Shenani-Goats 2034.04

[GoldenOne]

"Don't believe everything you hear." That was the quote from Nashville GM Brett Golden when asked about the trade rumors involving left fielder Ron Whitney. Golden went on to say, "Look, we're not where we want to be as an organization. In order to get there, sometimes we need to see who else can shine. Ron is still an important part of this team and he still has many years ahead of him in the BBA."

The 34yo Whitney, a career .254/.348/.444 hitter, is hitting .269/.345/.474 this year. While Whitney has only started 18 of Nashville's 62 games so far this season, he has come off the bench for another 17 games. While Whitney can easily point to his current numbers being right around the career numbers he had when Nashville signed him as a Free Agent to a 1-year, $900,00 salary, a closer look at those numbers may put some things into perspective for Whitney and the Nashville fans.

So far this season, Whitney is hitting .192/.192/.346 against lefties and .308/.410/.538 against righties. In the pitcher friendly Les Paul Field, Whitney is .167/.286/.238 but on the road he is hitting .389/.421/.750. When he starts this season, Whitney is hitting .234/.310/.453 but when he comes in as a replacement or to pinch hit, he is batting .478/.532/.652. Granted, the sample sizes are a little smaller in some areas but, the trends are still valid.

Whitney still has some value and could be a key piece for a team looking for a RF platoon or a DH but GM Golden certainly has an easy explanation for why Whitney is not an every day starter.

GM Golden closed the press conference by saying, "We want to put people in the best possible positions for both the team and for the player, for the present and the future. We're going to do what we think is right. There is nobody on the Goats that is more important than the organization; in the end, nobody is "untouchable.""

[udlb58]

Whitney is a great player for a team in transition. He puts butts in seats, and if he plays well you can flip him at the deadline for a lottery ticket prospect.

[GoldenOne]

Whitney is a great player for a team in transition. He puts butts in seats, and if he plays well you can flip him at the deadline for a lottery ticket prospect.

Hence the comment about nobody being untouchable.....who needs a righty-smashing corner OF platooner?