Image courtesy Cleveland.com
Columbus has found a way to fill in for Michael Brantley in a hurry. The man filling those swift shoes: Jose Constanza.
But who is this base stealing table-setter, is he a player in the mold of Kenny Lofton, or perhaps just a redux of Trevor Crowe?
The numbers Constanza has put up so far seem to indicate he is more like Lofton than not. This year (92 games) Constanza has hit .295, .343, .357 while adding seven doubles and five triples. These numbers are right in line with his minor league career numbers: .283, .361, .350, which indicate he has had no problem getting on base throughout the minors.
Once Constanza is on base the real magic happens. In those 92 games this season he has swiped 28 bases and only been caught four times. In his six minor league seasons Constanza has 204 stolen bases and he set a career high last year at Akron when he pilfered 49 bases.
Though his ability to get on base and move himself along are special, batting may still be an issue for the 26-year-old centerfielder. This year he has racked up a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio (48:24), which is not terribly far off his career numbers: 367:281.
On his scouting report Constanza is projected as a fourth outfielder at best, something that doesn’t match his season this year. However, at 26 Constanza has an uphill battle against players five years his junior to crack a big league roster.
To me Constanza does not have a future with the Indians, especially after the team acquired Ezequiel Carrera for Russell Branyan. Despite his special season thus far, an off season trade would not be surprising.
Original Story:
http://www.wahooblues.com/2010/08/13/...
