Player Profile

Every week or so I will do a player profile of an active player, just to sort of give a scouting report and a view on the players career. For my first report, I will profile one of Seattle's most hated, Jose Vidro, to see how he has performed . So, here it is:

Jose Vidro was born in 1974 on August 27th in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Drafted in 1992 by the Expos in the 6th round, Vidro debuted on June 8th, 1997, for Montreal. That year, through 67 games and 169 AB's, he hit .249/.297/.367 with 2 Homers and 17 RBI's. '98 was very simular, with just 40 more at bats, and it was not until 1999 that he became a regular. Vidro put up surprisingly good numbers for a man who had struggled so badly up to that point, batting .304/.346/.476 with 12 Homers and 59 RBI's, but walking a mear 29 times. 2000 would be the breakout. Vidro went on a 200 hit attack batting .330/.379/.540 and earning an all star appearance. Those numbers are simular to Chase Utley from a couple of years ago, so it is obvious that Vidro at one point knew how to hit. Walks were still low, as he only had 49, which sounds better but was in around 200 more at bats. Over the next three years Vidro averaged about 16-17 homers and batted around .315, but his slugging percentage would never top .500 again. His eye, however, continued to slowly improve, until in 2003 he walked 69 times and struck out just 50, which was good for a .397 OBP, a career best. 2004 would be along the lines

of '99. In 2005 the Expos moved to Washington and spacious RFK Stadium. It was here that Vidro's career went upside down. He lost half of 2005 to a leg injury, but when he played all numbers were down. In 2006 on the outside he appeared to rebound, batting .289 with a .348 OBP, more around his averages. But he was virtually powerless, hitting just 26 doubles and 7 HR's, good, or bad, for a .395 SLG%. The warning signs were everywhere, but on December 18th, 2006 Santa gave Seattle fans a big lunp of coal. Bavasi dim-wittedly traded Emiliano Fruto and Chris Snelling for Vidro. 2007 looked like the previous year but better, with a .314 Average and a .381 OBP(2nd Highest of Career). But, the power went out. In nearly a 100 more AB's than '06, Vidro hit a career low 6 HR's and just 26 doubles, for a career low .394 SLG%. Worse was the fact that Seattle used him as DH, normally a power position, thus lowering the effenciency of the Mariners lineup. However, due to the leg injury and the fact that he was slow origianilly, Vidro now played 2B like Jason Giambi would. In the off season, fans pleaded that Bavasi rid Seattle of Vidro and others like Sexson and Washburn. But they spoke to a deaf ear. For part of '08 the M's defiantly batted Vidro clean up, for reasons unknown. To date, Vidro is hitting a horryifying .223/.267/.320. I don't need to say anymore. VIDRO IS KILLING THE TEAM!