=== Aiki-Wok Extends Ki ===
So, Dustin Ackley is a second baseman now. If he hasn't shown you what you wanted to see by now, you shouldn't have run the experiment to start with, right?
The TNT with an adieu to Ackley. Divish, on the scene, opines that Ackley works hard and is open to instruction, not only from his coaches, but that he also is not too ego'ed out to sponge off his senior players, even at the position he's competing at.
Aiki-Wakamatsu notices a "calmness" to Ackley's play at second base. This Ichiro-like serenity is considered the final stage of mastery in Japan, as opposed to "greed for success." Serene masters enjoy the craftsmanship that goes into a perfect process, not a mere finished product that cannot be appreciated by lesser students anyway.
"Greed for success," shrillness when grabbing at a favorable outcome, implies unsureness about one's skills. You wouldn't grab, unless you were worried you might not get it.
The craftsman -- like Ackley -- is satisfied with his own skill level regardless of outcome. He goes about the business of executing his skills with precision, and not with (overt) power.
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=== Large Mammals, Small Mammals ===
The TNT also opines that it's a cool thing to be quick when you're playing the infield.
It seems years ago that Ackley's move was highly controversial, but permit us to put a tick mark on SSI's side of the scoreboard. :- ) The three things that made Ackleys' 2B move a no-brainer are still with us, and are the same things that all but guarantee his impact as a major leaguer:
- Physical skills that trump the experience factor
- A Golden Boy self-image and confidence
- The recommendation of the wisest around him (notably his UNC coach)
Ackley's UNC coach liked Ackley's chances not to be a tolerable second baseman, but to be an outstanding second baseman. We maintain, now as then, that Fox is the right guy to ask this question.
Fox also said something to the effect that Ackley is the best hitter he has seen in the ACC. That covers some serious ground...
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=== Mars Hill and Athens Dept. ===
The resistance to Ackley's move was a generic resistance that could have been applied to anyone in the same situation. This should have made us suspicious, in part because Ackley is not an ordinary ballplayer.
Note that arguments against Shawn Kelley's conversion are also generic arguments that could be applied to any pitcher. This is a basic violation of logic that should make us suspicious that we are being too paradigm-locked.
Arguments that would be no different, had we never listened to the other side or examined the case in front of us, are weak arguments. These were applied against Ackley's move to 2B, and are being applied now against Kelley's move to SP.
Not meaning to noodge, there are times when it hits you that an argument you are typing up, could apply to 100% of analogous circumstances -- and then you (hopefully) remember to hit the delete key.
................
Every scout you listen to, watches Dustin Ackley and proclaims him a future batting champion. Read: they watch him and they see better hitting ability than ... the ML stars they watch during the season.
Well, I'm psyched, anyway.
BABVA,
Dr D
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