An MVBrewers Honorable Mention: Carlos Gomez

by Nicole Haase on Nov 9, 2011 2:00 PM CST in Most Valuable Brewers 2011

Carlos Gomez may be remembered this season for scoring the game-winning run in Game 5 of the NLDS, but its clear that his defense is what made him such an asset to the club.

While we'll probably always shake our heads and wonder why he can't figure out patience at the plate, necessitating that he be played in a platoon, we have to be thankful for every game that Gomez was our center fielder.

Gomez's UZR for 2011 in CF was 12.0. That's good for 10th best in the majors.

For reference, Nyjer Morgan's UZR was 9.2. Corey Hart's UZR for 2011 was 1.9. Ryan Braun's UZR for 2011 was -3.8 . Mark Kotsay's UZR in CF was also -2.3.

Gomez started the season as the everyday center fielder - he started 46 games from April through May, but just 17 from June til the end of the year. By June he and Morgan were in a pretty strict platoon.

Because of his infrequent playing time, some of Gomez's amazing plays really stand out in the memory of 2011.

Though we will mostly remember Gomez for the amazing defense he provided the club, we can't forget what an asset his speed is. He showcased it early with this inside-the-park home run at home against San Francisco.

The Brewers didn't end up winning this game, but Gomez put on a defensive show, making two catches at the wall to keep the game in reach. First was this one in the fifth, followed by this catch in the seventh.

On June 12, he saved a run and probably the game against St. Louis with a great catch at the wall in the 9th that gave the Brewers 1st place in the NL Central.

Maybe it was inevitable with the way he sacrifices his body for catches, but Gomez broke his collar bone on July 20 against Arizona. He didn't return to the major league roster for six weeks.

Contract Status: Gomez signed a one-year $1.5 million contract before last season, a $400,000 raise from the year before. He is arbitration eligible, so the Brewers would have to come to terms with him or take him to an arbitration hearing.

Best Game: It has to be NLDS Game 5, right? I mean, we talked about some of his incredible defense, but it was Gomez's speed that put him in the position for Nyjer Morgan to plate him to win the game in the 10th. Gomez had just 14 post-season at-bats, but he made the most of his pinch-hit in NLDS Game 5. He had been put in the game in the 8th inning as a defensive replacement for Corey Hart. Batting second in the 10th inning he put a single in left field. He then stole second base. He raced home from second on Morgan's single, giving the Brewers their first post-season series win since 1982.

Poll

$1.5 million + for Gomez's next season is probably too much to pay a platoon center-fielder. What do you think the Brewers should do with Gomez for the 2012 season?

Offer him a one-year contract between $1.5 - $2 million

133 votes

Offer him a one-year contract for more money

2 votes

Offer him a multi-year contract

66 votes

Take him to an arbitration hearing

64 votes

Non-tender him and wish him luck elsewhere

15 votes

Non-tender him and hope to sign him for less than his current contract

34 votes

314 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Why is $1.5m+ too much for a platoon player?

Short end of the platoon and all, but he started 59 games and put up 2.0 WAR last year, great production for the cost.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Nov 9, 2011 2:51 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

He's a shiny hood ornament on a car with a hole in the side.

I know he’s valuable, but if he can only play 60-70 games then the ~$2m he’ll likely get if offered arbitration could be used to fill one of the other, more pressing needs.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 3:15 PM CST up reply actions

How much will a FA CF cost to platoon with Morgan?

And like you said – you’d need this guy to start 60-70 games, so its pretty risky to sign a league minimum guy to fill that role.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Nov 9, 2011 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

Right, but you have to bear that risk somewhere.

The Brewers’ biggest problem right now is that they have more holes than they have the means to fill. They need a first baseman, shortstop, two bench players and three bullpen arms out of $10 million.

I just feel like, given the current situation, a platoon outfielder is a luxury they can’t necessarily afford.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 4:19 PM CST up reply actions

We probably agree that Gomez gets more than $2m on the open market, right?

And if you’re on a limited budget, its best to take values where you can get them, not overpay.

Basically they get more value (WAR, RAR, however you want to categorize it) with the $2m they spend on Gomez than they would with $2m on the open market.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Nov 9, 2011 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

Are we sure Gomez gets $2m on the open market?

Are there teams out there with money to burn willing to spend it on a guy who doesn’t hit enough to play every day?

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 4:31 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not sure

Has a 25 year old coming off a 2 WAR season ever been non-tendered?

Melky Cabrera was a similar age, put up a -1 WAR season and then got a $1.25m deal with KC. Using that framework I’d guess Gomez gets quite a bit more.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Nov 9, 2011 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

I know the defensive difference makes up some of this gap

But Cabrera was a career .267/.328/.379 hitter as of last winter. Gomez is .243/.291/.357.

Cabrera’s bat hasn’t typically been anything to write home about, but it hasn’t been bad enough to cost him the opportunity to play every day.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 4:48 PM CST up reply actions

The playing time argument? That would support Yuni being an OK SS

Not debating that Melky has been a better hitter than Gomez, at all. Gomez gets paid because he plays defense.

Get a ife broseph

by Supertramp on Nov 9, 2011 5:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Gomez is more than worth $1.5 million. I could see them spending that on a pure bench player, and Gomez would be a platoon starter.

$1.5 million is more like a windshield wiper than a shiny hood ornament.

"We’re here to win, man. All that fighting stuff, that’s for the birds." - Prince Fielder

by SRB on Nov 10, 2011 1:40 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

My only nitpick is that you used UZR instead of UZR/150

Gomez 27.5
Morgan 13.4
Kotsay -58

Although given the samples of playing time it is practically useless.

Give him an offspeed pitch down and in. He will swing and miss.

by cooper82 on Nov 9, 2011 3:23 PM CST reply actions

I wasn't sure which to use, to be honest

I’m wading carefully into the SABR pool and I’m trying not to screw up when I do. Why would you have used UZR/150 instead? Thanks for helping the stat noob to understand

by Nicole Haase on Nov 9, 2011 6:57 PM CST up reply actions

UZR/150 adjusts the UZR number to what a player would be projected to do over 150 games at a position.

UZR is basically a counting stat, so comparing the UZR of a player who played 110 games and 50 games at a position is like comparing the hits of two players who had 400 and 200 at bats.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 7:08 PM CST up reply actions

gotcha

Thanks!

I’m trying!

by Nicole Haase on Nov 9, 2011 8:17 PM CST up reply actions

What he said.

But again, UZR has flaws and is by no means exact even over a full year.

I seriously doubt the difference between Kotsay and Gomez on defense over a full year would be 8.5 wins. Felt like it sometimes though.

Give him an offspeed pitch down and in. He will swing and miss.

by cooper82 on Nov 9, 2011 8:48 PM CST up reply actions

Multi-year, heavy-incentive contract.

Give it the potential to pay big, but more likely to pay about what he’s earned so far. He’s still growing as a player, including at the plate. But here’s the main thing: Carlos Gomez is the best defensive outfielder in the entirety of baseball. You don’t let that go unless you have to.

Packers? Working on a dynasty.
Blackhawks? Taking care of business as usual.

Brewers, Badgers? THIS IS WHY YOU CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS.

by Tepo6688 on Nov 9, 2011 4:26 PM CST reply actions

Unless the up-front financial commitment is significant, why would he sign that deal?

“Hey, we’ve got this great offer for you. If you perform you’ll get money, but if you don’t you’ll get less than what you’ll get by going year-to-year. And once you’ve signed it, you can never leave.”

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

Disagree.

He’s 31, and his game is speed – he’s not still growing as a player, especially at the plate.

by nullacct on Nov 9, 2011 4:34 PM CST up reply actions

Think you've got him confused with someone.

Gomez turns 26 in December.

Now that's great tasting chicken!

by Kyle Lobner on Nov 9, 2011 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

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