Wilson Betemit

[funkateer]

I'm curious about this guy. His glove is cast iron, it seems...but hasn't he pretty much been an infielder his entire playing career? It's not like he's being asked to do something he's not familiar with, something he hasn't done throughout his playing career. What I'm wondering is, has he ever been decent in fielding, or have those skills just started to get bad since he's reached his late 20s? I find it hard to believe it's soley "age", because he's only 30....not a spring chicken, but also not a broken-down, Vlad-like figure (who is 37 btw)...just wondering if anyone was familiar with his defense before coming to the O's. Was there a serious injury? I'm just not that familiar with the guy, prior to DD signing him...

[hector]

I'm curious about this guy. His glove is cast iron, it seems...but hasn't he pretty much been an infielder his entire playing career? It's not like he's being asked to do something he's not familiar with, something he hasn't done throughout his playing career. What I'm wondering is, has he ever been decent in fielding, or have those skills just started to get bad since he's reached his late 20s? I find it hard to believe it's soley "age", because he's only 30....not a spring chicken, but also not a broken-down, Vlad-like figure (who is 37 btw)...just wondering if anyone was familiar with his defense before coming to the O's. Was there a serious injury? I'm just not that familiar with the guy, prior to DD signing him...

Please don't use "broken-down" and "Vlad" in the same sentence. Try to mimic the example set by yours truly which Palmer followed by always including the words "Hall of Famer" in the same sentence with "Vlad."

As for Betemit's fielding, it's almost weird (no offense weird-O) to watch. The other night Weiters threw a ball waist high to Betemit trying to pick off a runner at third and Betemit didn't even touch it as it went on into left field. It looks like he's easy daydreaming when in the field or perhaps there's a vision problem.

[18-87-44-29]

No....he's just not that good.

[Far from home]

I'm curious about this guy. His glove is cast iron, it seems...but hasn't he pretty much been an infielder his entire playing career? It's not like he's being asked to do something he's not familiar with, something he hasn't done throughout his playing career. What I'm wondering is, has he ever been decent in fielding, or have those skills just started to get bad since he's reached his late 20s? I find it hard to believe it's soley "age", because he's only 30....not a spring chicken, but also not a broken-down, Vlad-like figure (who is 37 btw)...just wondering if anyone was familiar with his defense before coming to the O's. Was there a serious injury? I'm just not that familiar with the guy, prior to DD signing him...

It's amazing that his glove is so bad, since he came up as a can't miss SS prospect.
he still knows how to hit.