Despite the Oakland Athletics’ 3-2 squeeker win over the Houston Astros on Saturday, the powers-that-be for the team need to address the elephant in the room – the status and severe lack of production from infielder Tyler Ladendorf and whether or not to retain him on the Major League Roster.
Ladendorf, playing against the Astros to give regular Oakland Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia a rest, went 0-for-4, which resulted in stranding eight runners on base. He struck out twice with the bases loaded, grounded out with runners at first and third, and popped out in his final at bat. The first at-bat, with one out, was a swinging K, which failed to take advantage of a key scoring opportunity in the second inning when the bases were packed with just one out.
This season, Ladendorf has only three hits in 30 games played, all singles, amounting to an embarrassing 3-for-36 and a .083 BA. Simply put, having Ladendorf in the lineup is a presumed out, it’s almost as bad as having no DH and having your pitcher hit.
When in Nashville, Ladendorf was hitting .273 – nothing special, and granted, there may be no other middle infielder in the A’s organization that has statistics worthy of a MLB call up (Joey Wendle at .249?), someone better needs to be on the roster.
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After all, this was the slot that was planned to be occupied by Eric Sogard who’s on the disabled list and later given to Chris Coughlin, who had showed versatility playing multiple positions but little production at .146, who had the backup slot most of the year prior to his trade back to the Chicago Cubs on June 9.
Jed Lowrie needs a day off now-and-then as well as the time will come when someday Marcus Semien will need a rest too and A’s manager Bob Melvin deserves someone better than a steady 0-for-4 to plug into the lineup
There are plenty of middle infielders on the waiver wire daily. After the All-Star break, Billy Beane and Co. should be searching out a middle infielder and giving Ladendorf his ticket back to Nashville.
Sorry Tyler, but you were given your opportunity and it didn’t work out.