I’m wondering based off what people have seen from Albies if he would be able to play SS for us? I don’t mean in a pinch or as a backup but as an everyday player. Moving Albies to SS would allow us to replace Swanson with a 2B which should be much easier to acquire and provide a better bat.
Can Ozzie play SS?
- Thread starter Slippyjms
- Start date
IowaBrave14
Active member
He came up as a SS and from what I recall he has the range to play for sure. I believe that knock at the time was that his arm strength might not play at short.
The eye test tells me Albies has a long loopy throwing motion that doesn't lend itself well to unloading quickly from the SS position.
The data tells me that infield defense has been decreasing in value for years now, so someone like Camargo or Albies may be just fine at SS if the offense warrants it.
Having said that, Dansby Swanson at league minimum is someone I want to give a chance to improve offensively. He was needlessly rushed to the MLB level because the HartCoppy FO was moronic, so it's hard to say how that affected his development, and who knows if he can correct course.
He's the SS for the bulk of 2019, period.
The data tells me that infield defense has been decreasing in value for years now, so someone like Camargo or Albies may be just fine at SS if the offense warrants it.
Having said that, Dansby Swanson at league minimum is someone I want to give a chance to improve offensively. He was needlessly rushed to the MLB level because the HartCoppy FO was moronic, so it's hard to say how that affected his development, and who knows if he can correct course.
He's the SS for the bulk of 2019, period.
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BeanieAntics
Arbitration Eligible
Yeah I'm willing to give Dansby the reigns for the next couple of years provide he doesn't just completely implode offensively. I still see room for growth and guys can improve at the things he struggles with (i.e. sliders). I know you have used the Jeff Blauser comp with him a good bit, but I think he can be a bit more than that, at least from a consistency standpoint. I think something like '94 Jeff Blauser is his ultimate floor (with slightly less offense, more defense) and '97 Jeff Blauser is his ultimate ceiling (also with less offense, more defense).
I never really compared him to a Blauser.
While everyone was going crazy with the Jeter and Larkin comps, I was calling him the next Jay Bell minus the single 6 win season.
Ozzie was rated as a good defender at short but moved because Swanson is better which seems to be the case. That said ozzie is one of the best 2b defenders in the league so I have no doubts he could play ss and an acceptable or better level.
But Swanson is a league average player making the league minimum. That has value and trying to get something significantly better at 2nd is going to cost a lot in either money or spects
But Swanson is a league average player making the league minimum. That has value and trying to get something significantly better at 2nd is going to cost a lot in either money or spects
DirkPiggler
Well-known member
Indeed. I had a brain fart and mixed up my Pirate IFs.
Jack Wilson. I used to comp Swanson to Jack Wilson.
I knew that 6 win season for Bell didn't seem right haha.
DirkPiggler
Well-known member
Jack Wilson 2.0 would be fine for Dansby if it included more consistent offense...trade off the couple of really good seasons in exchange for solid seasons in the low to mid .700 OPS range.
BeanieAntics
Arbitration Eligible
I could have sworn I saw you make a Jeff Blauser comp a couple of times when we were all trying to figure out who Dansby was.
Deester11
Well-known member
Ozzie definitely could play SS. As others have said though, Dansby isn't going anywhere....for now. I was the only one who wanted him to stay at SS. He had good to above range and could pick it. To Enscheff's point he had a little loop in the throwing motion from there. He could routinely make plays in the hole or even to 2b side of the bag but just miss the out.
I think it's pretty clear Swanson is a much better defender than Blauser, but Blauser with better defense isn't a bad comp for Swanson at all actually.
Southcack77
Well-known member
I had Stephen Drew as a comp for Dansby and that was not well received.
Blauser and Lemke were the most Bobby Cox players ever. After the great Lockhart.
Well duh, Drew is a LHH. No chance Swanon learns how to hit from the other side now.
Southcack77
Well-known member
lol. all right. not quite what I was going for, but fair enough.