Danny Espinosa for President!

[Lintyfresh85]

Can't wait to see Desmond-Espinosa for the final month of the season.

I don't have the quote... but I'm pretty sure they said Espinosa would NOT be called up in September.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think it might be a waste to move Espinosa to 2d if he can play SS.  Heck, I've seen evaluations (like BA) that had him as better than Desmond defensively, and I'm convinced he will be a better offensive player.  If Desmond looks like an average starting SS (erratic in the field, plus range, some power, low OBP), that should make him a tradeable asset.  You can find 2d basemen with bigger bats than Desmond and that are steady fielders.  Espinosa SS + mystery 2d baseman* > Desmond SS + Espinosa 2d baseman.

(Not that I'm too much of a Boston homer, but a healthy Lowrie would be one example of a blocked MI who would be better)

[Lintyfresh85]

Agreed.

If Espinosa is the better bat, and better glove... you keep him at SS and find a better bat at 2B.

[natstime]

Agreed.

If Espinosa is the better bat, and better glove... you keep him at SS and find a better bat at 2B.

And trade Desmond?  I think i'd rather keep him.  i see him being a 20/20 guy in a year or 2.

[Lintyfresh85]

I didn't say that.

I said you keep Espinosa at SS if he proves to be the better glove of the two.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

And trade Desmond?  I think i'd rather keep him.  i see him being a 20/20 guy in a year or 2.

Yes, if the guy behind him is better, trade Desmond and take advantage of the trade value a young cost controlled league average starting SS would project to have.  That makes you better than rushing Espinosa to fill a short term void in your line up. I would not want to play Espinosa 3 -4 years at 2d and then try to move him back to SS.  It just does not work well (Michael Young).

[JMUalumni]

Another thing to consider RE:Espinosa Sept. Call-Up is that the Chiefs are still in contention for a playoff spot.  If they end up grabbing a spot in the playoffs, the chances that Espinosa stays with the Chiefs approaches near certainty.

[hammondsnats]

I think it might be a waste to move Espinosa to 2d if he can play SS.  Heck, I've seen evaluations (like BA) that had him as better than Desmond defensively, and I'm convinced he will be a better offensive player.  If Desmond looks like an average starting SS (erratic in the field, plus range, some power, low OBP), that should make him a tradeable asset.  You can find 2d basemen with bigger bats than Desmond and that are steady fielders.  Espinosa SS + mystery 2d baseman* > Desmond SS + Espinosa 2d baseman.

again it's his flippin first year and i think he has made strides. 

there is nothing wrong with having both in the same infield, doesn't matter who plays where.

[DPMOmaha]

Put the best fielder at SS.  2B is much easier to learn, put the other there, either of them should be able to do it.  I'll say it again, if Guz could do it, either of these can as well.

[hammondsnats]

from rotoworld:

The Nationals will give prospect Danny Espinosa his first look at second base on Tuesday night at Triple-A Syracuse.

Espinosa began the season with a .262/.334/.464 batting line and 18 homers in 386 at-bats for Double-A Harrisburg before earning a promotion to the Triple-A level in early August. The Nats are obviously envisioning a future double-play combination with Ian Desmond at shortstop and Espinosa at second. Yet another promising scenario for the up-and-coming club

obviously they messed up because he played there last night.  but good to see us getting some more and more good press these days.

[Lintyfresh85]

Hammonds, can I ask you why you are so opposed to moving Desmond to 2B? Wouldn't you want the team to put the better fielder at SS regardless if it was Espinosa or Desmond?

[hammondsnats]

Hammonds, can I ask you why you are so opposed to moving Desmond to 2B? Wouldn't you want the team to put the better fielder at SS regardless if it was Espinosa or Desmond?

I'm not opposed at all.  I posted somewhere on here recently, I wouldn't mind Desmond playing @ 2B if that's what they want ... honestly I really don't care who plays where as long as they help us win.  If the think tank thinks we're better off with Desmond @ SS and Espinosa @ 2B, then so be it.  If they feel its the other way, I'm cool with that.

btw, I don't buy that having Espinosa play 2B decreases his bat value or any of that crap.  

[JCA-CrystalCity]

again it's his flippin first year and i think he has made strides. 

there is nothing wrong with having both in the same infield, doesn't matter who plays where.

I'm not saying he stinks.  I'm saying that you get more value by trading one rather than playing a SS at 2d.  You can get a better offensive player than a displaced SS at 2d and still be adequate defensively.

If one or the other is going to be a 2d baseman, then I don't see Desmond as being the one to move.  Both probably have stronger arms than you need at 2d, but somehow I don't see Desmond's cannon being well used there. 

Fundamentally, you devalue Espinosa or Desmond by making one into a second baseman.  Competent shortstops are more valuable than even above average fielding second basemen.  Better to trade one and let the other play SS.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I don't buy that having Espinosa play 2B decreases his bat value or any of that crap. 

No sense arguing this one out. Just look at the average OPS of MLB second basemen vs. shortstops.

[imref]

that assumes we can find a quality 2B, so far that's been a bit of a problem for us.

[hammondsnats]

No sense arguing this one out. Just look at the average OPS of MLB second basemen vs. shortstops.

it's his first full year, nobody is expecting him to have an amazing OPS right now.  

if desmond is still making errors at this pace and has a terrible OBP in two years from now, he won't be here the year after.  in the mean time if the think tank believes desmond should be SS and espinosa projects to be 2B, then so be it.  espinosa isn't here yet, so there's no sense in aruging i guess.

[Potomac Cannons]

Espinosa 1-4 with 1 RBI tonight playing 2B.

[hammondsnats]

Espinosa 1-4 with 1 RBI tonight playing 2B.

Yeah he played 2B the other night too.

[Vega]

Good. Get him to the majors soon so we can get rid of Kennedy.

[bglide]

Good. Get him to the majors soon so we can get rid of Kennedy.

Need to get rid of Alberto before Kennedy. 

[JMUalumni]

Without a doubt, I'd rather keep Alberto over Kennedy.  I don't know if anyone else is with me, but Kennedy stinks.  He has had some good plays at 2B, but way more bad ones, including a horrible play last night in which he dogged it to a fly ball (which ended up dropping for a single).  Alberto has put nearly the same batting line as Kennedy as a starter, but with more OBP and more SLG.  And just for craps and giggles, throw in Kennedy's god awful uppercut swing (boy is that thing ugly).  Don't get me wrong, neither should be starting in this league, but if I had to keep one, it sure would not be Kennedy.  And I'm hoping they don't pick up the option for next year.

[Lintyfresh85]

Kennedy's OBP is much higher than Gonzalez's... While Alberto is the better fielder, there's not a chance he's a better hitter, or base runner, for that matter.

[Vega]

Alberto can actually function as a bench player, whereas Kennedy absolutely cannot.

[PANatsFan]

Alberto can actually function as a bench player, whereas Kennedy absolutely cannot.

He's one of the BEST infield bench players around. So solid in that role!

[DPMOmaha]

including a horrible play last night in which he dogged it to a fly ball (which ended up dropping for a single). 

I think I fault Morse for that more than I do Kennedy.