Even if A-Rod is a better shortstop than him. We spent 2 years getting Ackley ready to play second base - we're not moving him now because we're lucking out with Seager as well. It doesn't make any difference in the lineup whether Ackley is playing 2B or LF, but for future upgrades it matters where Ackley is fielding.
If Ackley can play second then you keep him there, because you'll never need to upgrade that position again and it's a harder position to fill than LF or 3B. Maybe in the future you find a better 3B than Seager, and you can just slide him into that position without many headaches. You WON'T find a better offensive 2B than Ackley, so he'll never face that issue.
Guys get moved off of position because they just can't hack it (Ryan Braun) or because of age-related decline.
The only all-world talent I can think of immediately who moved off position to help his team (without it being mandated by physical decline or ineptitude) was Craig Biggio, who started shagging fly balls late in his career because they added some dude named Jeff Kent to the team and somebody had to switch.
Seager is not Jeff Kent, and 3B is a gaping hole. Seager will patch it and then we'll see if we need to fill it more permanently with someone else.
2B is plugged for at least the next 6 years.
~G
Add new comment
1