12-18-2008, 03:19 PM
To fire up the Abreu's defense discussion and the scouts' eyes/defensive metrics argument.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><b>Although the defensive metrics suggest otherwise, several scouts said Abreu looked better in right field this year after losing some weight.</b> But he turns 35 in March, and the biggest rap against him -- an aversion to walls -- persists.
"I don't want to say he's scared of them," the AL scout said. "But his field awareness is a little shaky. He's always had that problem, and he's never gotten any better."
Greenberg, making the best of a potential drawback, is trying to use Abreu's status as the anti-Aaron Rowand as a selling point. While Abreu is skittish around fences, he also doesn't spend much time in the trainer's room.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec--><b>Although the defensive metrics suggest otherwise, several scouts said Abreu looked better in right field this year after losing some weight.</b> But he turns 35 in March, and the biggest rap against him -- an aversion to walls -- persists.
"I don't want to say he's scared of them," the AL scout said. "But his field awareness is a little shaky. He's always had that problem, and he's never gotten any better."
Greenberg, making the best of a potential drawback, is trying to use Abreu's status as the anti-Aaron Rowand as a selling point. While Abreu is skittish around fences, he also doesn't spend much time in the trainer's room.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link.