Until recently, the coolest thing Manuel Margot had been a part of was a parody video on the Petco Park scoreboard between innings, in which comical shots of Margot's mug covered the many faces of Andre 3000 as he performed the 2009 hit single, "Hey Ya!"
Otherwise, the young Padres outfielder could have been compared to the musical duo Andre 3000 was then a part of with the rapper Big Boi. The group was called Outkast.
Because of the emergence, especially this season, of corner outfielders Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes, and because of the hefty contract owned by another outfielder Wil Myers, Margot had found his way mostly to the bench, with a few late-inning, defensive-replacement appearances mixed in. A starter on the rise just two seasons ago, it was seeming more and more like Margot was going to be just a quick shooting star in the Padres' galaxy, gone before too many had really noticed he was ever there in the first place.
But, hey! (Ya!). Things have now quickly changed.
(By the way, it is at this point, the author -- me -- reminds the reader -- you -- that he wrote over a year ago that the Padres should part with Wil Myers while they still could. I was tweeted back and called about 3,000 names by those asking how I possibly could be so stupid as to want to deal the team's best hitter. Funny how things turn out, isn't it?).
Though Myers and his contract are still here, the former AL Rookie of the Year has, in recent games anyway, been asked to sit his down on the pine and rest upon what must be an uncomfortable wad of cash in his back pocket. Sitting there with him are stats normally reserved for part-time bit players, not everyday guys who are ever going to take a ballclub somewhere. Anyway, that development has Margot singing a new tune -- that of starter in center field once again.
Let's see if he can take advantage. Margot can bring a lot to this Padres' club -- along with his ability to star in parody scoreboard entertainment. He has video-game like speed and quickness, can cover the vast expanses of Petco's center field (far better than Myers can), track down fly balls in the deep allies, and throw the ball like it's shot out of a cannon. In short, he can (should) be a force on defense -- which is exactly what this team needs, especially since the guy who has been playing there has been miscast in the role.
Margot, I believe, can also contribute offensively. In different ways than Myers can, of course, but in this case, different might be better. Whereas Myers provides some pop (when he makes contact), Margot provides all of the other potential aspects of the game. If he sticks to hitting the ball on the ground, Margot can beat out infield hits, steal second, go first-to-third on base-hits and disturb opposing defenses.
If he ever does this stuff on a consistent basis, perhaps one day he could move back up to the leadoff spot, which would drop rookie phenom Fernando Tatis, Jr. back down to the middle of the order where he can do a whole lot more damage. When you start to think about it, Margot becomes a very important part of the upcoming second half of this Padres season.
Here's why: if Margot can grasp the center field role, or at least play it well enough to share time with the lefty-hitting Travis Jankowski when he returns in July, the Padres' outfield could be set for the foreseeable future. (The five guys going forward would be Renfroe, Reyes, Margot, Jankowski and Josh Naylor).
What of Myers? Well, you can only base your everyday lineup on player's salaries for so long. Eventually, this is a production-based business. And those who can produce should get to play. Right now, that means Margot over Myers. Now let's see if Margot can keep it that way.
All he needs is a .260 average, a bunch of walks, and a better-than-even stolen bases record. That, plus his defense, can play on a championship team. Since it appears Myers can't, the Friars eventually will simply have to eat his huge contract and cut him loose. A bit of collateral damage on your way to the top is all that is.
And all the rest of it is on Margot. Either be the new center of attention, or go back to the music videos and make way for the Padres to find somebody else -- in a trade, or in upcoming off-season free agency. Time is of the essence. The second half of this season awaits to see what will happen.
Margot must shake it. Shake it like a Polaroid picture.