Back from hibernation, it's SBG's 2004 Twins Analyzer! Today, SBG takes a look at the Twins starting left fielder, Shannon Stewart.

STICK AND BALL GUY'S 2004 TWINS ANALYZER
Shannon Stewart 5'11" 200 Lbs. Age: 30 R/R OF
AVE: .304	OBP: .380	SLG: .447	GPA: .283
G: 92	AB: 378	HR: 11	RBI: 47

Offense

Shannon Stewart, meet Lew Ford. Mr. Ford, meet Mr. Stewart. Stewart's rate numbers were almost identical to Ford's a fact which might surprise some Twins fans. While Ford was everybody's darling -- and why not, he burst onto the scene from nowhere -- Stewart was quietly putting up numbers that were everybody as good as Ford's, and SBG means that literally. Compare the numbers shown above to Ford's: .299 average, .381 OBP, .446 SLG, .283 GPA. Shannon Stewart had a very nice year at the plate, when he played. And 2004 was no fluke. Since Stewart has become a regular in the major leagues in 1998, he has put up seasonal OPS numbers of .794, .782, .881, .834, .813, and .823 to go along with this last year's .827. Since 1999, his batting average has been between .303 and .319. His OBP has been between .364 and .380. He's had a little variation in slugging percentage - from .411 to .518 - but generally, he's slugged about .450. Shannon Stewart has been amazingly consistent over the years -- a professional hitter.

But, how does Stewart stack up against other left fielders? Among the sixteen left fielders with at least 300 plate appearances in the AL in 2004, Stewart's OPS is sixth (just behind Ford). His OPS is just .003 better than eighth, however. Just averaging the 16 OPS numbers (without weighting for plate appearances), the average OPS for AL left fielders was .826. That's right. As a hitter, Shannon Stewart was an average left fielder in 2004 (and so, by extension, was Ford). No more, no less.

What has changed in his game -- and this should be well known to Twins fans -- is his ability, or willingness, to steal bases. In 1998, Stewart stole 51 bases, third in the AL behind Rickey Henderson and Kenny Lofton. (Closed circuit to Drew: did you know that Lofton played basketball at Arizona with Steve Kerr?) Last year? Stewart stole six. Okay, okay, bad foot. Well, he stole just four bases in 2003. It's hard to believe that a guy can lose all that speed over night. SBG doesn't know what the deal is -- other than the wear and tear of ten years playing on artificial surface.

Defense

When the Twins acquired Stewart in 2003, they experimented with playing him in right field. Hee hee! That didn't last long. Stewart has a pop gun for an arm. SBG has heard criticism that his overall defense is subpar, including his range. SBG isn't so sure about that. SBG's eyes appeared to see Stewart get to some balls, but if memory serves SBG correctly, he may not have done so well in the playoffs. In any event, he does not have even a mediocre arm. SBG has complained about Jacque Jones' inability to throw accurately, but at least with Jones there is a chance the throw will be accurate and strong enough. Stewart simply gives the Twins no chance with his arm in left field.

Durability

Stewart missed the first half of the season with plantar fasciitis. After he returned, he played regularly, but did have some problems. Played in just 136 games in 2003. Durability is somewhat of a question mark.

Salary Situation

Signed a three year deal after the 2003 season for $18 million and is due to make $6 million in both 2005 and 2006.

Intangibles

Wow. During the stellar off-season following the 2003 off-season, Terry Ryan seemed to have the midas touch. Recount it with me. Traded A.J. Pier-jackass for Joe Nathan and prospects. Traded Eric Milton and his huge salary for Carlos Silva and Nick Punto. Let LaTroy Hawkins go to the Cubs, where he struggled mightily. Let Eddie Guardado go to Seattle where he blew out his arm. Offered both Hawkins and Guardado arbitration. And he signed Shannon Stewart to a three-year deal, tying up the guy who seemingly sparked the Twins to a great second half on their way to a second consecutive AL Central Title. Pretty good work.

If SBG had a time machine and could go back to change those moves, he wouldn't change any of them. Except one. The Stewart deal.

That's not a huge criticism of Ryan (not like the criticism that SBG has for signing Jones and Rivas this year), but it's a little criticism nonetheless. At the time, the Twins infield seemed set -- except that they had two banjo hitters up the middle who didn't play defense all that well -- and Stewart in left field looked like a way to cement the Twins lineup. Sure, the Twins had some depth in the outfield, but Stewart was their best everyday player when they made their big run. The Twins seemingly had to sign him.

Flash forward to 2004. All of a sudden, here comes Lew Ford, and he's doing a Shannon Stewart impersonation. Look at the numbers. They are identical. Had the Twins jettisoned Stewart, they might have resigned Guardado and been left holding an empty bag. Then, again, they could have taken that $6 million and bought a decent second baseman. Or they could have had that money available this winter when Koskie or some other infielder needed to be signed. Whether or not all of this could have been foreseen in December 2003 is arguable. Clearly, the Twins could have easily cut bait with Rivas. And they could have anticipated that Koskie was either going to go or needed money. And they must have seen that the outfield is where the Twins have the greatest number of ready-to-go prospects. Letting Stewart go might have made some sense then, and it surely makes a lot of sense now.

Don't misunderstand Mr. SBG. He likes Stewart. He's a nice professional hitter, even if he is a big defensive liability. But he and with the Twins' two other starting outfielders are making about $20 million this year in the very position where the Twins have the most depth. SBG would quietly inquire about whether anyone would have a quality infielder that they'd part with for Stewart. The upside for making such a trade? A massive upgrade up the middle. The penalty for making such a trade? None other than Lew Ford in the starting lineup, who is a superior defensive player and -- if he returns to his 2004 form -- every bit the hitter that Stewart is.

Prediction

SBG predicts that Stewart will play left field all season long and will hit just like he has the last six or seven seasons. He'll be reliable, dependable, and he'll chew up over 10% of the Twins' payroll.