Introducing the New 2B of the Reds: Aaron Boone

[MikeS21]

Here it is, folks.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASAp..._cin&fext=.jsp

Larson will be at 3B.

And this blurb: "Right now, Barry Larkin's our shortstop and Felipe Lopez is our future shortstop, until the day comes that Felipe Lopez becomes the shortstop," Bowden said. "To put a timetable on that would be foolish."

[MWM]

Blech!!!!!!

[guernsey]

Doesn't exactly read like it's a done deal yet.

[Spitball]

I wonder how Danny Graves feels about the Reds proposed infield.

[MikeS21]

Blech!!!!!!

Can you believe this:

"Aaron's very athletic. We believe he can quickly develop into an All-Star-caliber second baseman," Bowden said.

"I'm leery of taking a guy who's arguably Gold Glove-caliber at third and moving him," Bob Boone said.



Evidently they are watching a different Aaron Boone than we are. But, I suppose if it gets Branyan and Larson some AB's this ain't all bad.

[M2]

Sure doesn't sound like JimBo and Papa Boone agree completely about Aaron playing 2B.

Here's a prediction: If Aaron Boone does indeed play 2B for the Reds next year, the majority of the 3B playing will fall to Russ Branyan.

[KYRedsFan]

Aaron Boone, All Star second baseman. I would like to nominate this as the Jim Bowden of the year. Write it down and let's have a vote.

[MikeS21]

I think you're right about Branyan, M2. I look for Larson to be traded.

This also reveals a little of the brass's think concerning Lopez. They are willing to be patient with him and give Larkin a chance to mentor him along.

[RedHotNumber17]

Are the Reds on crack or something ???

I adore Aaron, yes, but if they think he's going to be The Second Coming of Bret, they have another thing coming!!!

I have the feeling Brandon will be traded too :thumbdn: :thumbdn: :thumbdn:

I'd rather have Booney playing his best position and that is third base.

I'll step off my soapbox now


"Are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball???"

[westofyou]

Evidently they are watching a different Aaron Boone than we are. But, I suppose if it gets Branyan and Larson some AB's this ain't all bad.

I've Boone about middle of the pack since 1999 as a 3rd baseman. Here's a list of every guy with 400 Plus games at 3rd the last 4 seasons.

AREER
1999-2002
3B

ASSISTS                          A     
1    Troy Glaus                 1192   
2    Jeff Cirillo               1137   
3    Scott Rolen                1130   
4    Robin Ventura              1105   
5    Joe Randa                  1094   
6    Adrian Beltre              1054   
7    Eric Chavez                1033   
8    Vinny Castilla             1014   
9    Mike Lowell                 949   
10   Corey Koskie                945   
11   Aaron Boone                 938   
12   Tony Batista                804   
13   Phil Nevin                  768   
14   Chipper Jones               767   
15   Travis Fryman               744   
16   Matt Williams               738   
17   Bill Mueller                694   

DOUBLE PLAYS                    DP     
1    Jeff Cirillo                123   
2    Troy Glaus                  108   
3    Robin Ventura               103   
T4   Joe Randa                   102   
T4   Mike Lowell                 102   
T6   Scott Rolen                  98   
T6   Vinny Castilla               98   
T8   Aaron Boone                  96   
T8   Tony Batista                 96   
10   Adrian Beltre                90   
11   Eric Chavez                  81   
12   Phil Nevin                   78   
T13  Matt Williams                73   
T13  Travis Fryman                73   
15   Corey Koskie                 69   
16   Bill Mueller                 66   
17   Chipper Jones                46   

ERRORS                           E     
1    Troy Glaus                   91   
2    Adrian Beltre                88   
3    Phil Nevin                   70   
4    Robin Ventura                65   
5    Joe Randa                    64   
6    Aaron Boone                  62   
7    Chipper Jones                58   
8    Eric Chavez                  56   
9    Scott Rolen                  52   
10   Vinny Castilla               50   
11   Tony Batista                 48   
T12  Jeff Cirillo                 46   
T12  Corey Koskie                 46   
14   Mike Lowell                  39   
15   Travis Fryman                36   
16   Bill Mueller                 35   
17   Matt Williams                32   

FIELDING PERCENTAGE             PCT    
1    Mike Lowell                .972   
2    Jeff Cirillo               .971   
3    Matt Williams              .969   
4    Scott Rolen                .968   
5    Corey Koskie               .965   
6    Bill Mueller               .965   
7    Travis Fryman              .965   
8    Vinny Castilla             .964   
9    Eric Chavez                .962   
10   Joe Randa                  .961   
11   Robin Ventura              .959   
12   Tony Batista               .959   
13   Aaron Boone                .953   
14   Troy Glaus                 .947   
15   Chipper Jones              .946   
16   Adrian Beltre              .945   
17   Phil Nevin                 .937   

GAMES                            G     
1    Troy Glaus                  624   
2    Jeff Cirillo                588   
3    Joe Randa                   578   
4    Robin Ventura               573   
5    Adrian Beltre               571   
6    Scott Rolen                 546   
7    Eric Chavez                 543   
8    Vinny Castilla              524   
9    Mike Lowell                 522   
10   Corey Koskie                506   
11   Aaron Boone                 477   
12   Chipper Jones               458   
13   Travis Fryman               448   
14   Phil Nevin                  425   
15   Bill Mueller                422   
16   Tony Batista                409   
17   Matt Williams               405   

Boone averages about an error every 7.7 games, Rolen every 10.5.

I have Larson prior to last year as having 86 E's in 384 minor league games. I don't know where to get his AAA fielding numbers from last year, but I bet they are about what the prior numbers were, 1 error every 4.6 games.

Compared to that Aaron is freaking Brooks Robinson .

[Team Tuck]

I think AB is quite athletic, played a very good 3B, did a decent job transitioning to SS and might be the best candidate to transition to 2B. Lopez will see most of his time at SS, but I bet he'll see some time at 2B as well. Larson/Branyan at 3B. I can live with this.

[Spring~Fields]

"Aaron's very athletic. We believe he can quickly develop into an All-Star-caliber second baseman," Bowden said. "

Never one for overstating things, Jim Bowden..............gosh how he tickles me so...........:evilgrin:

Anything to sell a ticket...............You Go Jim Bobb!

I use to love Jim Bowden, but after listening to ten years of those exaggerations and then waiting to see what the real results were I learned to view him as a fly by night con that tickled the ears of the under 29 crowd. :hat:

[VR]

I'm guessing Brandon's "instruction" this winter at 2b didn't go as planned?

If this IS the scenario, let's hope the flash of Brandon at the dish last year was for real. Some RH pop in this lineup would be welcomed. I woulda thunk Lopez would get a shot before moving Boonie, but time will tell. I'll wait to see the lineup in ST before I rush to judgement.

[Krusty]

I don't understand why people don't think Boone can't make the conversion to second base. Didn't Jeff Kent come up as a third baseman? Now he might end up being the third baseman for the Astros once again. If Boone can turn the double play, he definitely has the range to play second base.

[RFS62]

If you look past all the hyperbole from Bowden and Papa Boone, it makes a lot of sense to at least consider this idea and see how it plays out.

Would anybody really rather see Brandon Larson at second instead of Aaron? Would it be better to give a lot of playing time to Larkin at second when we don't know how many games he'll be able to play this year?

Aaron is a hard worker and, Bowden's gushing aside, he is very athletic. And it leaves us with two third basemen to platoon or one for trade bait in Larson and Branyon.

And, as was pointed out earlier, this gives Lopez time to develop into the shortstop of the future under Larkin's tutelidge.

Let's just see how it all plays out in spring training.