In 2007, Nick Punto had one of the worst offensive seasons in major-league history, posting a .210/.291/.271 line while accumulating 536 plate appearances as the Twins’ regular third baseman. That was good for an OPS+ of 52 and a VORP of -26.3. Yet, last year he performed well after taking over shortstop duties from Adam Everett, an act which earned him a new two-year contract during the offseason and a lock on the Twins’ starting shortstop gig entering the 2009 campaign.
Unfortunately, it appears that Punto is on his way to another disastrous offensive season. Through 150 plate appearances this year, he’s batting .187/.290/.211 with three extra-base hits. His OPS+ is an mind-bogglingly awful 39. He has been a complete black hole in the Twins’ lineup, which unfortunately is helping to offset some of the great things the top half has been able to do.
Punto has been out of the lineup with a groin injury which recently landed him on the disabled list. In Punto’s absence, Brendan Harris has started four straight games at shortstop, and during that span he has gone 5-for-14 (.357) with a home run and three doubles. For the season, Harris is batting .274/.321/.408, a decent hitting line which blows away Punto’s minimal production.
With Punto on the DL, Harris figures to receive at least another week or two of regular starts at shortstop. If he continues to hit while holding his own defensively (as he has thus far), it will be almost impossible for Ron Gardenhire to justify placing him back on the bench in favor of Punto.
Harris has struggled to find regular playing time in spite of significantly outhitting all the Twins’ other middle infield options, but if he can lock down the shortstop spot during Punto’s current hiatus, it would potentially remove one giant hole from the bottom of the Twins’ lineup. Here’s hoping Harris can make good on this opportunity and relegate Punto to the utility role he’s best fitted for.
Topics: Brendan Harris, Nick Punto
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Gardy said earlier this season that the SS position is Punto’s and that he prefers using Harris as utility. Do you think that even if Harris is outstanding offensively and defensively while Punto’s on the DL, Harris has a chance of keeping the position?