 HR, 4 BB 275/316/480, .796 OPS
His 1991 card is listed in my first post of this thread.

1991 Greg Gagne, MIN, Bats-R, 2L Balance, SS-1e12
LH--7.9 2b, 2.6 3b, 0.6 HR, 10 BB 292/370/447, .817 OPS
RH--5.4 2b, 0 3b, 1.5 HR, 1 BB 262/282/356, .639 OPS

The only things 1987 offers over 1991 is some minor RH power and eligibility at SS & 2b. His 1991 card is a 1. My opinion is, the very slight offensive bump in 87 is not enough to make Gagne used as much as that 1 in 1991, especially for a Twins grouping starved of decent SS defense.



1967 Julio Gotay, HOU, Bats-R, 4R Balance, 2b-4e26, SS-4e32 , 3b-4e30
LH--2 2b, 0 3b, 0.2 HR, 9 BB 234/312/259, .570 OPS
RH--5.8 2b, 2.2 3b, 1.5 HR, 3 BB 370/399/512, .911 OPS
That line vs RHP is alright, if he was gonna play 2b. As a 3b, it's not that good. Might be a nice cheap source of some offense vs RHP in small cap leagues.



1979 Ron Jackson, MIN, Bats-R, 3L Balance, 1b-2e10, 3b-4e18, SS-4e48, LF-4(+1)e16
LH--15.1 2b, 3 3b, 1.9 HR, 8 BB 332/400/608, 1.008 OPS
RH--4.8 2b, 0 3b, 2.4 HR, 7 BB 231/302/354, .656 OPS

1982 Ron Jackson, CAL, Bats-R, 2L Balance, 1b-3e10, 3b-4e21

In 1979 the Angels acquired Rod Carew through free agency, then traded Jackson to the Twins as Carew's replacement. I like Jackson, he can produce a platoon with that Hrbek card. The 1982 card was produced in only 142 ABs. I wouldn't consider it based on that. But I like the add of Jackson.



1997 Neifi Perez, COL, Bats-S, 2L Balance, SS-2e24, 2b-2e8, 3b-3e65
LH--5.2 2b, 7.4 3b, 2 HR, 1 BB 350/356/593, .949 OPS
RH--2.3 2b, 5.1 2b, 2.8 HR, 2 BB 307/326/504, .830 OPS
What a nice add this card would be to the growing Rockies set. Eligible and usable at SS and 2b with god offense for a middle infielder (those triples). Yes, add him.



1988 Kurt Stillwell, KC, Bats-S, 3R Balance, SS-3e18
LH--4.3 2b, 0 3b, 1.1 HR, 11 BB 186/277/265, .542 OPS
RH--7.8 2b, 2.3 3b, 3.3 HR, 11 BB 256/339/487, .826 OPS
1989 Kurt Stillwell, KC, Bats-S, E Balance, SS-3e21
LH--0 2b, 4.3 3b, 1.5 HR, 10 BB 253/329/387, .715 OPS
RH--5 2b, 1.5 3b, 2.2 HR, 8 Bb 220/285/368, .653 OPS
Maybe if he was a 2 at SS, but, unless we just want to add depth to the KC exp grouping, he's not a good add.



1993 Jose Vizcaino, CHC, Bats-S, E Balance, 2b-2e12, SS-3e28, 3b-2e10
LH-- 0.25 0.00 0.00 14 1 0.320 0.414 0.323, .737 OPS
RH--2.1 2b, 1 3b, 1.8 HR, 5 BB 306/345/398, .743 OPS

I included 1997 Vizcaino in a thread for some good defensive subs.

1997 Jose Vizcaino, SF, Bats-S, 1R Balance, 2b-2e15/SS-2e19
LH--3.6 2b, 0 3b, 0 HR, 15 BB 219/328/258, .586 OPS
RH--0.2 2b, 2.2 3b, 2.2 HR, 4 BB 271/298/378, .677 OPS

Don't mind either card. That 1993 Cubs card is better offensively, usable at 2b. The 1997 Giants card is more of a good defensive sub at 2b/SS. Both have their respective benefits.

1974 Mike Jorgensen Expos; 1B-1e8, LF-3e7, CF-4e7 .310/.444 OBP 11 HRs in 287 ABs, a good defensive first baseman who can also play LF, a good hitter , only drawback may be his low at bats

https://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/736118/1670/1/70

1974 Mike Jorgensen Expos; 1B-1e8, LF-3e7, CF-4e7 .310/.444 OBP 11 HRs in 287 ABs, a good defensive first baseman who can also play LF, a good hitter , only drawback may be his low at bats

https://365.strat-o-matic.com/player/736118/1670/1/70

1974 Mike Jorgensen, MON, Bats-L, E Balance, 1b-1e3, LF/RF-3(0)e6, CF-4(0)e6
LH--6.1 2b, 0 3b, 5 HR, 25 BB 346/509/606, 1.115 OPS
RH--4.8 2b, 0 3b, 4.3 HR, 32 BB 355/558/591, 1.149 OPS

Here's his 1975 card, which I posted in the EXPANSION (1967-1998) C & 1b thread:
1975 Mike Jorgensen, MON, Bats-L, 2R Balance, 1b-1e9, LF/RF-3(0)e6, CF-4(0)e6
LH--0.5 2b, 0 3b, 1.3 HR, 11 BB 255/351/299, .651 OPS
RH--3.3 2b, 0 3b, 6 HR, 22 BB 257/429/513, .942 OPS

He's a lifetime .243 hitter with a good glove, who batted .310 in 1974 in half a season's at bats. I like his 1975 because it's more usable for its defense and bats closer to what Mike Jorgensen did as a hitter. His OBP in 1974 was 100 points better than his lifetime OBP and his average was 70 points higher than his Career Batting Average.
I usually shy away from such outliers for a career. I mean, should Jorgensen, pretty much a journeyman for his career, have a better card than Steve Garvey and Bob Watson, etc, who played major roles for their teams with years of consistent numbers?
1975 is his only season with more than 500 at bats, and it is much more in line with what he was as a hitter.