A New Idea for First, and you thought things couldn't get worse

[Couperin47]

There are no words.... http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/11679852/alex-rodriguez-talked-new-york-yankees-manager-joe-girardi-playing-first-base-next-season

 

[MakMan44]

I actually think it's great. If ARod approached Girardi, I think it's pretty cool of him to taking proactive measures to help the team, instead of insisting he's only a 3rd baseman. 
 
EDIT: Sounds like Girardi approached him. Still, Tex is going to get hurt at some point and if ARod can play a passable 1st, it can only help the team. 

 

[Dan to Theo to Ben]

Why didn't they move Jeter to 1st when Teix was injured?

 

[MakMan44]

Why didn't they move Jeter to 1st when Teix was injured?

You're assuming Jeter would agree to do that

 

[jon abbey]

Jeter was never going to move anywhere, you'd think that would be pretty clear at this point. Possibly if Torre was still the manager, he would have tried something at some point, but Girardi didn't have a normal manager/player relationship with Jeter since they played together early in Jeter's career and Girardi quite obviously never had the balls to manage Jeter like he would have almost any other player. 
 
I'm OK with A-Rod as a backup 1B, especially since it makes it more likely that NY will bring in a fulltime 3B like Headley (although they may be thinking Prado with Refsnyder at 2B). 

 

[EvilEmpire]

Does it though? Headley has come out and said he thinks himself a full time player at 3B. Even if ARod fills in at 1B a bit, unless Tex misses significant time, that shuffling a lot of chairs to make everyone fit - Prado/ARod/Beltran/Tex.... And it's that way for the next two years. The Yankees may in fact want to bring Headley back, I just don't see this as making Headley any more likely to see it as his best fit. I think your second thought is more likely. Prado can play all over and keep everyone fresh and if Refsnyder can't hack it, they can adjust on the fly.

ARod as primary DH and backup 1B works fine with Headley assuming fulltime 3B duties.

I'm not sure if ARod can actually play 3B too much at his age after all the injuries and year off. It would be great if he could play 1B competently. We'll see.

 

[EvilEmpire]

I have no idea what is more or less likely. Not enough information. I'm just confident that the Yankees will be better off with a good defensive 3B who can play all the time. Headley fits the bill. Prado does too, but I like his bat better at 2B. I would also hate to count on Refsnyder being productive for a full season. Counting on ARod to contribute fulltime at any level of competence, especially defensively, is risky. Better to re-sign Headley and tell him 3B is his. Worry about ABs for ARod later. If ARod hits so well that you need to keep him in the lineup, then that is a problem I'm sure the Yankees would be happy to deal will. Plug him into the DH slot and sit guys like McCann or Beltran when they need a rest.

Guys will get injured off and on throughout the season. Finding ABs, whether at DH or another position, probably won't be an issue. Counting on someone to play a position defensively that they can't manage well anymore might be a problem, and one I'd like to not see for a change.

 

[jon abbey]

Counting on someone to play a position defensively that they can't manage well anymore might be a problem, and one I'd like to not see for a change.

 
I'd just like to point out the irony of this sentiment in a thread about a guy being asked to play 1B for the first time in his life, especially after NY tried that with about five different guys this year, none of whom were especially good at it. 

 

[EvilEmpire]

I'd just like to point out the irony of this sentiment in a thread about a guy being asked to play 1B for the first time in his life, especially after NY tried that with about five different guys this year, none of whom were especially good at it.

Huge difference between someone serving as a backup at 1B (while being primary DH) and counting on someone to pay fulltime at 3B when there are questions about age, infirmities, and the like.

I'm less concerned about backups being good defensively than I am someone who needs to be playing most days.


edit: But yeah, there is some irony The key words are "counting on". Going into the season, I don't think the can count on ARod for anything. Since they don't know what he can do, and won't find out for a while, I just hope to hell they can sign Headley before he goes off the board.

 

[derekson]

Prado is much better defensively at 3B than 2B, FWIW. He's a GG caliber defender at 3B and probably between average and -5 runs/150G at 2B. I think the Yankees are a better team trying Refsnyder or some other patchwork solutions at 2B and Prado sharing 3B with ARod around ARod sharing DH and 1B with Teix/McCann/Beltran/etc. Prado can play some RF/LF or 2B when ARod is at 3B as well. 

 

[jon abbey]

 I think the Yankees are a better team trying Refsnyder or some other patchwork solutions at 2B and Prado sharing 3B with ARod around ARod sharing DH and 1B with Teix/McCann/Beltran/etc. 

 
This would also save them one big salary, but it would leave them very thin if Prado or Refsnyder got hurt or if Refsnyder can't cut it. 

 

[Dewy4PrezII]

Why didn't they move Jeter to 1st when Teix was injured?

Relocating a statue is difficult and given that NYC is big with the unions there likely would have been paperwork and significant costs associated with such a move.