We Got Wood - 48.11 - O'Brien to Start Season as Super-Utility
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 12:15 pm
It is turning into the story of his career. Intrigue GMs with your ability. Disappoint GMs with your performace. Add Portland to the list of teams that Joey O'Brien has disappointed. As OBrien enters his 3rd season with the Lumberjacks, it looks like the team will shift him into a new role: From starter to utility man.
"Joey just continues to put up lacklaster numbers" said GM Chris Wilson today as he continued his breakdown of the opening day roster. "He fooled us last year into writing a raving Team News about him, thinking 2047 was going to be the year. But he fell part as the year went on, like always. We'll see how he can do as a spot starter guy this season."
O'Brien posted just a .585 OPS last season, which, thanks to some good glove play, was still enough to post a 0.1 WAR. The WAR matched his total from the 2046 season, giving O'Brien 0.2 WAR with the Lumberjacks, which doesn't quite equate to the $5.5 million contract Portland is giving the guy. Looking for a change of course to get more productivity out of O'Brien and others, Joey will be moving to the bench.
"It won't be a full-time, bench only role" added manager Farri Agymah. "Instead, we plan to use Joey as a guy who will constantly spell guys at shorstop and second base. We want to give Wilson Adrade and Jorge Lugo more off-days this season in hopes of keeping them sharp and producing better overall numbers. Hopefully this will help all 3 guys over the long haul of the season."
Lugo has missed just 10 games in 2 years with Portland. Despite a good 2047 season, Lugo saw his numbers drastically drop a year ago, a season in which he played in 156 games. Andrade was playing pretty much every day until an injury in late August ended his season. It appears the benching of O'Brien will mean Stephen Galorean will get the regular, everyday starts.
"Galorean has more pop in his bet. He's not a contact guy or as good a glove guy as O'Brien" added Agymah, "but we need some pop in the lineup and score more runs and we're gonna give Stephen a chance early on to win and keep the spot. But Joey will play!"
Agymah and Wilson spelled out the plan is for O'Brien to still get close to 100 starts this season. Both said they'd like to see Joey get 2 out of 7 starts at 2B along with some defensive duties in late games, and spelling Lugo and Andrade about 1 every 10 games at SS and 3B this season.
"Joey just continues to put up lacklaster numbers" said GM Chris Wilson today as he continued his breakdown of the opening day roster. "He fooled us last year into writing a raving Team News about him, thinking 2047 was going to be the year. But he fell part as the year went on, like always. We'll see how he can do as a spot starter guy this season."
O'Brien posted just a .585 OPS last season, which, thanks to some good glove play, was still enough to post a 0.1 WAR. The WAR matched his total from the 2046 season, giving O'Brien 0.2 WAR with the Lumberjacks, which doesn't quite equate to the $5.5 million contract Portland is giving the guy. Looking for a change of course to get more productivity out of O'Brien and others, Joey will be moving to the bench.
"It won't be a full-time, bench only role" added manager Farri Agymah. "Instead, we plan to use Joey as a guy who will constantly spell guys at shorstop and second base. We want to give Wilson Adrade and Jorge Lugo more off-days this season in hopes of keeping them sharp and producing better overall numbers. Hopefully this will help all 3 guys over the long haul of the season."
Lugo has missed just 10 games in 2 years with Portland. Despite a good 2047 season, Lugo saw his numbers drastically drop a year ago, a season in which he played in 156 games. Andrade was playing pretty much every day until an injury in late August ended his season. It appears the benching of O'Brien will mean Stephen Galorean will get the regular, everyday starts.
"Galorean has more pop in his bet. He's not a contact guy or as good a glove guy as O'Brien" added Agymah, "but we need some pop in the lineup and score more runs and we're gonna give Stephen a chance early on to win and keep the spot. But Joey will play!"
Agymah and Wilson spelled out the plan is for O'Brien to still get close to 100 starts this season. Both said they'd like to see Joey get 2 out of 7 starts at 2B along with some defensive duties in late games, and spelling Lugo and Andrade about 1 every 10 games at SS and 3B this season.
