Sean Rodriguez performed admirably in the first half of the season. How will he be utilized in the second half?
A year ago when Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle penciled in the name Sean Rodriguez as his first baseman in the National League Wild Card game, it caused quite the stir among Pirates fans.
Considering that Rodriguez was coming off a regular season in which he put up a .246/.281/.362 line and his biggest moment of the season may have been the beating he unleashed to a Gatorade cooler during that Wild Card game, you could understand the frustrations with retaining Rodriguez.
However, Rodriguez has always been a guy whose contributions can’t necessarily be found in the stat sheet.
But that has changed this season.
Not only has Rodriguez been his usual self in terms of versatility, great glove, and good clubhouse spirit, but he has added production to his resume as well.
You can make a case for Rodriguez being one of the Pirates biggest bright spots in the first half after posting a .261/.342/.527 line, all of which are career highs. His .870 OPS dwarfs his previous career high of .716. Rodriguez also ranks third on the team with 10 homers and sixth with 31 RBIs. It’s worth noting that this has come in just 188 plate appearances.
While his biggest value to the team comes as a utility man, you have to wonder exactly what kind of role Rodriguez should play for the Pirates in the second half of the season.
Obviously Hurdle will continue to use him all over the diamond as he has been spectacular defensively, committing just one error all year while playing multiple positions.
While that happens to be his biggest asset, a real strong case can be made for Rodriguez to see more time at second base instead of Josh Harrison.
Not only is Rodriguez a better defensive second baseman, but his bat has been close to Harrison’s level so far this season.
He has arguably been more efficient than Harrison, who has put up a .274/.304/.373 line on the season with three homers and 41 RBIs in 323 plate appearances.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#000000″ class=”” size=””]Not only has Rodriguez been his usual self in terms of versatility, great glove, and good clubhouse spirit, but he has added production to his resume as well.[/perfectpullquote]
Now, this is not a case for totally taking Harrison out of the lineup as he still has value, but Hurdle is going to have to find more ways to get Rodriguez in the lineup. Two or three starts a week at second base could be the way. That especially should be the case as long as Rodriguez is hitting and Harrison struggles.
Harrison went into the All-Star break just two for his last 16 over the past seven games. In that same span, Rodriguez scored five runs, hit four homers, and drove in six. Quite simply it make sense to ride the hot hand as long as he is performing.
Other than maybe an extra start or two at second base, Hurdle should continue to use Rodriguez all over the field. He should start at short to spell Jordy Mercer and should also continue to get time in the outfield and at first base. But as long as he is hitting, and judging by his career there is no guarantee that this keeps up, Rodriguez needs to be an option. And that doesn’t mean just as a bench bat.
I was a fan of the Pirates bringing Rodriguez back this season. I often say every good team needs a guy like Rodriguez on their roster.
He plays the game hard and the right way.
Fortunately for the Pirates, Hurdle has a few guys that fit that mold.
Flash back to October when Rodriguez was throwing jabs at a Gatorade cooler, and no one would have penciled him in as a guy who would play a major role in the Pirates success in 2016.
But that has happened and Rodriguez has quietly become a guy that needs to see the field a lot more often.
Image Credit – Daniel Decker Photography
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