Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRedChief
I heard they were going to move him to 2B because they had Freese and Carpenter to play 3B and no one to play 2B.
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They're looking at moving him to 2b because his bat doesn't profile at 3b.
You look at this team and it's clear that, while LaRussa loathes 'stats guys', he and the powers that be clearly subscribe to the James 'defensive spectrum' approach whereby you place bats as far up the defensive spectrum as you can in order to 'load' your lineup, defense be damned.
Can skip play an adequate 2b? Nope, but he can play it without injuring himself and LaRussa sees his bat as an asset so under the James approach, by shifting Skip to 2b, you've improved your ballclub by opening a hole in a lesser defensive spot for an even better bat.
But the defensive spectrum approach was and is absolute horseshit and even
James has conceded this point. Another routine DP blown last night because Theriot, who should only be playing 2b, has been shifted up the defensive spectrum to SS. Cox will be shifted to 2b because he's capable of not killing himself there and it opens up 3b. Berkman has been shifted to RF despite clearly only being capable of playing 1b well.
It's a complete disregard for defense in favor of jamming bats into the lineup and it's a complete jackass way to build a ballclub.
And to your 2nd question - yes, this team is still a threat to lose 90. It's a virtual mortal lock to lose 80-85, but 90 is doable for this bunch. I mean lets face it - your statement that "Boggs looks ready to close" is completely irrelevant as LaRussa has decided that Batista should be the guy. I mean it's not like Boggs is 27 or anything (actually older than Broxton, Soria, Bailey and a slew of other top shelf closers); clearly he's not ready yet.
LaRussa's the poison here and as long as he's around, this team is capable of losing 90.