Aybar has had almost two full seasons which is enough to get a idea of what we should be able to expect from him. As a defender, he has great range and a good arm but still is below average in fielding percentage. Despite the errors, if you look at “total fielding runs above average,” his fielding in 2008 saved 9.5 runs, but if you look at this batting numbers, his “adjusted batting runs” were 10.1 runs below the league average. In other words his defense is about a wash with his offensive numbers. He has to learn to get on base more to be productive and I think he needs to do that in AAA—the Angels still have an option with him and since he is not contributing to the offense let him work on his plate discipline there.

If you compare Aybar’s minor league numbers with Wood’s, Aybar had a minor league .809 OPS—Wood’s is .892. At short stop, Aybar’s fielding percentage was .950 compared to .952 for Wood and their range factor was very close, 4.67 for Aybar and 4.41 for Wood. I do not see a considerable drop in the defense with Wood playing short.

The bottom line is that Wood cannot develop anymore at AAA and needs to get consistent major league at bats. Last year when he had a chance due to injuries, he didn’t do well and went back to AAA needing to work some things out which by all reports he was able to do. Rookies usually don’t do well in a DH roll and since It is time to let him have his chance to play everyday I would like to see him as the Angels starting shortstop. The only reason he wasn’t out of spring training is that Aybar had a fantastic spring, but he hasn’t carried that over into the regular season. His numbers are going back to where they were last year which shouldn’t cut it in the major league.