Yes...his bat IS more important. He's a hit-first player. His greatest asset is definitely not his defense. On a championship team, a guy like Soler will end up being mostly a DH - our best defensive outfield pieces are in the minors.

It’s worth pointing out that we have Soler until 2023, so we have plenty of time to work with him while we’re rebuilding here.

I don't think it's short-sighted; I'm unconcerned with the 'now' entirely.

I'm just saying I think treating any 'everyday' player with kid gloves on a last place team is pointless. If you have to do that NOW, how is he going to be a dependable cog on a play-off team in a couple of years? I'd rather play him everyday, see if the injury bug was just random bad luck or if he's made of glass. If he is, move on. We have other 'maybe' players we need to look at as well.

He IS going to play everyday. Just not in RF.

I get what you're saying. And of course he's a hit first player.

If you project him as a DH, then put him there and quit ****ing around. If you project him as a RF, then put him there, every day, and see if his defense improves.

Brett Phillips is a plus defender. If you project Soler as the future DH, then put him there, bring up Phillips, and play HIM every day in right and see if his bat improves.

I guess I'm just saying- I don't understand the method sometimes. Moose had to sink or swim; so did Escobar, and Gordon, and most of that team early on. It paid dividends down the road. I don't like all the moving guys around and platooning. Sink or swim, prove you belong or don't.

Find out what pieces you have, put them in place, get them seasoned for the next wave.

We play in the league with the DH. There is zero reason to cut a guy that's under control and has monster power. Plus he's actually shown with both the Cubs and Royals he can hit, he just has to stay healthy. No guarantee he will though.

If you think he's going to be the DH, then just put him there. Why even put him in right?

we have other 'maybe' guys that play the position, and do so at a higher level defensively than Soler ever will.

We're focusing on one player from a post that was about an overall tendency that I find frustrating.

Put the guys in the place you think they'll play and let them sink or swim.

Put O'Hearn at first every day, and see if he can learn to hit lefties. Put Dozier at 3rd every day and see if his bat gets more consistent. If you think Soler's going to be your DH, then why are you putting him in RF at all when you have Phillips and Goodwin and need to see if either can become legit major league hitters and BOTH are much, much better defenders playing in a big park. Especially if you're afraid he's made of glass. Why risk it?

Moose ended up getting sent down to AAA the first year we went to the World Series. People forget that now but he was basically the 9 hitter for that team. Every player is different. Some guys you can throw in there, and some you may have to manage differently to move them along at the right pace. They basically threw Mondesi out there too early and everyone thought he was sunk. He had to go up and down multiple times and now he looks like a star. It isn't always about throwing a guy out there and finding out if he's any good. Sometimes you have to put guys in a place to succeed.

Because people get injured. If Goodwin bombs there's a good chance Soler is playing in RF more. If he can play the position you need to give him reps there from time to time. It's also a 162 game season. You aren't playing every one of these guys 162 games at their position.

If Goodwin bombs, you try Phillips. If Phillips bombs, you have Bonifacio. If Bonifacio bombs, well...your scouting has proved terrible.

Any of those options defensively are better than Soler is anyway. So why bother?

obviously not 162 games. I just don't like all the platooning. Guys need reps, they need at-bats, they need to grind out a full season to see what they are.

I'm not being nearly as extreme as y'all are casting me as.

you move guys up and down because they're failing in the MLB and you send them down to play every day.

Bench them means they sit. Sending them down means they play everyday and hopefully improve. All I'm really saying is: You get better by PLAYING not sitting on the bench, or sitting against lefties or whatever. You're not going to get better hitting lefties by NOT facing lefties.

That's all I'm saying. Literally my whole point. You guys are nitpicking little details to argue and missing the headline.

There isn’t enough talent to save this team from 100 losses, IMO. Not enough pitching, and certainly not enough offense. It’s not being negative. It’s just reality

They finally did it tonight. The Royals got revenge. They tagged Madison Bumgarner for 7 runs and 10 hits in just 2 innings in a Spring Training game.

Also I totally missed we signed Lucas Duda today. I'd say there's a pretty good chance he takes that final position player spot that was up in the air.

They really REALLY want to thank him for 2015, don't they?