I want to see Sheffield back at short. Try again, Jim.

If Cabrera is a 1B forever, doesn't this effectively reduce his value? They just paid him position-scarcity money to play the hot corner for at least the short term.

This solution seemed so obvious, I'm surprised it happened.

They just paid him position-scarcity money to play the hot corner for at least the short term.

He's put up monster numbers entering this year, playing in a pitcher's park, and he just turned 25 a few days ago. I don't think his glovework or position had much to do with his contract size.

This solution seemed so obvious, I'm surprised it happened.

Obvious? Well if you've got that kind of confidence in your shortstop, maybe, but I think they're going to have to move one of those 1B back across the diamond before too long.

This move makes a ton of sense.

Not only for the obvious reason of Cabrera's questionable defense at third, but Guillen isn't really a good receiver at first base anyway. His footwork and positioning on some throws was pretty scary, between being in harm's way in the basepath, as well as not being able to stay on the bag for stretches, etc. I think he's still mobile enough even with his knees to be at least average at third.

Wait...the Tiger announcers kept saying how great Guillen's footwork was around the bag!

Christ, why isn't Inge just playing 3B? He probably will if Sheff is out long-term. God, I wish we made the Cabrera trade first, signed Everett, and kept Jurrjens. Hindsight...

If Cabrera is a 1B forever, doesn't this effectively reduce his value? They just paid him position-scarcity money to play the hot corner for at least the short term.

Cardinals moved Pujols to 1st, and I think his value has held up pretty well. As noted, this move makes tons of sense.

I don't know what surprises me more/makes me happier: this or Melvin pulling that Cameron-Hall-Braun three-way switch. Ahh, sanity. It's a wonderful thing.

That of course doesn't change that this was a painfully obvious move to make in spring training, which would have given both players time to learn new positions. But, c'est la vie, you can't have everything.

I thought Inge at 3b, Cabrera at 1b, and miggy in lf was the best solution...

I thought Inge at 3b, Cabrera at 1b, and miggy in lf was the best solution...

Yeah, that's probably even better.

Assuming you mean Guillen at first, I doubt that's better. I don't know how Thames's or Miggy's LF defense is by advanced metrics, but I know that Jones has rated well even in CF the past few years, and is an obvious defensive plus at the corners. Assuming he eventually hits, swapping him out for an equivalent or worse bat in Inge doesn't really make sense, since presumably Miggy is a significant downgrade to defense in LF. To me, it makes sense to put the guy who is obviously the worst glove at 1B, and optimize the rest of your lineup from there.

And that's ignoring the fact that, from what I have seen, Guillen is not a good receiver at first base, and had horrible footwork around the bag, which only reinforces the point.

The only issue I see concerning the switch is that Guillen was initially moved from SS to 1B to decrease the risk of injury, and I don't think that the injury risk at 3B is appreciably less than it is at SS. Also, from what I can see Guillen hasn't played 3B since '03.

Christ, why isn't Inge just playing 3B? He probably will if Sheff is out long-term.

Would that be with Cabrera moving to DH? That's quick the trip across the defensive spectrum for one season.

Incidentally, Everett just went on the DL with shoulder issues and apparently his range has issues from his broken leg, so your plan might improve team but also might just have led to an expanded DL.

I don't know how Thames's or Miggy's LF defense is by advanced metrics...

Someone has to join Manny at the bottom of the rankings...

"I don't think that the injury risk at 3B is appreciably less than it is at SS."

At least you don't have to worry about the takeout slide at second on the DP.

All the position changes won't change anything about Guillen getting hurt. He hurts himself running the bases not fielding. He can DH and he'll still pull a hammy or strain a quad.

Inge at third, Gullen at DH, and Sheffield on an orthopedic surgeon's table?

EDIT: or what Walewander said.

I thought Inge at 3b, Cabrera at 1b, and miggy in lf was the best solution...

I'd do that, but put Miguel on 3B instead of Inge.

If Cabrera is a 1B forever, doesn't this effectively reduce his value? They just paid him position-scarcity money to play the hot corner for at least the short term.

Not if he's a -20-25 run 3B. He loses about 10 runs in value going from 3B to 1B (positional difficulty). If he can be averagish at 1B, it's a big addition to his value. If he's terrible at 1B, it's about a wash.

If he can be averagish at 1B, it's a big addition to his value. If he's terrible at 1B, it's about a wash.

His value, but not necessarily the team's.

And once Sheffield goes under the knife, hello Barry Bonds!

From the team's point of view, the same guys are in the lineup - all that matters is getting the most out of that bunch collectively. I doubt the Tigers fretted overly much about what this move would do to Miggy's VORP.

I can't believe nobody's made the "because they just weren't satisfied with missionary" joke yet. You guys are way too focused today. Come on, it's Wednesday! Hump day for cryin' out loud.

I can't believe nobody's made the "because they just weren't satisfied with missionary" joke yet.
That would be a bit weak, IMO. Now if it were a pitcher and catcher switching positions ...

I can't believe nobody's made the "because they just weren't satisfied with missionary" joke yet.

I got my fill of religious talk the other day.

This smells bad for three reasons:

1) If Cabrera is too unathletic to handle third at 25 (he is kind of a puffy 240 pounds), then that is a bad sign for his aging curve. It is not hard to see him as an injury-prone, slow, and awkward 265-pounder at 28. If his decline comes early, his eight-year contract could look ugly in years six, seven, and eight.

2) Guillen moved to first to begin with because he couldn't handle shortstop. It's hard to imagine he's going to be a good 3B when he hasn't played the position in four years and is now 32.

Detroit has allowed an AL-high 5.7 runs per game. If swapping Cabrera and Guillen is expected to improve the fielding, I'm not sure they've done it. Plus they've walked the most hitters in the league, are tenth in strikeouts, and "only" middle of the pack in preventing extra-base hits. Better run prevention requires better pitching. 1.2 K/BBs will not cut it.

Maybe most importantly, if the braintrust think third-base defense will be the difference between making and missing the playoffs, why not put Inge out there? He's a vastly better 3B than either Guillen or Cabrera is expected to be and he can hit well enough. Last year the median major-league 3B hit for a .743 OPS. Inge easily cleared that two of the last three years. Baseball Prospectus projects him to likely be between .720 and .773, with a 1-in-4 chance at clearing .800. With his glove, .800 makes him a very good player. I know Leyland likes him as a utility guy, but if you're going to obsess about fielding, putting Inge in the lineup makes more sense than moving the deck chairs that are Cabrera and Guillen. I am not saying that this is the right move, but it is if defense is (rightly or wrongly) your overriding concern.

Happy Base Ball

Cardinals moved Pujols to 1st, and I think his value has held up pretty well. As noted, this move makes tons of sense.

they just moved him to 2B, maybe this isn't for forever for Cabrera.

And once Sheffield goes under the knife, hello Barry Bonds!

That's exactly what I was thinking, and Bonds is still probably better in LF than is Cabrera.

Guillen moved to first to begin with because he couldn't handle shortstop.

Guillen was moved to first to reduce the wear and tear and injury risk, not becaause he could not handle the position. He was an average to slightly below average SS defensively. I don't see why he could not be at that level at third.