"They've asked me if I think I could play shortstop," Pedroia says. "They've put it out there and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it. I can't wait for Tito to call me and ask, 'Can you do it?' I can do it. I really want to do it."FY was signed in 2004 as a shortstop, but was (primarily) moved to second base the following season. Gammons points out that the Red Sox have 19-year-old Jose Iglesias penciled in at shortstop for no later than 2012. If Iglesias could be ready for 2011, it would make the FY/SS idea a one-year experiment.
Pedroia was an all-American shortstop at Arizona State, and takes ground balls at the position during the season. The staff has thrown it out to him, realizing that it might be easier to sign or acquire an everyday, defensive second baseman ...
Pedroia:
Tell Derek to enjoy the gold glove and silver slugger awards while he can.Whether this is a serious possibility or the front office putting the word out that its shortstop situation might not be quite so dire, it's interesting.
I read -- I think it was Heyman -- that the Sox had "no choice" but to sign Scutaro given that he's the only quality SS out there. Perhaps this line from Pedroia is supposed to counter that perception and ease negotiations. I suppose there are more 2B'ers out there to be had (Brandon Phillips, Uggla maybe).
ReplyDeleteI was thinking if they move Pedroia to SS they could go after a trade with the Marlins for Uggla, because I think the Sox would stand a greater chance to land Uggla than Hanley (assuming the rumors that the Sox are trying to get Hanley again are true).
ReplyDeleteAnd who would play 2B??
ReplyDeleteI like Felipe Lopez, too, and I kind of like Orlando Hudson. That's four good 2nd basemen on the market, vs. one iffy shortstop. My only concern is if Pedroia has the arm to play at short, he's certainly got the range otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI just love FY's attitude.
ReplyDeletePedroia at short? Cool.
ReplyDeleteUggla anywhere near our roster? NOT COOL.
Just sign Orlando Cabera for a year..Leave FY where he is
ReplyDeleteJust how great is the concern with Lowrie? I know he was hurt for most of last season but it seems like they are overanalyzing this "gap" at short. Do we really want to overspend at short again when we have potential waiting in the wings? With enough conditioning this off-season, I would think the wrist would be ready by next spring.
ReplyDeleteScutaro might be a nice "safety" but not at the expense of a long-term contract. I'd rather bring Cabrera back since he's willing to settle for a one-year contract (and a possible move to 2B if the Sox are serious about playing FY at short).
Scutaro would be good. Pedroia SS and Uggla would be good, unless you like bad defense... Cabrera's losing range... Hudson has a history of injuries...
ReplyDeleteMaybe they could find a greenhouse and grow a second baseman.
Yeah, someone on SoSH pointed out that Uggla at 2B, Pedroia at SS and Lowell at 3B is a nightmarish infield defensively speaking. Now, especially if Lowell is replaced defensively somehow or other, they can go with a defensively strong FA SS like Adam Everett and hope that he's a backup to a healthy Lowrie who is hitting more like we know he sometimes can. But if Everett's starting, at least he has tremendous value on defense to offset his poor hitting.
ReplyDeleteI like 9Casey's idea.
ReplyDeleteAmy said...
ReplyDeleteI like 9Casey's idea.
Great Minds.......
Exactly, 9C.
ReplyDeleteI like Petey's attitude, and am sure he could do fine at ss. The problem is that he's not just fine at 2nd, he's great. Some people are just naturals at 1 position or another, and I believe there's a good reason he's playing 2nd in the majors - it's his best position.
ReplyDeleteWhy give up greatness at 1 spot just to make do at another? Of course, I haven't seen him play ss, but I bet he would not be the monster there that he is at 2nd.
Get a respectable back-up for Lowrie, (I too like 9C's thought) and move on. Wouldn't hurt to focus a little more on conditionng for Jed, either. Get that boy a little less injury-prone.
"Why give up greatness at 1 spot just to make do at another?"
ReplyDeleteYouk from 3rd to 1st comes to mind.
With Hudson now un-draft-pick attached, we could move Pedey to SS, put Hudson at 2nd, and have a great middle infield.
ReplyDeletePedroia has too little range and too little arm. However, if chutzpah generated range and arm strength the midget might do it.
ReplyDeleteNext idea.
FY came up as a shortstop, didn't he? And now to show my ignorance, why is range much more of an issue at SS than it is at 2B? Without actually looking at the numbers (who needs fact, I've got perception), it seems that we're often impressed with FY's range at 2B.
ReplyDeleteWell, he'll need to cover more ground if Slowell is at 3B. He's good at 2B, but I'll bet his constant diving after balls makes us think his range is better than it is.
ReplyDelete(who needs fact, I've got perception)
A wise man once said: "We're watching baseball and facts have nothing to do with it."