Comments on: Second Base Is The New Third Base

By: Jack

Jack — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 04:30:01 +0000

The worst case is actually that Teahen gets hurt and gives the club nothing at all for his salary. Oh, and why assume he can’t be worse than -15 runs? It’s entirely possible.

By: coreyjro

coreyjro — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 02:03:59 +0000

I think its interesting that Mariner’s 3B prospect is seeing some time at 2B according to a recent article. The article also talks about him seeing time in LF and just increasing his versatility overall, but when it mentioned 2B I immediately thought of this article.

The thing about Tuiasosopo is that he was a “big SS” coming out of high school so most people thought his natural transition was to the hot corner. In the future, maybe we’ll see more of these players get a chance at 2B. Also, Tuiasosopo isn’t exceptionally tall, I believe 6’2″, so he isn’t a hulking 3B, but he’s definitely a big 2B.

By: Missing the Point

Missing the Point — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:20:43 +0000

Cant disagree with you post enough.

teams cant switch fielders for every batter or for every pitcher, just isnt logical. The softball analogy is false bc softball teams have ~10 players to choose defensive positions from thats it. MLB teams have basically unlimited players to choose from, ranging from MiLB players to free agents, to making trades with other teams.

and speed isnt the end all be all for a fielder-case in point jim edmonds. he was a GG fielder bc he got great jumps and took amazing routes to balls, not bc he was fast.

I think teams decide at the end of the day they would rather play someone like pedroia at second and lowell at third than play lowell at second and youk at third.

I also think there isnt a stat to fully encompass the effect of a great defender. In one play by a great defender that an average defender doesnt/cant make, how do you quantify the number of runs saved, the number of pitches the pitcher doesnt have to throw and the batters the pitchers may not have to face possibly with guys on base, possibly pissed off bc the fielder booted a ball, the saving of bullpen arms bc the starter stays in the game longer, the next day where RP can pitch bc he didnt throw 3+ days in a row…

I look at a guy like rey ordonez (i know he played SS, but the principle can be applied to a 2B), who was absolulety amazing in 98 and 99 in the field but could barely hit his weight. But watching him day in and day out you saw how much his defense IMO more than made up for his lack of bat. BC basically every game he would make a play that most SS couldnt make.

By: Sky

Sky — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:16:30 +0000

I think we need to give these guys more than six weeks of time at second to judge their skills there.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:08:51 +0000

Cornerbacks are 4 inches shorter than wide recievers not because coaches say “oh he’s shorter lets put him at CB because his hips turn faster,” it’s because coaches say “oh he’s not tall enough to play WR let’s put him at CB.”

and as was already said, there have been tall shortstops who have fielded the position fine for decades. Why can’t a second baseman do the same? ARod and Jeter are 6’3″, Cal Ripken was a solid 6’4″ 225lbs. Ripken and A Rod were very good SS, Jeter at least has never been SO terrible that it over shadows his bat.

Are you really saying that because a second baseman takes a slightly different angle to the bag, that these guys will not be able to turn a double play?

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:39:22 +0000

Defense should adapt to what the offense threatens. If there are Brett Butlers on every team you need 3B who can charge the bunt and throw hard on the run. If the 3B mostly faces hard liners from ordinary speed guys the lateral range is more important and possibly less focus on arm.
In the recent HR spike it would make sense if you have one Luis Castillo and one Jeff Kent, that if the other team has longball threats you play it like softball and put your fast guy in LF to catch what doesn’t go over the fence and the guy with lower range at 2B, assuming they have similar arms. But if you have a groundball staff in a league where people steal and hit-and-run a lot, having the faster guy at 2B where he doesn’t have to cheat to the base as much with runners on and has a bit more range makes sense. Conventional baseball thought probably since the days of Hank Aaron would be if you had those two and didn’t have a good trade outlet, you would move the power-hitting Kent to LF, maybe so he doesn’t get hurt by runners, rather than deciding which combo helps the defense most. Possibly in an earlier era there was a difference in injury risk that made strategic sense

By: B

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:42:30 +0000

I think one of the main points is 2B may become more on par with 3B in the future in terms of offensive demands. Teams may begin to realize they add more from a bigger bat guy at 2B than they may lose from their defense – especially if they stop profiling some guys that may be adequate enough at 2B off the position because they may not fit the stereotype for a 2B. It just comes down to whether the player can add more total value from + offense and – defense.

Other than that I agree with the rest of your points.

By: Carson Cistulli

Carson Cistulli — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:00:00 +0000

… and at the same time as the Marlins have opted to begin the season with an average second baseman (Bonifacio) at third base, and to keep a below average second baseman (or, at least, a conspicuously awkward one in Uggla) at second.

As a sidenote, I fully expect Bonifacio to maintain a 1400 or whatever OPS through the end of the season. No two ways about it; it’s a lock.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:03:02 +0000

Dave, what would you estimate the conversion is in UZR from second to third?

By: OsandRoayals

OsandRoayals — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:52:53 +0000

2nd base has had occasionaly power hitters like Jeff Kent, but if any of the above 3 become league-average hitters by the all-star break or close I’d expect to see a larger shift towards power for 2b. However the now greater emphasis on defense may counteract that.