Quote:
Originally Posted by LouisvilleCARDS
SS or 2B - the other position needs to be filled too. Moving him from one position to another really doesn't make a difference.
|
Surely that MIGHT be true if our "shopping" for other IF pieces includes players as versatile as Phillips, but consider....
If the stewardess asks you if you had the steak or the fish, wouldn't you love to be in the position of being able to say "Yes, of course, I had the lasagna"?
Which is to say: the steak will no doubt be crappy shoe-leather that makes the Waffle House look like Sizzler, and the fish will render you so delirious you're asking young boys if they enjoy gladiator movies, so you're lucky to have that ever-functional lasagna dinner already in your belly.
Which is also to say: yeah, so I just watched "Airplane!" and a winner is you.
Point being is that it DOES make a difference when you're looking to plug holes. Assuming that there is some open line of communication with Phillips and an organizational belief that he can play SS very effectively without being a drama queen about it, it has a HUGE impact on how we go about visualizing our roster and who we can and cannot sign. [Again: same deal with Bruce in the OF.]
Yes, there are certain benefits to saying Phillips is one thing, and one thing only. And in the league's top 3 at that one thing, no small feat. You get stability. But there are other benefits if you're willing to consider Phillips as being top 6 at a DIFFERENT thing or REMAINING top 3 at the same thing when you're fleshing out your roster. You get flexibility. I think the latter is the preferable alternative.
Again, it's all predicated on the idea that we can establish that Phillips is both able and willing to play SS. But if we do that? Then we no longer have to settle for fish and steak at 2B and SS; we can have tasty, tasty lasagna oozing all over the middle IF, and limit ourselves to selecting only the best fish OR steak from what's available on the open market.
And stop calling me Shirley....
Rick