It’s The Next Best Thing To Be Free As A Bird

The big news over the weekend was the trade of Endy Chavez to Philadelphia (SUCKERS!) for Marlon Byrd. I wouldn't care if they got Bobby Byrd, the exhumed corpse of Richard Byrd, or even this guy, whoever the hell he is. It's a good trade. (Is it just me or does the last name Byrd look weird if you stare at it?)

Good ol' Inning Endy was the whipping boy for this blog pretty close to its infancy:

When the Royals, Tigers and Mets all give up on you, you probably shouldn’t be playing center field. But, in the case of the Nationals, you give Endy Chavez two full seasons of proving you can’t hit or field.

We've been over his weaknesses. They're obvious. I won't rehash them here.

It's just been pretty apparent that he couldn't really save himself. He's had nearly 3,000 professional at bats. We know what his skills are, and no matter how hard he would've worked on them, he just wouldn't be able to change. Combine that with his apparent bad attitude upon his demotion to New Orleans, and it's a relationship that just had to end.

Coming over is Marlon Byrd, the Phillies former centerfielder of the future. Still just 27, he's coming off a disappointing year, which, in part, caused the Phillies to acquire the much-traveled Kenny Lofton.

Marlon isn't quite the 40-home run bat that Bowden keeps clamoring for, but he's still useful.

Ideally, he'd form a platoon with Ryan Church. Because he's a capable centerfielder, this would enable Church to take over center, where he's shown much more range than Brad Wilkerson, who would slide to left field. The defense would be much improved, especially because it would revert Jeff Hammonds to a pinch-hitting only role -- sorry pinch 'hitting'. (The usual Frank wacky-ass senior moment caveats apply!)

Because we're all economically illiterate bitches, we need to focus on one other positive aspect of this trade, the trade-off. Because of this move, Preston Wilson is presumably off the table, Hallelujia! Even if Byrd never gets a hit, that's certainly worth something.

Byrd has had decent minor league numbers, but that hasn't yet translated into major league success.

LG  AVE   OBP   SLG  ABs
MLB .271/ .332/ .377 889
AAA .293/ .355/ .460 694
AA  .316/ .384/ .553 526
A   .305/ .378/ .521 758

Average patience, slightly above average line-drive power, average foot speed.

His major league numbers are weighed down by his disappointing 2004: .228/ .287/ .321. The interesting thing though, is that if you add fifty points of batting average (the amount he was below his career averages) back in, all his numbers would be in line with his career totals -- the same level of power and patience were there, he just didn't get as many hits. Maybe it was bad luck? Maybe he had a goiter? Maybe he's a Quad-A hitter? We'll find out.

Just for comparison's sake, here are Endy Chavez' numbers.

LG  AVE   OBP   SLG  ABs
MLB .263/ .304/ .365 1196
AAA .342/ .383/ .453 570
AA  .298/ .353/ .363 168
A   .288/ .361/ .353 869

Other than at AAA, he gets on base less than Byrd. And, look at his OBP, it's pretty close to his average -- that's where his lack of plate patience comes in. And he cleary isn't in the same class as a 'slugger.'

Other than speed, Byrd comes out ahead.

So, welcome to DC, Marlon Byrd. We don't expect a whole helluva lot out of you, but we love you anyway, just because of who you're not. But, please give us a few timely hits against some of those tough side-arming lefties who've been eating our lineup alive recently.

With that, I can safely pack away the Inding-Endy-O-Meter. It will remain forever locked at four. We miss you already, I.E. Chavez. At least we still have your brother to kick around.