While it's poor form to go there, I'm going there anyway. Is 3B supposed to be more of a thumper position than RF? I don't think so.
Now ... I completely get the concept that if you have already punted RF for a good glove, no power option, then your need for HRs from 3B are higher. But, from my perspective, that is the problem from the LAST 5 years ... not the next 5.
And this is another case where ORDER MATTERS. It did not hurt the offense one iota to have a slap-hitting singles hitter in RF in 2000 and 2001. Why? Because the club ALREADY had 20 HR guys at 1B, 2B, DH and (wait for it), CF.
The 2000 club got the following HR counts at the corner positions: 1B = 24; 3B = 16; LF = 10; RF = 10;
Up-the-middle, they got:
2B = 37; SS = 5; CF = 25; CA = 14;
That's a 79 to 60 edge for power up-the-middle versus at the corners.
BECAUSE the CF was a 25-HR 200 ISO guy, the club could afford to have a good glove, no power option in RF.
The problem has NOT been lack of HRs at 3B. The problem has been lack of HRs/Power at first and second and third and short and catcher and RF and LF and CF and DH.
But, what do I see if I run the 2011 ISO figures for a potential 2012 lineup?
CA - Olivo - 150
1B - Smoak - 160
2B - Ackley - 160
SS - Ryan -- 70
3B - Seager - 120
LF - Trayvon - 150
CF - Guti - 50 (140 before illness)
RF - Ichiro - 60
DH - Carp - 200
I see three problem positions, CF, RF and SS. Of course, SS is typically power weak. And, Franklin is on the way, and everyone gets that Ryan is a stopgap.
The huge question mark and power disaster positions are currently - RF and CF. While having a low power CF is acceptable, having a 50 ISO and center and RF is NOT.
But, Ichiro is in his final season and likely to see his PT start shrinking if he doesn't have a better 2012 than 2011. But, CF is a different story. Casper Wells has some power, (in the event Guti doesn't regain his power after an off-season of rest and conditioning).
At the moment, Seager is more of a 'sure thing' for power production in 2012 than CF or RF.
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