164 replies to this topic

[pokey_reese]

12hr 36rbi between leagues in 28 games for WMB. Dont know his slash line but its ridic. What does he have to do to stay up all year?

Kill Kevin Youkilis?

Seriously, no matter how hot he is over 5-10 games, I think that it's very unlikely that the team will simply bench Youk when he feels better.

Additionally, he also has a 5-1 K/BB rate right now. Very soon pitchers will stop challenging WMB with fastballs down the middle, and we will learn if he can lay off good breaking pitches, and stuff off the corners. I'm not saying that he can't make his own adjustment, but he probably won't slug .900 over the rest of the year.

I think the team will be cautious with Youk, and maybe this encourages them to take it very slowly with his rehab, but both he and WMB need to play every day. As long as Youk is on this team, I don't think that he will be benched once he is off the DL.

That said, the important part is "as long as Youk is on this team," in which case WMB will be back for good at the end of July.

[Koufax]

Become solid in the field.

[absintheofmalaise]

Become solid in the field.

That's it? Just become solid in the field? Why do you think he isn't "solid in the field"? I'm guessing the throwing error he had tonight.
what about when he starts getting a steady diet of off speed and breaking pitches? How will he adapt to those?

[Snodgrass'Muff]

I'm guessing the one handed leaning catch in foul territory on a pop up tonight is skewing opinions as well. But yeah, he's got a great defensive rep, so I'm not worried about his glove. At some point he'll need to make an adjustment and that might take a while. He'll struggle this season, especially if he stays in the majors. I don't see them moving Youk before the end of July, and that would be dependent on both getting an offer that makes sense and Middlebrooks continuing to rake like a boss down in Pawtucket.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

In June 2003, the Marlins, struggling in fourth place, had a great third base prospect and no opening at third base (Mike Lowell was there). Jack McKeon, who has more guts than most managers of the past 30 years, promoted Miguel Cabrera (from Double-A) and made him the team's left fielder. He had played three games in the outfield in 368 professional games, the three games just prior to his recall. McKeon figured, hey, he's a baseball player and we need another baseball player.

When Lowell got hurt in late August, McKeon moved Cabrera back to third and got Jeff Conine to play left field. Lowell returned (hobbled) for the post-season, so Cabrera played 3B, LF and RF in the playoffs, starting at all three positions. By the end, he was the team's cleanup hitter, and he got to jump on the pile at the end of the World Series.

Unless the Red Sox can get an impact pitcher for Youkilis, which I am sure they can not, they should keep him. Were Jack McKeon in charge, even the 80-year-old McKeon of today, he would move Middlebrooks to left field the very day Youkilis is ready and would apologize to no one for it.

[Stitch01]

He could still play 3B 2-3 times a week if the team felt comfortable with his ability to jump around the diamond. Would help squeeze whatever we can out of Youkilis if we can sit him once or twice a week (more during road games, when LF defense is more important) and not have to deal with Nick Punto, leadoff man.. It also makes it so someone besides Punto is our late game PH.

I really like this until Crawford gets healthy if the club thinks its OK for Middlebrooks developmentally to jump around position wise and thinks he's ready to handle the inevitable hitting slump at the big league level.

[Snodgrass'Muff]

If that's the route they go, wouldn't it make more sense to have Youk bounce around since they know he can play first and has actually had a handful of games in the outfield?

[twothousandone]

Unless the Red Sox can get an impact pitcher for Youkilis, which I am sure they can not, they should keep him. Were Jack McKeon in charge, even the 80-year-old McKeon of today, he would move Middlebrooks to left field the very day Youkilis is ready and would apologize to no one for it.

I agree that it's bold, and that it may be worth doing, at least until Crawford complicates things.

But, OF CAN create troubles for some ballplayers -- Kevin Youkilis and Todd Hundley jump to mind. Youkilis has never looked real good out there. Hundley is notable because he was coming back from injury, Piazza had been acquired to catch, and Hundley and his manager decided LF was worth a shot to get his bat in the line-up. His play in LF was bad, and maybe someone else has details on how it impacted his relationship with his manager, Bobby V -- or how it may have impacted Bobby V's ability to make such a decision.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

Middlebrooks looks like a better (more nimble) athlete than Youk, and would take better to the OF in my view. Also, despite the euphoria of the past week, I suspect Youks is the better hitter and I'd like to get him in the lineup.

[The Allented Mr Ripley]

If that's the route they go, wouldn't it make more sense to have Youk bounce around since they know he can play first and has actually had a handful of games in the outfield?

Given the broken-down state Youkilis has been devolving into, I'm not so sure having him run around in LF is a good thing.

[sachilles]

Encouraging start for him, but it is too small a sample to award him a job over Youk. Let his positive play allow Youk a chance to heal without being rushed back to service. WMB will likely cool down a little. When and if you have a healthy Youk AND a nicely performing WMB, then find a way to keep them both in the line up. If that means trying WMB in left field, then give it a shot.
Whatever you do you need WMB playing games either with the big club or at AAA and not riding the pine. If he can contribute more than someone else( doesn't have to be Youk) on the big league roster on a daily basis then he should be given a chance to play.
If he cools off too much, send him back to AAA to continue his development.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Given the broken-down state Youkilis has been devolving into, I'm not so sure having him run around in LF is a good thing.

Plus Youkilis was legendarily poor in the OF and told Tito he really didn't want to play out there any more because he felt so uncomfortable.

[TheoShmeo]

To me, the key is not WMD over Youks or vice-versa.

If WMD is still playing well -- and by well I mean on a normalized basis and not the Roy Hobbseian play we're enjoying now -- when Youks is ready to return on an every day basis, then the only imperative for me is that WMD remain in the line-up.

I'm substantially less concerned about whether that means Youks heads to the bench or Middlebrooks takes over in LF; I just don't want to see a kid with his apparent potential head back to Pawtucket.

[Eric Van]

Unless the Red Sox can get an impact pitcher for Youkilis, which I am sure they can not, they should keep him. Were Jack McKeon in charge, even the 80-year-old McKeon of today, he would move Middlebrooks to left field the very day Youkilis is ready and would apologize to no one for it.

Post of the year.

When Youkilis comes off the DL, the Sox should send WMB to Pawtucket for a crash course in LF and RF. He runs much better than Youk ever did and the odds are decent that he can play out there.

As soon as he's achieved competence, if he does, he is recalled, and becomes the primary LF, and after Crawford returns, he stays on the roster as the 4th bench player / 10th man.

I've been saying all winter that in addition to Shoppach (or Lavarnway), Punto (or Iglesias), and Ross, the eventual bench needs a LHB who plays 1B and corner OF. By "LHB" I of course meant a guy who could hit RHP well, and RHB who can hit RHP well aren't bench players, they're regulars. WMB hits RHP well, so he fits that description.

And you wanted the guy to be able to play 1B so that he could also back up Gonzalez and Ortiz, but 3B is even better, because now he can back up Youkilis as well, with Youk backing up 1B and DH. The only reason I didn't say we needed a bench guy who played 3B and corner OF is that they don't ordinarily exist.

So WMB would make a fabulous 10th guy. Depending on his defense, he might be a better option in RF than Sweeney versus certain RHP (guys with mild / reverse platoon splits). He can play versus most LHP, giving either Crawford or Gonzalez the day off (occasionally even Ortiz or Ellsbury). He can keep Youk healthy. And if it comes to it, he can become the regular 3B, playing OF as outlined with Youk as the 10th player.

Essentially, what you're doing here is solving the Byrd or McDonald dilemma by filling that roster spot with WMB instead (or with Youkilis if you've determined that WMB is better). Which is an incredibly obvious upgrade; you don't need a CF to fill that spot because Ross is a good defensive backup, Sweeney a perfectly adequate 3rd option, and you've got Lin (and probably Repko) at Pawtucket.

Edited by Eric Van, 08 May 2012 - 10:08 AM.

[Eric Van]

Encouraging start

Historic, actually. First player in MLB history with 6 XBH in his first 4 games, at least one in every game (Coco Laboy had 5, Enos Slaughter and Yoenis Cespedes had 4). An XBH hit tonight and he ties Slaughter as the only guy with at least one in his first 5 games, but Slaughter had just 1 per game.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

How many games Middlebrooks has played in the outfield over the course of his minor league career? B-Ref has it as zero, but they may be just using his primary position to list him.

I don't see it at a tremendously good idea to tell the kid to learn to play the OF in 2 months and then bring him back up with the idea of his playing nearly every day out there. I certainly would never use him to play in Fenway's treacherous RF, that's for damn sure.

[Buzzkill Pauley]

How many games Middlebrooks has played in the outfield over the course of his minor league career? B-Ref has it as zero, but they may be just using his primary position to list him.

I don't see it at a tremendously good idea to tell the kid to learn to play the OF in 2 months and then bring him back up with the idea of his playing nearly every day out there. I certainly would never use him to play in Fenway's treacherous RF, that's for damn sure.

No, it's 0. The last time he played outfield may well have been junior high. Middlebrooks was drafted as a shortstop, and converted to 3B in his first professional season.

Not to say he couldn't do it, just that he hasn't done it.

Well, I guess I'll also add that I think he shouldn't do it.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

Even though I brought it up, I believe that the Red Sox will NOT do this. McKeon did it, and I would do it, and Earl Weaver would (he made Don Buford an outfielder the day he became manager in 1968), and Dave Johnson would (he moved Kevin Mitchell to shortstop for a while), but modern teams rarely do things outside the box like this. Managers are afraid to actually manage, and Valentine is likely a little gun shy at the moment.

Middlebrooks could play right field--he is a baseball player, this is what they do.

[jsinger121]

I'd rather not fuck around with Middlebrooks in the outfield. Frankly he plays 3rd at the major league level or he goes back to Pawtucket. If the Red Sox are out of it by Memorial Day I'd get rid of Youkilis whose contract is up this year (he has a team option that will never be picked up) and go with Middlebrooks full time especially if this is a lost season.

[templeUsox]

His team option will most certainly be picked up so that they can trade him.

[Lose Remerswaal]

How many games Middlebrooks has played in the outfield over the course of his minor league career? B-Ref has it as zero, but they may be just using his primary position to list him.

I don't see it at a tremendously good idea to tell the kid to learn to play the OF in 2 months and then bring him back up with the idea of his playing nearly every day out there. I certainly would never use him to play in Fenway's treacherous RF, that's for damn sure.

But how do you feel about a $20 million/year player being the 4th OF?

[jsinger121]

His team option will most certainly be picked up so that they can trade him.

He is a guy that cannot stay healthy. Sorry but I wouldn't pick up 14 million dollars for a guy that hasn't shown the ability to stay healthy. Who is going to pay 14 million for that?

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Even though I brought it up, I believe that the Red Sox will NOT do this. McKeon did it, and I would do it, and Earl Weaver would (he made Don Buford an outfielder the day he became manager in 1968), and Dave Johnson would (he moved Kevin Mitchell to shortstop for a while), but modern teams rarely do things outside the box like this. Managers are afraid to actually manage, and Valentine is likely a little gun shy at the moment.

Middlebrooks could play right field--he is a baseball player, this is what they do.

But we've already seen experienced outfielders come in and struggle in Fenway's RF. JD Drew did for one, his first year out there was very, very tough, and he had been playing OF his whole life including a ton of CF. You are minimizing the struggles a kid like WMB would have in 1) learning a brand new position on the fly at the AAA or major league level, and 2) playing that new position in a very tough field on the fly in games that Really Matter.

You're just handwaving away the idea that WMB might have a terrible time switching to RF.

The Red Sox likely won't do this because they shouldn't do it.

[smastroyin]

I'm guessing WMB could handle the OF. He's not a 35 year old guy, he's a kid. He has a well built athletic frame so it's not like trying to move Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder out there. Maybe you say there is so little chance of the team being good that you don't try to make these improvements, but basically what I see is a bunch of people that are reacting to small sample again and just saying to jettison the veteran in the name of something I don't quite understand. People complain about the specialization of the modern day game and then think a 24 year old athlete can't handle OF? Maybe it's true but baseball doesn't need to be so specialized, especially in the corners. I'm not saying WMB would be great out there, but I'm guessing he wouldn't be awful.

I guess I would look to trade Youkilis given his contract, etc. But a lot would depend on the return, and there are a bunch of other moving pieces. but, based on today's performance levels and injury prognoses, I would say that having both Youk and WMB around is better than one or the other, in terms of putting a competitive product on the field. If you are more worried about 2013-2016 than about 2012, you may have a different opinion of course.

[OnWisc]

I don't know if it's wise to have a dinged-up Youks running around the outfield. If Middlebrooks continues to be more effective against MLB pitching than some of the other non-MI bats that populate our lineup (safe to say that he's not going to come close to maintaining his current level of performance), and he can play LF (I don't know), then I think it would make sense to give him a shot there. Ross has played CF, so you don't have to keep Byrd's bat in the lineup over his.

If the club isn't comfortable with Ross in CF, then I think it's unlikely Middlebrooks gets moved to LF unless he continues to significantly outproduce Ross, which is hardly a given (and perhaps unlikely) at this point in his career.

Best guess is that by the time Youkilis is back, WMB has cooled off and returns to Pawtucket. While his K/BB rate has taken a big step forward this season, he cold probably stand some more work. Through 24 games in AAA, he's at 2.6 (18/7). Just to compare that to other young 3B, last season in AAA, Moustakas was 2.3 (44/19) and Lawrie was 2.0 (53/26).

[smastroyin]

You're just handwaving away the idea that WMB might have a terrible time switching to RF.

Yes but on the other hand none of us is that impressed with Sweeney or Ross out there, right? It's not like WMB would be displacing a defensive whiz. Also, they have a LF vacancy for the next two months at least (assuming, as I do, that Ross and Sweeney would ideally be in a platoon situation).

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Yes but on the other hand none of us is that impressed with Sweeney or Ross out there, right? It's not like WMB would be displacing a defensive whiz. Also, they have a LF vacancy for the next two months at least (assuming, as I do, that Ross and Sweeney would ideally be in a platoon situation).

If you really want to make the kid play OF then LF is the place to stick him. I would never, ever stick him in Fenway's RF.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

Albert Pujols was a third baseman in the minors (2 games in LF). When he made the Cardinals in 2001, Tony LaRussa did not say, "OMG, I must protect the delicate body of my prospect!!". He played in in LF, RF (a huge outfield in the old Busch), 1B, and 3B -- playing every day, but moving around to protect the old established guys. How did that work out? There is a reason LaRussa won every year--he managed his team in order to win games. So did McKeon and Davey Johnson and Weaver.

Will Middlebrooks is not a Faberge Egg. He is a baseball player.

Don't worry, SoSH. The Red Sox will do something unimaginative.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Albert Pujols was a third baseman in the minors (2 games in LF). When he made the Cardinals in 2001, Tony LaRussa did not say, "OMG, I must protect the delicate body of my prospect!!". He played in in LF, RF (a huge outfield in the old Busch), 1B, and 3B -- playing every day, but moving around to protect the old established guys. How did that work out? There is a reason LaRussa won every year--he managed his team in order to win games. So did McKeon and Davey Johnson and Weaver.

Will Middlebrooks is not a Faberge Egg. He is a baseball player.

Don't worry, SoSH. The Red Sox will do something unimaginative.

So why not just stick him at catcher, then? After all, he's a baseball player!

You've got a kid trying to establish his career and break into the big leagues and the very first thing you want to do is make him play a position he hasn't played since high school. That, to me, is as good of an invitation to failure as I can possibly imagine. I'm not a fan of messing around with prospects' positions (or pitching motions, for that matter). The kid is a tremendously promising 3B prospect and our current third baseman is doing a pretty good Black Knight imitation. I'd rather keep him at 3B.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

You're just handwaving away the idea that WMB might have a terrible time switching to RF.

So he struggles. What is wrong with that? Ted Williams struggled in right field, so they moved him to left field the next year. In the mean time, it helped the team. It did not kill him. Players have been "struggling" for 150 years. Did Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera jump in and win Gold Gloves immediately. No, I suspect they "struggled". So what?

[Seels]

There's really no conceivable way that WMB LF defense can be any worse than Cody Ross. Stick him in LF, and have Ross / McDonald do what they came here to do: be 4th and 5th outfielders.

[trekfan55]

His team option will most certainly be picked up so that they can trade him.

If he is healthy and if he is producing (two big ifs I admit) and if the Sox still want to trade him to play WMB full time (another big if should the first two materialize) then his option should not be picked up, but it would still be there for the acquiring team.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

So he struggles. What is wrong with that? Ted Williams struggled in right field, so they moved him to left field the next year. In the mean time, it helped the team. It did not kill him. Players have been "struggling" for 150 years. Did Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera jump in and win Gold Gloves immediately. No, I suspect they "struggled". So what?

Because RF in Fenway is brutal. And because the Sox need to win as many games as possible, and sticking a kid who's never played the position before in one of the most difficult positions in all of baseball isn't a good baseball move.

If JD Drew could find RF in Fenway extremely difficult, I can only imagine what a kid who has no experience whatsoever in the OF will do out in RF. But by all means, let's find out, the pratfalls would be hilarious and we'd have the added benefit of risking the kid's development over it.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

His team option will most certainly be picked up so that they can trade him.

The only reason to pick up his option in order to trade him would be if he requested it as a condition of waiving a no-trade. Youk has no no-trade provisions in his contract, and he doesn't have the service time to be a 10-5 guy. Picking up the option would likely make him more difficult to trade given the question marks surrounding his health.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

You've got a kid trying to establish his career and break into the big leagues and the very first thing you want to do is make him play a position he hasn't played since high school.

And this has happened literally hundreds of times in history with players who had to be moved to new positions (often temporarily) as rookie players.

You likely would have advised Tony LaRussa to send Albert Pujols back to the minors, or to trade Placido Polanco. And perhaps you would have told Jack McKeon to keep Miguel Cabrera in the minors, or trade Mike Lowell, because, after all, they were in fourth place in June so why do anything risky with the kid?

[Quintanariffic]

Middlebrooks is an outstanding athlete. The Sox had to pay him $975K to back out of a two-sport commitment to Texas A&M where he was recruited to play QB. Guys like Hundley and especially Youkilis don't seem to have much relevance from the perspective of the ability to adjust athletically. I would agree that, as a means of lengthening this lineup, you send him to Pawtucket for a week after Youk comes back to see if he can field the position. If the results indicate he can be competent, send him right back up 95 ASAP. Between starts in LF and the occasional day at 3B when Youk has an ouchie, there should be no shortage of ABs prior to Crawford's return.

[Quintanariffic]

Because RF in Fenway is brutal. And because the Sox need to win as many games as possible, and sticking a kid who's never played the position before in one of the most difficult positions in all of baseball isn't a good baseball move.

If JD Drew could find RF in Fenway extremely difficult, I can only imagine what a kid who has no experience whatsoever in the OF will do out in RF. But by all means, let's find out, the pratfalls would be hilarious and we'd have the added benefit of risking the kid's development over it.

Interesting. I was unaware that the Red Sox are not obligated to utilize a player in LF.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

And this has happened literally hundreds of times in history with players who had to be moved to new positions (often temporarily) as rookie players.

You likely would have advised Tony LaRussa to send Albert Pujols back to the minors, or to trade Placido Polanco. And perhaps you would have told Jack McKeon to keep Miguel Cabrera in the minors, or trade Mike Lowell, because, after all, they were in fourth place in June so why do anything risky with the kid?

No, you're using 2 examples from 10 and 15 years ago in easy to play NL parks to make our point. Oh wait, you used Ted too, which happened back in 1939.

Again, 0 games played in the OF as a professional. I think it's a terrible idea. If you want to restrict the OF experiment to LF only, I might think it's merely mediocre. But RF is an awful thing to even contemplate. How is his throwing arm from the OF? His ability to read angles/cutoff men/walls? No one knows, not the Red Sox and not WMB himself. I would much prefer to let the kid get accustomed to the major leagues in his regular position before contemplating any type of position switch.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Interesting. I was unaware that the Red Sox are not obligated to utilize a player in LF.

Noted above.

[Eric Van]

But we've already seen experienced outfielders come in and struggle in Fenway's RF. JD Drew did for one, his first year out there was very, very tough, and he had been playing OF his whole life including a ton of CF. You are minimizing the struggles a kid like WMB would have in 1) learning a brand new position on the fly at the AAA or major league level, and 2) playing that new position in a very tough field on the fly in games that Really Matter.

You're just handwaving away the idea that WMB might have a terrible time switching to RF.

The Red Sox likely won't do this because they shouldn't do it.

I certainly would never play WMB in Fenway's RF at day, when it is notoriously brutal, even if he had shown an ability to play RF in general.

The Sox should have day / night fielding splits for Fenway's RF. Depending on how big they are, you may or may not consider playing him out there at night.

I don't think there's any actual disagreement, BTW, among those who think WMB to the OF is a great idea and those who think it's terrible. The former are figuring that playing a largely unfamiliar position won't impact his hitting and the latter are assuming it will. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't.

But here's a question for the doubters: let's say you play him in LF for a week upon his return to Pawtucket, strictly as an experiment, and it's a disaster. Does that have a long-range affect on him, and, if so, why? If not (and I don't see how it does, since he'll be under little pressure to succeed, and whatever psychological downer he experiences anyway would immediately be offset by the relief of returning to 3B), why not try it?

[PrometheusWakefield]

I guess I would look to trade Youkilis given his contract, etc. But a lot would depend on the return, and there are a bunch of other moving pieces. but, based on today's performance levels and injury prognoses, I would say that having both Youk and WMB around is better than one or the other, in terms of putting a competitive product on the field. If you are more worried about 2013-2016 than about 2012, you may have a different opinion of course.

I love Youk, but if WMB continues to look like he will be productive this year (obviously that still needs to be demonstrated) and if you could get someone to give you a prospect and take his salary then you have to make the move, especially if Oswalt is still around and willing to come to Boston. The question IMO is whether Youk could command that kind of return without given time to re-establish himself at the major league level.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

But here's a question for the doubters: let's say you play him in LF for a week upon his return to Pawtucket, strictly as an experiment, and it's a disaster. Does that have a long-range affect on him, and, if so, why? If not (and I don't see how it does, since he'll be under little pressure to succeed, and whatever psychological downer he experiences anyway would immediately be offset by the relief of returning to 3B), why not try it?

We have no way of knowing. I remember stories about guys like Dernell Stenson being moved from position to position and having their hitting go straight to hell as a result of trying to learn a new spot. Lavarnway's off to a lousy start in Pawtucket this year and he's just been quoted as saying the Sox want him to concentrate on his D, and that could be affecting him at the plate. And that's a position he already plays.

[LahoudOrBillyC]

No, you're using 2 examples from 10 and 15 years ago in easy to play NL parks to make our point. Oh wait, you used Ted too, which happened back in 1939.

Again, 0 games played in the OF as a professional. I think it's a terrible idea. If you want to restrict the OF experiment to LF only, I might think it's merely mediocre. But RF is an awful thing to even contemplate. How is his throwing arm from the OF? His ability to read angles/cutoff men/walls? No one knows, not the Red Sox and not WMB himself.

So, do you think that the outfield has become harder to play in the past 10 years? Of course, that is nonsense, as fields are now manicured like putting greens. Well, I am not going to convince you that world-class athlete 24-year-old major league players can learn new positions even if I gave you 100 other examples, which I could. There will always be some reason why my example is not perfectly analogous.

[Eric Van]

We have no way of knowing. I remember stories about guys like Dernell Stenson being moved from position to position and having their hitting go straight to hell as a result of trying to learn a new spot. Lavarnway's off to a lousy start in Pawtucket this year and he's just been quoted as saying the Sox want him to concentrate on his D, and that could be affecting him at the plate. And that's a position he already plays.

You're talking about guys who were moved to another position permanently, not asked to play somewhere for half a season in an emergency. (Donnie Sadler was another example).

But you didn't answer my question. I agree with you -- we have no idea how it will affect his hitting. My question is, if you try it, and it does, so after a week or two you decree it a failed experiment -- how does that affect him negatively, long term? IOW, what is the downside to trying the experiment? No one here is saying you proceed if it doesn't work.

Edited by Eric Van, 08 May 2012 - 11:03 AM.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

So, do you think that the outfield has become harder to play in the past 10 years? Of course, that is nonsense, as fields are now manicured like putting greens. Well, I am not going to convince you that world-class athlete 24-year-old major league players can learn new positions even if I gave you 100 other examples, which I could. There will always be some reason why my example is not perfectly analogous.

What the hell, might as well teach him to pitch too, the pen could use the help. After all he's a world-class athlete.

Snark aside, we're going to disagree on the degree of difficulty we're talking about here. Some guys can make the switch and some can't. Yaz couldn't play 3d, after all. I don't like the idea of messing around with Middlebrooks' position because I do think such a switch can adversely affect his development at this point in his career. Maybe it won't but I'd rather not take the chance, particularly given the 0 games played there in the minors.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

You're talking about guys who were moved to another position permanently, not asked to play somewhere for half a season in an emergency. (Donnie Sadler was another example).

But you didn't answer my question. I agree with you -- we have no idea how it will affect his hitting. My question is, if you try it, and it does, so after a week or two you decree it a failed experiment -- how does that affecthim negatively, long term?IOW, what is the downside to trying the experiment? No one here is saying you proceed if it doesn't work.

Who knows? If it affects him negatively, you've just derailed his development. If it doesn't, well, bullet dodged.

Is it worth the risk? I'm of the opinion it's not. Youks ain't getting any healthier, so WMB is likely going to be playing there for this club on a full time basis quite soon.

[templeUsox]

The only reason to pick up his option in order to trade him would be if he requested it as a condition of waiving a no-trade. Youk has no no-trade provisions in his contract, and he doesn't have the service time to be a 10-5 guy. Picking up the option would likely make him more difficult to trade given the question marks surrounding his health.

I was referring to a situation where he's still with the team after the season. They won't lose him to free agency after this season.

Edited by templeUsox, 08 May 2012 - 11:11 AM.

[Eric Van]

Who knows? If it affects him negatively, you've just derailed his development. If it doesn't, well, bullet dodged.

Is it worth the risk? I'm of the opinion it's not.

I'm asking you to give me a credible psychological reason why it could. Tell me a story where a guy with WMB's apparent makeup* is permanently harmed by a failed 1-week trial in LF in AAA. And given the upside of a successful experiment, make it so credible that the risk outweighs the benefits.

(Oh -- I'll save you some time. You can't. Tell me the name of the player whose career was impaired or ruined because he was tried for a week at another position in AAA. It's ludicrous.)

*Which is reportedly "off the charts" -- another triumph for the team doing more psych testing than just about everyone else.

[OnWisc]

We have no way of knowing. I remember stories about guys like Dernell Stenson being moved from position to position and having their hitting go straight to hell as a result of trying to learn a new spot. Lavarnway's off to a lousy start in Pawtucket this year and he's just been quoted as saying the Sox want him to concentrate on his D, and that could be affecting him at the plate. And that's a position he already plays.

I agree that there's no way of knowing, but I think it's unlikely that it would. He understands the situation with Youkilis, and that's it's a short-term move to see if he can handle a new position so that his bat can get into the lineup right now. It's not like they're moving him off third because he's blocked for the long-term, is about to be passed by another prospect, or because he can't field it and is being moved down the defensive spectrum, all of which I think would be more likely to cause issues.

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

I'm asking you to give me a credible psychological reason why it could. Tell me a story where a guy with WMB's apparent makeup* is permanently harmed by a failed 1-week trial in LF in AAA. And given the upside of a successful experiment, make it so credible that the risk outweighs the benefits.

(Oh -- I'll save you some time. You can't. Tell me the name of the player whose career was impaired or ruined because he was tried for a week at another position in AAA. It's ludicrous.)

*Which is reportedly "off the charts" -- another triumph for the team doing more psych testing than just about everyone else.

You have no idea how he'll react to failure until it actually happens. None. No one does. And to simply dismiss the idea that it could harm his development is quite narrow-minded. It's definitely a risk, and it's reasonable to think it could be one, and given the level of a prospect he is my opinion is to leave the kid the hell alone and let him do his thing without messing his positions.

Athletes always face failure for the first time as they progress through their careers, and each one reacts differently. Buchholz had a terrible time when he started struggling in 2008; it took him a year to get back on track.