Infield defense
 

Felipe Lopez' fielding percentage is .946. EE's is .890.

Together they have just about half of the Reds' major league leading 47 errors.

Growing pains or a real problem?

Re: Infield defense
 

I would like to think what we're seeing is a case of growing pains. Most of the errors seem to be more physical than mental, and it's the mental errors that seem harder to take.

Re: Infield defense
 

Growing pains for EE, a concerning issue for Lopez

Re: Infield defense
 

Lopez is more of a concern than EE but I think they both have a chance to settle down and play much better defense in the order of errors. People tend to forget Larkin made 29 errors in 1988.

Re: Infield defense
 

Is it just more or does EE have to seemed to settle down as of late? I am not as worried about EE as I am Felipe. Bad range + wild arm= problems for Felipe.

Re: Infield defense
 

That Larkin logic bugs me.

1.) We have a SS committing lots of errors

2.) We once had a SS who committed lots of errors and then became a GG

3.) Therefore, no need to worry about our current SS.

For every Larkin that had a bad year and got better, there are 10 guys who had a bad year BECAUSE THEY WERE BAD. Lopez's erractic arm has shown no signs of improving. Futhermore, our current stock of 1B exacerbates the issue. Meanwhile, we have a plus defending SS playing 2B. I'm not in the 'switch them now' camp. But if it's not considered in the offseason, that will be quite frustrating.

Re: Infield defense
 

Im not really concerned about Edwin, his range is terrific, he has a strong arm and is very young, it will all come together for him in time.

FeLo I am a bit more concerned with. Basically, I think he is miscast as a SS and the Reds should give serious thought to moving him to 2b.

Re: Infield defense
 

Good point. The errors would be less of a concern for Lopez if he had Larkin-like range. His errors become more of a problem because he doesn't get to a whole lot of balls.

EdE on the other hand minimalizes the effect of his errors by getting to more balls than nearly any other 3B in the majors. That is what bugs me about the thought that Aurillia is a better defender. Sure, there is a greater chance that EdE might make an error, but he will also stop a lot of balls that would be doubles with Aurillia at 3B.

Re: Infield defense
 

Exactly, I think Lopez could be a very solid 2B. He's athletic, he just don't get a great jump and doesn't have the raw burst speed to make up for it. A move to 2B would minimize that issue and also should help with the accuracy issues.

I also agree with your take on EE. He has GG range, but again it's his throwing. Furthermore, we do NOT have a better option there, unlike Phillips and SS. EE is 3 years younger than Felipe. If he's still throwing balls in to the 3rd row on a regular basis in 2008, I'd have a similar suggestion.

Re: Infield defense
 

If the Reds are going to consider moving Lopez to 2B, I'd rather see them look to move him. The market is going to be much greater for a good-hitting SS (albeit one with defensive shortcomings) than it will be for a good-hitting 2B. Perhaps my logic is all wrong on this one, but I'm of the opinion that Lopez would net us a really good package (including starting pitching help). If you swap him to 2b, you'll see that return diminish (if not disappear) and face further hurdles with the price he seeks in free agency.

Re: Infield defense
 

I would switch the positions of Phillips and Lopez and do it as soon as Phillips returns from injury. I wouldn't trade either.

Lopez is a plus offensive middle infielder. Even at second base, he is much better offensively than most. His trade value may be higher at shortstop, but his playing value (as a Red) is higher at second, where his throwing problems would be less of an issue.

Phillips is a great athlete. I would certainly give him the full shot at shortstop. At second base, he is not a high error guy; hopefully that would carry over to his new position.

As for timing, I see no reason to wait. The team isn't playing well, the defense is awful. Lopez has played second (I know he did at AAA) and Phillips has played short. I would just make the move and give it some time to work out.

As for EE, I agree he should get more time to cut down the errors.

Re: Infield defense
 

Reds aren't going to switch Lopez to 2nd, so it's a silly argument. There was a time to move him, and it already passed. If he continues to hit, then his next move is to 3rd base. But he also will improve at SS, and if paired with a very good second baseman, then he's a big asset. Enjoy him.

The Reds have paired him with a good second baseman, which was the right move. The other right move is a rangy CFer

Re: Infield defense
 

Reds kept FeLo at short, but that was before they had Phillips. We'll see if they move him.

Agree 100 percent about centerfield.

Re: Infield defense
 

Phillips isn't the type of player for whom you move other players. Phillips has to go where there's an open spot and hope that he doesn't screw it up.

Lopez is a player that gets to play where he wants, until the day that he gets dealt.

Re: Infield defense
 

FRAA for 2006

EE(-8), Hatty(-5), FeLo(-4), BP(-3), RA(0) at 1B and 3b

of note for the OF Dunn(-4) Jr(-2) AK(2) and Freel-CF(2)