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#Post#: 165113--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: Reb
Date: January 20, 2014, 6:12 pm
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My view has always been that you play the guys at the position
that has the most premium value (Baez at SS, Bryant at 3B,
etc)--so long, of course, as they are solid defensively at that
position--and you trade the lesser guys at those positions for
other needs when the time comes.
So, if Bryant is truly a solid 3B defensively, it would be a
shame to turn his career into a corner OFer. I don't get that.
By "solid" I mean a guy who is good at the position, even if not
gold glove caliber.
#Post#: 165114--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: davep
Date: January 20, 2014, 7:03 pm
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If you assume that Olt and Bryant both do very well in the
majors, (if either fail the question is meaningless) I would
rather have Olt at third base and Bryant in right field than
have Bryant at third base and Schierholtz/Ruggiano in right
field.
It would be different if Bryant would make a bad right fielder
or Olt a bad third baseman, but the reports I have heard is that
Olt would probably be better defensively at third than Bryant,
and that Bryant would make a better than average right fielder.
I have not heard anything to indicate that Olt would make a
better than average right fielder.
The really good thing about players that can play more than one
defensive position is that you can play them at more than one
defensive position.
#Post#: 165116--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: Reb
Date: January 20, 2014, 7:26 pm
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The problem with the Olt/Bryant example is that, as things now
stand, Bryant projects dramatically superior offensively than
Olt--even assuming that Olt gets back to his former projection.
It is poor policy to accommodate the lesser player because the
superior player has position versatility. The better policy to
to put the superior player where the club gets the most bang for
the buck.
Work the lesser players around the superior guys, not vice
versa.
#Post#: 165118--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: Cubsin
Date: January 20, 2014, 7:58 pm
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I disagree, Reb. The manager's job is to put the best team on
the field that he can. If Olt and Bryant are both good enough
offensively to be in the starting lineup, it makes no sense at
all to play Olt out of position in RF so Bryant can play an
inferior 3B defensively.
#Post#: 165119--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: davep
Date: January 20, 2014, 8:05 pm
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I also disagree. If the team is better offensively and
defensively with Olt and Bryant in the line up rather than
Schierholtz and Bryant, then that is the way to go. Anything
else seems foolish.
#Post#: 165125--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: craig
Date: January 20, 2014, 8:34 pm
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--- Quote from: Reb link ---
>
> My view has always been that you play the guys at the position
that has the most premium value (Baez at SS, Bryant at 3B,
etc)--so long, of course, as they are solid defensively at that
position--…. By "solid" I mean a guy who is good at the
position, even if not gold glove caliber.
--- End Quote ---
I think the question is whether either Bryant or Baez will
actually be solid/good at their positions. I expect both have a
chance to approach average. But I'm not sure either
realistically projects to be above-average at their present
positions. Moving each player to lower-standard defensive
positions might allow both players to be assets rather than
liabilities defensively. And we may have other players who
could player their current positions better.
As in all of these discussions, I don't think it's so much an
issue of philosophy. I think it really comes down to a matter
of evaluation. If both guys project favorably at their existing
positions, by all means keep them there and let lesser guys
move.
In that regard, there seems little reason why Olt couldn't learn
to play OF, in the unlikely event that his bat is good enough to
justify. But I think it's pretty unlikely that he's going to
be a long-term asset starter for us, at any position.
#Post#: 165126--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: Reb
Date: January 20, 2014, 8:40 pm
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In my view, very short-sighted to worry about where Schierholz
(and/or Olt) plays when it comes to a Bryant career decision.
First, Olt will have his 3B opportunity in 2014 while Bryant is
in minors. If Olt returns to form and has a nice season in 2014
in Chicago at 3B, great--then you have a guy with significant
trade value.
But, Olt is highly unlikely to be a player remotely of Bryant's
caliber. You don't put a guy like Bryant in corner OF--unless he
just can't cut it at 3B--to accommodate the lesser guy. Huge
deal to have a Bryant bat at 3B for years to come--if he can
play solidly at the position. The only caveat I can see is if
Baez can't cut it at SS and looks a lot better at 3B than at 2B.
In that case, you have two players (Bryant/Baez) of roughly
equal value at 3B. But bumping Bryant for Mike Olt? No.
Of course, as Craig notes, remains to seen whether Bryant is a
solid 3B. If not, that takes care of itself regarding a
position. But, as a general rule, put the stars where they will
thrive with the most team value--and let the lesser guys fill
out the roster or trade them for other positional needs.
#Post#: 165127--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: davep
Date: January 20, 2014, 8:40 pm
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I agree that Olt is very unlikely to play well enough to make
the decision necessary. But the question was, if they both are
good offensively, who do you move to the outfield?
IF Olt is better defensively than Bryant at third, and IF Bryant
is better defensively than Olt in the outfield, It seems to be
sensible to let them play at the positions where they are the
best.
#Post#: 165129--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: Reb
Date: January 20, 2014, 8:45 pm
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Well, that would make sense if "both are good" offensively,
i.e., basically the same.
I'm assuming, for sake of discussion, that Bryant is a big-time
impact offensive player and that Olt is not.
#Post#: 165130--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: guest61
Date: January 20, 2014, 8:57 pm
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I dont think it's for sure that Olt wont be yet.
At least a lot better than Valbuena,Murphy,Ransom, etc.
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