Kevin Kouzmanoff: Remarkably Consistent

This article originally appeared on Friar Forecast.

First off, I apologize for not posting much recently.  A new school season has begun, and musing about a last-place team has taken a backseat to classes, catching up with friends, and the post-graduation job search.

While my blogging production has not been consistent in recent weeks, I have noticed that Kevin Kouzmanoff’s 2009 season is remarkably consistent with his performances in each of the two previous years.

In 2007, Kouz posted a WAR of 2.6.  In 2008, he was worth 2.7 wins above replacement.  This season: 2.4 WAR with a little under one month to go.  While not all-star level production, Kouz has established himself as a solid everyday third baseman; essentially an average player.

What I find funny is Kouz has developed an anecdotal reputation for being somewhat streaky, or at the very least, a slow starter.  In 2007, led by a horrific April, Kouzmanoff had a pre-All-Star game OPS of 0.674 compared to 0.890 after the break.  Kouz also stumbled out of the gate last season, posting a 0.646 OPS in April.  This year, on May 15, Tim Sullivan felt Kouzmanoff was playing so terribly that he advocated sending Kouz to AAA.

Kouzmanoff may actually be a slow starter.  More likely though, one month's worth of at-bats is just not enough to jump to any conclusions.*  As he once again proved this season, Kouz is who he is: an average third baseman, who when all is said and done, will provide adequate and consistent value to his club.

*I was watching Office Space the other day…Next year, when some Padre player has a rough first month and a half, and people begin to overreact, I really should order and send out as gifts a few of the “jump to conclusions mats,” proposed as a great invention idea by “Tom Smykowski.”