The Case for Val Pascucci
Posted: June 25, 2008 Filed under: MLB | Tags: Mets, MLB, Val Pascucci 1 Comment »Certain players for whatever reason never get a chance to prove themselves in the big leagues. General Managers have their pre-conceived ideas of what players can bring to the team, with various other factors ranging from position flexibility to clubhouse influence factoring into the decision. Then of course, there are the unexplained reasons. In these cases, you look at the players history and you wonder why this guy hasn’t been given a chance. Val Pascucci needs to get at least 150 big league at bats to prove to me why he can’t be a big leaguer.
Currently, Val Pascucci is a 1b/Of for the New Orleans Zephyrs, a AAA affiliate of the New York Mets. He is 6’6, 260 pounds and from what little is discussed of him, he can’t play defense worth a lick. Now let’s look at the statistics.
Focusing on Double A and higher for Pascucci, we see that he has become a better hitter as he moved to Triple A. Pascucci’s numbers are consistent with high homers, high walks but high Ks. But he has been able to maintain a solid batting average. His on-base percentage is either over .400 or very close. Slugging has been over .500. Why hasn’t this man been in the big leagues since 2004?
HISTORY
Pascucci was released by the Expos after the 2004 season, when they gave him 62 at bats. He did poorly, hitting only .177 with 2 homers and 22 strikeouts. Pascucci then went to Japan for two years and played in the Japanese World Series. Playing part time for two seasons in Japan, he batted only .243 in 305 at bats. He maintained his good walk rate, had an OBP of .352, a slugging PCT of .495 and he did manage 21 homers.
On return to America, he belted 34 homers and batted .284 (.389 OBP) for the Marlins AAA affiliate last season. Not good enough for promotion, even though the Marlins had a so-so performance from first baseman Mike Jacobs (17 homers, .265 BA, .317 OBP).
He then signed with Philly and was cut in late April this season. Signed by the Mets, he has dominated in AAA, with a .420 OBP with 14 homers in 189 at bats.
WHY ISN’T HE WITH THE METS?
Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, a lefthanded bat is currently batting .230 with a .303 OBP, 11 homers in 278 at bats with 63 strikeouts. More importantly, Delgado in 85 at bats is batting only .224 against lefties, with only 3 walks and 28 strikeouts. With a .267 OBP, there is room for improvement here. Delgado is also a butcher on the field, never one to be confused for a gold glover. The Mets have used only two other first baseman, utility men Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson. Pascucci is currently batting .404 versus lefties with a astounding .522 OBP. The case for a platoon can be made here for Pascucci as his performance couldn’t possibly be worse than Delgado’s, on the field and versus lefties.
In the Mets outfield, currently two starters are on the DL, Moises Alou and Ryan Church. Opening day starter Angel Pagan is also on the DL. The Mets are currently rotating Endy Chavez (.234 BA, .282 OBP), Fernando Tatis (.254 BA, .289 OBP), Trot Nixon (.148 BA, .281 OBP) and Marlon Anderson (.205 BA, .230 OBP) in the outfield slots. While Church may return within a week, Alou might be done for the season and Pagan is still not close to rehab. Left field will be open for a while. The case for left field for Pascucci can be made here, as these numbers by the replacement outfielders are horrendous.
Let’s say that Pascucci is so terrible playing the field, that he can only be a DH or pinch hit. Considering the Mets pinch hitters this season are batting .194 (.265 OBP) with 27 K’s in 103 at bats with only 2 homers, a case can be made for Pascucci here as well. Certainly Pascucci can improve upon these numbers?
Asking the question, “Can I see Endy Chavez/Marlon Anderson/Fernando Tatis/Trot Nixon, etc putting up these numbers in AAA?” The answer is a probable “no”. With the Mets struggling, there should be no harm in finding out what this slugger can do. Why has no team given this guy a chance? All the numbers would suggest that he would at least be able to improve the team in some way.
[...] Andy Phillips has hit the ball well in his minor league career, as you can see below. But is he better than Val Pascucci? [...]