2016 Starting Shortstop Watch

[RobDibblesGhost]

So...Danny is 0-for-Spring Training so far. Turner isn't lighting it up either, but he's got a HR, a couple of RBI and a couple of stolen bases with that speed of his. Dusty has praised his speed, but he has also seemed to be not too worried with Espinosa's slow start.  Meanwhile, Drew and Difo are each having a decent ST but I doubt they win the starting job. The general thinking has been that the job will go to Espinosa, but if he continues to struggle and Turner does well (or one of the other guys just flat out surprises everyone), does that change? Personally, I think it's time for Espinosa to put or shut up. I'm tired of hearing about his potential and if he doesn't produce, he shouldn't play, at least not every day. I'm interested to see what everyone else thinks.

[BrandonK]

Drew/Danny sharing time being awful!

[skippy1999]

I think whoever is performing best in the spring should start opening day, we can't afford to give any games away early in the year so we need to field the best team possible right from the start!

[comish4lif]

I'm advocating for the Danny Drew platoon:
Career Splits:
Danny vs LHP (as RHB): 269/343/452 (795 OPS)
Drew vs RHP ( as LHB): 260/329/436 (765 OPS)

And on the flip side:
Danny vs RHP (as LHB): 217/287/371 (657 OPS)
Drew vs LHP (as LHB): 229/285/379 (665 OPS)

If you can add 100 points of OPS from the SS position, why wouldn't you do it?

[RobDibblesGhost]

I think whoever is performing best in the spring should start opening day, we can't afford to give any games away early in the year so we need to field the best team possible right from the start!

And that is definitely not Danny so far. His error just now extended the inning and led to a Gio meltdown, allowing three runs (so far) to score.

[Smithian]

I'm advocating for the Danny Drew platoon:
Career Splits:
Danny vs LHP (as RHB): 269/343/452 (795 OPS)
Drew vs RHP ( as LHB): 260/329/436 (765 OPS)

And on the flip side:
Danny vs RHP (as LHB): 217/287/371 (657 OPS)
Drew vs LHP (as LHB): 229/285/379 (665 OPS)

If you can add 100 points of OPS from the SS position, why wouldn't you do it?

I'm fine with this.

I like Difo but we have problems if he is playing major innings anywhere.

[mmzznnxx]

One of the young guys. Enroll them in the school of hard knocks and give them real experience. Espinosa and Drew are a waste of time.

[Mattionals]

Danny looks very lost left handed. Big uppercut in his swing is back.

[Ray D]

Danny seemed to have it all figured out for a good part of last season (even though he did fall off second half).  Anyone remember how he looked in spring training last year?

[mitlen]

Must be the heat but I voted for Espi starting Opening Day.

[mmzznnxx]

Must be the heat but I voted for Espi starting Opening Day.

These nice men are going to take you away to a place where you'll be happy, and safe, and the walls are all bouncy. What fun! We'll be sure to come visit.

[mitlen]

(Image removed from quote.)

These nice men are going to take you away to a place where you'll be happy, and safe, and the walls are all bouncy. What fun! We'll be sure to come visit.

Been there.   Done that.    Got a t-shirt and squeaky slippers so they knew where I was.   

[Elvir Ovcina]

Been there.   Done that.    Got a t-shirt and squeaky slippers so they knew where I was.   

Enough to make your mental state even worse than it was before.  And the T-shirt is way too big, anyway.  I bought Manny Ramirez's pants off Ebay and they matched perfectly.

[skippy1999]

Must be the heat but I voted for Espi starting Opening Day.

Wha??? Who are you and what have you done with Mitlen???

[mitlen]

Wha??? Who are you and what have you done with Mitlen???

I want him to start and Turner to follow up around the first of May  ...   to stay.    If Espi does well, we win.   If he doesn't, maybe we can finally bury the experiment.

[Ray D]

If this team is serious about contending it needs a legitimate shortstop. If Espinosa proves unfit for that role (keeps making error, doesn't hit) then it makes you wonder: what was plan B?  None of the others are legitimate.  Don't get me started on Trey Turner.  He may end up in the hall of fame but he isn't ready to take on the role of regular shortstop yet, not on a contender.  He'd be learning on the job and costing us games. 

So again I ask, what was plan B?

[skippy1999]

I want him to start and Turner to follow up around the first of May  ...   to stay.    If Espi does well, we win.   If he doesn't, maybe we can finally bury the experiment.

But if he doesn't that may be a reason we get buried early, I don't want to see that happen again

[mitlen]

But if he doesn't that may be a reason we get buried early, I don't want to see that happen again

I don't think SS would be the reason we get buried early.

[aussienatsfan]

I think the platoon is the best way to get the best value from the position, I would love to see more of Difo, but it is unlikely.
Turner and Difo likely start in AAA, and i am fine with that.

With the other MI spot being a lefty, it would be nice to have another MI with a right-handed bat, but keeping Trea on the bench for this sole purpose is foolish.

[GburgNatsFan]

He's more often good early in the season. He swoons just around the time it'll be time to call up Turner for ever.

But if he doesn't that may be a reason we get buried early, I don't want to see that happen again

[Mattionals]

If this team is serious about contending it needs a legitimate shortstop. If Espinosa proves unfit for that role (keeps making error, doesn't hit) then it makes you wonder: what was plan B?  None of the others are legitimate.  Don't get me started on Trey Turner.  He may end up in the hall of fame but he isn't ready to take on the role of regular shortstop yet, not on a contender.  He'd be learning on the job and costing us games. 

So again I ask, what was plan B?

I'm watching him just about everyday. Trea is absolutely ready. The issue is that because they called him up last season, his clock started and we have to wait until June to call him up as to not lose a year of contract with him.

[HalfSmokes]

I'm watching him just about everyday. Trea is absolutely ready. The issue is that because they called him up last season, his clock started and we have to wait until June to call him up as to not lose a year of contract with him.

But just think where we would have been last year without his pinch running skills

[NJ Ave]

But just think where we would have been last year without his pinch running skills

Rizzos family ain't gonna eat on 82-80 baby. 83 wins or busto!

[Ray D]

I'm watching him just about everyday. Trea is absolutely ready. The issue is that because they called him up last season, his clock started and we have to wait until June to call him up as to not lose a year of contract with him.

I understand the issue, but if he really is ready he needs to be plan B and they need to bite the bullet on the clock thing. It's their own damn fault and they need to pay the price for their stupidity.  If Espinosa isn't up to the task, and Turner is (and I'm still very skeptical) he needs to be the starting shortstop.
And if so, they need to figure it out real quick.  One of the other, Espinosa or Turner, needs to be playing regularly for the remainder of the Spring, and the other one needs to sit (or play another position). Can't have the two competing for shortstop too much longer because then neither one will get enough reps.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I understand the issue, but if he really is ready he needs to be plan B and they need to bite the bullet on the clock thing. It's their own damn fault and they need to pay the price for their stupidity.  If Espinosa isn't up to the task, and Turner is (and I'm still very skeptical) he needs to be the starting shortstop.
And if so, they need to figure it out real quick.  One of the other, Espinosa or Turner, needs to be playing regularly for the remainder of the Spring, and the other one needs to sit (or play another position). Can't have the two competing for shortstop too much longer because then neither one will get enough reps.

This is one of those they'll cross that bridge when they come to it.  they have 3 veteran options (Espinosa, Drew, and Ryan) before they need to try Turner.  Turner could potentially complicate things by having an awesome spring while the others blow, but even then, I'm not sure you make a roster decision based on spring performance or even the first week of regular season.  Turner puts in a good couple of months at AAA while the others can't hit, then you probably make the move, but I don't see the need right away.  The one thing we do know is that Espinosa and Ryan can field the position, which should be enough if the rest of the starters are on the field.