Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Spiezio Stepping Up This Spring
Just before beginning Spring camp the Cardinals signed free agent Scott Spiezio as a non-roster invitee. Scott is the son of Ed Spiezio who won two World Championships with the Redbirds (1964 and 1967). He even got assigned uniform number 26, the same that his father wore for the Cards.
The switch-hitting Scott Edward Spiezio has long been considered an average hitter who shows occasional pop. He has the ability to spray the ball to all fields from the left side of the plate, his more natural hitting side.
He is an average defender at the hot corner and above-average at first base. Has some limited middle infield experience and is an adequate corner outfielder on defense.
He gets good jumps off of pitchers and that could enable him to swipe ten bases annually. Very good reads on the base paths.
Lifetime .253/.324/.414/.738 hitter. Has gotten more selective at the plate since while he’s aged (4.25 P/PA in ‘05). .161 IsoP, .266 SecA, 48.72 PSN, .710 BB/SO, .091 BB/PA
He brings veteran leadership and high character to the clubhouse. Not to mention a World Series ring won with the Los Angeles (then Anaheim) Angels in 2002. Spiezio was clutch in their series win versus Balco Bonds* the San Francisco Giants. He came up huge with a three-run homer in the eighth inning of game six that started the Anaheim rally from a 5-0 deficit to a 6-5 victory. (Totals of .327 with 3 homers and 19 RBI in the ‘02 post season)
Spiezio’s career average over 162 (513 at-bats) games is 15 homers, 53 bases on balls, 74 strikeouts, 67 runs scored, 130 hits, 30 doubles, three triples and 70 RBI.
Here is a look at his splits (2003-05):
As a left-handed batter (all versus right-handed pitchers): .247/.316/.428/.744 in 696 at-bats --- 172 hits, 39 doubles, nine triples, 23 home runs, 95 RBI, 68 walks, and 105 strike outs.
As a right-handed batter (all versus left-handed pitchers): .201/.261/.301/.562 in 239 at-bats --- 48 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, four homers, 30 RBI, 18 bases on balls and 39 strike outs.
Spiezio batted .423/.444/.577/1.021 the fourth time through the order over the last three seasons. He also hit .289/.327/.480/.807 in 152 at-bats from the number two hole in the lineup, by far his most productive place in the order.
Spiezio did hit .285/.371/.436/.807 in 2002 and .265/.326/.453/.779 in 2003 while playing for the Angels. It looks as if he has regained that stroke this spring in his bid to be there for the opening of the new Busch Stadium (his father was there for the opening of it’s predecessor - Busch II)
The biggest thing that Spiezio offers outside of veteran leadership in his bid to make the Cardinals roster is his versatility in the field. Scott has experience playing first base, second base, third base and both corner outfield spots on the major league level. Tony LaRussa has an affinity for versatile players and that should work in Spiezio’s favor. He’d be just be happy to call himself a Cardinal, regardless what role he plays for the team.
The switch-hitting Scott Edward Spiezio has long been considered an average hitter who shows occasional pop. He has the ability to spray the ball to all fields from the left side of the plate, his more natural hitting side.
He is an average defender at the hot corner and above-average at first base. Has some limited middle infield experience and is an adequate corner outfielder on defense.
He gets good jumps off of pitchers and that could enable him to swipe ten bases annually. Very good reads on the base paths.
Lifetime .253/.324/.414/.738 hitter. Has gotten more selective at the plate since while he’s aged (4.25 P/PA in ‘05). .161 IsoP, .266 SecA, 48.72 PSN, .710 BB/SO, .091 BB/PA
He brings veteran leadership and high character to the clubhouse. Not to mention a World Series ring won with the Los Angeles (then Anaheim) Angels in 2002. Spiezio was clutch in their series win versus Balco Bonds* the San Francisco Giants. He came up huge with a three-run homer in the eighth inning of game six that started the Anaheim rally from a 5-0 deficit to a 6-5 victory. (Totals of .327 with 3 homers and 19 RBI in the ‘02 post season)
Spiezio’s career average over 162 (513 at-bats) games is 15 homers, 53 bases on balls, 74 strikeouts, 67 runs scored, 130 hits, 30 doubles, three triples and 70 RBI.
Here is a look at his splits (2003-05):
As a left-handed batter (all versus right-handed pitchers): .247/.316/.428/.744 in 696 at-bats --- 172 hits, 39 doubles, nine triples, 23 home runs, 95 RBI, 68 walks, and 105 strike outs.
As a right-handed batter (all versus left-handed pitchers): .201/.261/.301/.562 in 239 at-bats --- 48 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, four homers, 30 RBI, 18 bases on balls and 39 strike outs.
Spiezio batted .423/.444/.577/1.021 the fourth time through the order over the last three seasons. He also hit .289/.327/.480/.807 in 152 at-bats from the number two hole in the lineup, by far his most productive place in the order.
Spiezio did hit .285/.371/.436/.807 in 2002 and .265/.326/.453/.779 in 2003 while playing for the Angels. It looks as if he has regained that stroke this spring in his bid to be there for the opening of the new Busch Stadium (his father was there for the opening of it’s predecessor - Busch II)
The biggest thing that Spiezio offers outside of veteran leadership in his bid to make the Cardinals roster is his versatility in the field. Scott has experience playing first base, second base, third base and both corner outfield spots on the major league level. Tony LaRussa has an affinity for versatile players and that should work in Spiezio’s favor. He’d be just be happy to call himself a Cardinal, regardless what role he plays for the team.
Comments:
Links to this post:
<< Home
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Post a Comment
# posted by 
: 7/1/10 1:07 AM
: 7/1/10 1:07 AM Links to this post:
<< Home
