Aki should play 3rd

by Boricua on Oct 5, 2007 2:55 AM EDT Comment 18 comments

I find it a little frustrating that Aki is going to be forced to play in second, I understand he doesn't mind, but 3rd base is the position where he won the 6 gold gloves!!!!

Why make him change whats he already supberb at???

AND... he needs to change, why not make a SS
I would love to see him play SS and we can bring in a KAZ MATSUI who is a free agent into second.....
give him a japanese person for more interaction.....

Poll

Rays future 2nd basemen is......

Reid Brignac

1 votes

Joel Guzman

0 votes

Kaz Matsui

2 votes

Bredan Harris

5 votes

umm that one guy.... umm.... that Wilson guy

0 votes

Akinori Iwamura

9 votes

Eva Longoria

1 votes

Evan Longoria

1 votes

Jorge Velandia

0 votes

BJ Upton

1 votes

20 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

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Comments

EDIT!!!!

I meant to say that IF Aki had to change position, then I'd rather see him play SS

Sir pimp-a-lot

by Boricua on Oct 5, 2007 3:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The plan all along

Was to have Aki move to second, you bring up the Gold Gloves, well in Japan third basemen are a lot more like second basemen; they rely on range rather than reaction.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 5, 2007 7:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Evan Longoria will be the eqivalent to Miguel Cabrerra. He's a stud. Move Aki to 2B. Longoria should have been showcased at the end of this season to give the fans something they want. Friedman failed again!

Hopefully Arod wants out of his contract and MLB will allow him to purchase the majority share of the Mudhens. He can move back to his natural position SS, he can pay himself whatever he wants, he brings Posada or Pudge with him and then starts on this pitiful staff after Kaz & Shields!

I've got news for you. In MLB, Rome is built in a day. Just ask the Marlins.

TWO WORDS!

SELLLLLLLL STU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Mick 08' on Oct 5, 2007 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since when the hell

Should a GM divert from a plan to give the fans what they want to see?

Some fans, including myself, wanted to see Kaz in a reliever role, same with Shields, hell I wanted Fernando Cabrera, thank God none of those opinions became facts.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 5, 2007 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh and I'll ask the Marlins

They're paying for it with a rotation mangled by injuries to overrated arms, f'n psychos, and a bunch of organizational arms.

The Marlins have unfortunately became a revolving door, that's the last thing you want from this team.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 5, 2007 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Since when the hell

But what if the plan doesn't work? Prospects don't come with guarantees, and there's usually a painful growing period. Experienced guys also don't carry guarantees, but the short term odds are better.

Injuries happen - the Rays were relatively lucky in that regard this season, particularly the pitching staff. One of the top 2 goes down - wait til next year. Spending money is just as much about depth as filling holes - that might be the biggest problem with tight budgets, a point well made by the Marlins' case.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Oct 5, 2007 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then you adapt

But injuries / giving the fans what they want.

As far as injuries to pitchers we've only had one TJS in the last few years (not including Rocco), and we're amongst the best organizations in keeping pitchers healthy.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 5, 2007 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really don't think it matters one way or another

Whether he got a September call-up, but I do agree with the part of his post that wasn't blatantly non-sensical. His opinion about Longoria and his position mirrors that of my own.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Oct 5, 2007 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So by non-sensical

I'm thinking you mean A-Rod buying the Rays?

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 5, 2007 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: So by non-sensical

Something like that, yes.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Oct 5, 2007 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Aki should play 3rd

I already had my argument for him to play shortstop. I wish it would happen but nobody else wants to see it.

by Elgrandeplatano on Oct 5, 2007 9:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Aki should play 3rd

Aki's bat just won't carry him at 3B; either he moves positions, or he's out of the lineup altogether.

Also, FWIW, pretty much every defensive metric said that Aki was a defensive liability, not an asset, at 3B.

by Brickhaus on Oct 5, 2007 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree completely, Dan

Iwamura's range has the potential to translate very well to third base. You don't move top prospects off their position to accomodate good, not great, players like Iwamura. I like Aki a lot, I think that his high-OBP skills and range can be an asset at second, but he just doesn't have the offense to stand up to the rest of the AL at third base.

He also doesn't have a strong enough arm from my POV. Too many of his throws just seemed to come up short or go awry this year.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Oct 5, 2007 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Aki should play 3rd

Point being, Aki was told to work out at 2B this off season. This is his new position. Longoria will be the starting third base next season, period(barring injury).

What really needs to be addressed is the pain Upton's feeling now watching his younger bro' on a playoff team. If Sternberg, "stays the course," I can only hear BJ at family togethers to his family, "I'm so out of that losing town (Tampa) when my 5 years are in, I can't wait."

And don't think this isn't how BJ, Carl, Delmon, Kaz & co. feel. RJ was talking about the Marlins revolving door, wait a few years when Crawford gives Stuey the up yours sign and tells him he's sick of penny-pinching losers.

It's coming to a theatre near us.

TWO WORDS!

SELL, SELL!

by Mick 08' on Oct 6, 2007 8:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Carl wants to leave when his deal is up let him

Desmond Jennings or Fernando Perez would gladly take over.

Carl hasn't lived up to what we'd hope he'd be and by that time B.J. and Delmon should be light years better.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 6, 2007 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Aki should play 3rd

I honestly hope you're kidding here. What Crawford has done before his 25th birthday is nothing less than astoninshing. The two bozo's you mentioned above will never, and I mean never live up to Carl Crawford.

Only a loser mentality would make you say this. Quit listening and thinking like a li'l Stuey do boy and address the facts.

Sternberg is a liar
Sternberg will not spend to keep Crawford in Tampa Bay even though the money is there.
With the youth on this team that is ready to explode onto the scene, our biggest deterrent is ownership, or lack thereof.
For all the hopeful out there that Stu will step to the plate. Lose your hope, he won't. Lou Piniella left because Sternberg will NOT spend. He won't spend now or in the future. Sternberg's all about his money and nothing else. He doesn't give two shits about the fans of Tampa Bay, only the bottom line. And that, you can take to the bank!

RJ, I cannot stand Stuey. He is the reason the revolving door in Tampa Bay will open for all these young guys to be traded away before their 5th years are up and are FA eligible. This is going to happen to Crawford, watch & see. As soon as Crawfords gone, C ya Kaz, Delmon, & BJ. These are ML ball players, would you want to be the doormat of the league because of a lying, cheapskate owner for your entire career?

TWO WORDS!

ME NEITHER!

by Mick 08' on Oct 6, 2007 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that R.J.'s remarks

Are nearly as derogatory about Crawford as they seemed to be. I think he was speaking tongue-in-cheek. Carl Crawford has done some great things so far in his career, but he is not an elite player and he is not the hub from which the spokes of this team will come outward from. He regressed this year and has shown less plate patience and on base skills at the age of 26 than Upton has at the age of 23 in his first full major league season.

I love Carl Crawford, he has been my favorite player for some time and I would be extremely disappointed and pissed off if he were to leave. But it wouldn't be a death knell to the organization depending on what point we are in our development. I'd wager that more PR damage would be done than on-field damage. He is a wonderful player, but by no means irreplaceable.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Oct 6, 2007 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stu's do boy?

I think you have the wrong writer pegged as that, or did you miss the part where I said I was disappointed with the comments two weeks ago?

Carl's one of my favorite players, and I hope he's a Ray forever, but if he's not I'll move on to Fernie or D-Money. Simply put by the time Carl's deal is up I think he'll be the most expendable part of the outfield, I'm not sure what the payroll will be then, I would damn well hope it's near 80 million at the least, but if we aren't winning by then, and we can't keep our talent here while adding from the outside then you know, maybe there won't be a Rays to write about.

by R.J. Anderson on Oct 6, 2007 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs