Chone Figgins

[Shane Wahl]

He can no longer hit, his BB/K rate is going in the wrong direction dramatically, he no longer really steal bases, his defense is now below average, he has been below replacement level for 2 seasons, is a bit of a problem in the clubhouse, and would take valuable playing time away from players the Twins need to develop in order to figure out the future of this godforsaken infield.

 

WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID?

[bird]

We have no NEED for a player like this. None whatsoever.

 

If we want a player likely to dissappoint us, let's just go with what we got.

[Shane Wahl]

We have no NEED for a player like this. None whatsoever.

 

If we want a player likely to dissappoint us, let's just go with what we got.

 

Imagine Drew Butera with bad defense and who plays in the infield. That's Chone Figgins now.

[twinsnorth49]

Imagine Drew Butera with bad defense and who plays in the infield. That's Chone Figgins now.

 

That's about all the perspective that should be needed.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Imagine Drew Butera with bad defense and who plays in the infield. That's Chone Figgins now.

 

That should be all anybody needs to know about Chone Figgins.

[Rosterman]

He WILL land somewhere...and he has something to prove...that he deserves to play beyond 2013, I would think...unless is is totally content to drift into the sunset. Any team that signs him will only have to pay the major league minimum, nothing more. I'm sure he will hold out for playing time and the position he wants to play. But don't see him as a good fit for the Twins. His attitude, if I read him right, is me, me, me.

[John Bonnes]

He's not Drew Butera because Drew Butera never had the success Chone Figgins had. When Figgins signed that bid deal with the Mariners (which nobody thought was particularly crazy) his career OBP was .363. Even now, after two years of having an OPB of .241 and .272, his career OBP is still .349.

 

Maybe he just got really old really fast. He is 34. But I'd be a lot more comfortable giving him a job at 2B and having Carroll play SS than I am choosing between Dozier and Florimon as a starter next year.

[DaveW]

He's not Drew Butera because Drew Butera never had the success Chone Figgins had. When Figgins signed that bid deal with the Mariners (which nobody thought was particularly crazy)

 

Plenty of people thought that it was a crazy signing at the time, it was ripped universally.

 

Again, Figgins was probably the worst player in baseball last year. The Twins need to stay as far away from him as possible, I'd rather give Dozier 600 at bats then Figgins 8 days out of the week, and Dozier would actually out preform him by a wide margin.

[DaveW]

Also Figgins is GARBAGE defensively at 2B.

[Brock Beauchamp]

When Figgins signed that bid deal with the Mariners (which nobody thought was particularly crazy)

 

Not to blow my own horn but I lambasted and heckled that signing from day one.

 

But, again, I do not like no-hit speedsters going into their 30s. I think they're almost universally a bad idea.

[twinsnorth49]

He's not Drew Butera because Drew Butera never had the success Chone Figgins had. When Figgins signed that bid deal with the Mariners (which nobody thought was particularly crazy) his career OBP was .363. Even now, after two years of having an OPB of .241 and .272, his career OBP is still .349.

 

Maybe he just got really old really fast. He is 34. But I'd be a lot more comfortable giving him a job at 2B and having Carroll play SS than I am choosing between Dozier and Florimon as a starter next year.

 

I think what Shane said was, he has turned into Drew Butera, minus the defense. At 34 I'd pay a lot more attention to .241, .272 over the last two years than a career .363, that's over with, then there's the attitude.

 

Not that I believe that Florimon or Dozier are the answer but I'd rather find out for sure, at least with Dozier, before I threw in the towel and went with Figgins is at this stage.

[Willihammer]

I've been trying to figure out why Figgins' BABIP hit the floor. I see a few things:

 

* IFFB% spiked in 2011 to 15.8% (career avg 8.0%)

 

That's about it.

 

His plate discipline, ground ball, line drive, and fly balls rates haven't changed much. He did make contact on 83.1% of out of zone balls in 2011, which was a career high. Mainly I think he's just slower. He didn't get a single infield hit in 2012. His bunt hit% is also down every year since 2009. SB's are obviously down too, though he has attempted fewer swipes.

[BBWriterMan]

In terms of cost, Figgins may be a good option. But in terms of what he can still offer at this stage of his career, I see some Tony Bautista/Juan Castro/name another low-cost veteran the Twins have signed in recent years in him.

[Shane Wahl]

How is this still a discussion? He is now TERRIBLE. Trust me, I loved the guy years ago, but once this type of player loses speed there is a disaster coming. Anyway, a .484 OPS in 2011 and a .533 OPS in 2012 should, you know, be pretty damn telling. Couple that lack of ANY offensive production with a sub-par-to poor defense and there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER TO WASTE TIME WITH THIS GUY. I am shocked there is any argument about this. Even Florimon and Dozier at their worst are not going to suck this bad. And there is potential that something happens with at least one of them. As in, they are on the incline and Figgins is obviously on the decline. I would rather have James Beresford start at second base RIGHT NOW than waste anything on Figgins.

[Top Gun]

Gardy is right, mi speed wins, but Chone has got to prove it first.