What infield position is more critical to team success.

[OldRed]

Good morning.

Minus short stop. Minus first. That leaves second or third. Now to JJ and Donovan. Both will play these two positions.

Which position needs the better fielder based on amount of play at the respective position and type of play needed.

That’s it. Put the better fielder in the position of greatest need.

Second base because of the need to turn double plays and the prevalence of left handed batters now. Overall, catcher. Calling a game and catching 100 mph fastballs in the dirt are kind of important. If you consider a great pitcher striking out 10 or more batters then it has to be catcher. At least 10 times a fielder doesn't even touch the ball.

I hear ya. Only two players to touch nearly every pitch, pitcher and Catcher.

Catcher is the only player to see the whole field every pitch. Completely different perspective, I’d think.

A catcher watches a ball hit in the infield and says the fielder got in behind it. And fielder says he got in front of.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good morning.

Minus short stop. Minus first. That leaves second or third. Now to JJ and Donovan. Both will play these two positions.

Which position needs the better fielder based on amount of play at the respective position and type of play needed.

That’s it. Put the better fielder in the position of greatest need.

Second base because of the need to turn double plays and the prevalence of left handed batters now. Overall, catcher. Calling a game and catching 100 mph fastballs in the dirt are kind of important. If you consider a great pitcher striking out 10 or more batters then it has to be catcher. At least 10 times a fielder doesn't even touch the ball.

I hear ya. Only two players to touch nearly every pitch, pitcher and Catcher.

Catcher is the only player to see the whole field every pitch. Completely different perspective, I’d think.

A catcher watches a ball hit in the infield and says the fielder got in behind it. And fielder says he got in front of.

Oooh never heard that but it applies. Nice.

[The Nard]

A good fielder makes those around him better -a true synergy. For defense, I’d pick 2nd base.

Unless you have a Brooks Robinson, Scott role, or Mike SchmIdt type, many clubs can “hide “ a player who hits a tom, at 3b. Think Matt carpenter, or Jim Thome when they first came up. They actually played the position serviceably. But a slick -fielder at 3b is a bonus to any team

[sikeston bulldog2]

A good fielder makes those around him better -a true synergy. For defense, I’d pick 2nd base.

Unless you have a Brooks Robinson, Scott role, or Mike SchmIdt type, many clubs can “hide “ a player who hits a tom, at 3b. Think Matt carpenter, or Jim Thome when they first came up. They actually played the position serviceably. But a slick -fielder at 3b is a bonus to any team

The more the thought put into it, especially idle thought, the more one could lean either way.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Remember we are talking team success. JJ Winn Scott make a dynamic up the middle. Now where is the third base bat.

And Herrera at catcher? I feel the wear and tear of the position plus the negative affects of his defense, will greatly weigh on his mind, plus nagging injury, to diminish his offense heavily. He needs to play first or DH.

[CCard]

Good morning.

Minus short stop. Minus first. That leaves second or third. Now to JJ and Donovan. Both will play these two positions.

Which position needs the better fielder based on amount of play at the respective position and type of play needed.

That’s it. Put the better fielder in the position of greatest need.

Second base because of the need to turn double plays and the prevalence of left handed batters now. Overall, catcher. Calling a game and catching 100 mph fastballs in the dirt are kind of important. If you consider a great pitcher striking out 10 or more batters then it has to be catcher. At least 10 times a fielder doesn't even touch the ball.

I hear ya. Only two players to touch nearly every pitch, pitcher and Catcher.

Catcher is the only player to see the whole field every pitch. Completely different perspective, I’d think.

Catcher is such a premium spot. If it's done well you hardly notice it, if it's done poorly you can't hide it. We are so fortunate to have had legitimate star catchers in the Cards history.

[LewisL]

LaRussa felt he could "hide" a guy at the 2nd base position. He converted Skip Schumaker from OF to there, because other 2B men were bad offensively. He also started Allen Craig (a 1B/OF) at 2b in many games to add more offense.

[sikeston bulldog2]

LaRussa felt he could "hide" a guy at the 2nd base position. He converted Skip Schumaker from OF to there, because other 2B men were bad offensively. He also started Allen Craig (a 1B/OF) at 2b in many games to add more offense.

That’s a good assertion. Second was a hiding place, but never for huge power. Only a few seconds baseman hit for power.

Third and first were power positions. Which is more prevalent in today’s game.

[The Nard]

LaRussa felt he could "hide" a guy at the 2nd base position. He converted Skip Schumaker from OF to there, because other 2B men were bad offensively. He also started Allen Craig (a 1B/OF) at 2b in many games to add more offense.

But they did have to be good-enough athletes in the first place, to play there for a major league team

[The Nard]

LaRussa felt he could "hide" a guy at the 2nd base position. He converted Skip Schumaker from OF to there, because other 2B men were bad offensively. He also started Allen Craig (a 1B/OF) at 2b in many games to add more offense.

That’s a good assertion. Second was a hiding place, but never for huge power. Only a few seconds baseman hit for power.

Third and first were power positions. Which is more prevalent in today’s game.

Again, it’s also a function of their athleticism, being a bit slower, larger, etc. , to play a middle if position effectively.

[sikeston bulldog2]

LaRussa felt he could "hide" a guy at the 2nd base position. He converted Skip Schumaker from OF to there, because other 2B men were bad offensively. He also started Allen Craig (a 1B/OF) at 2b in many games to add more offense.

That’s a good assertion. Second was a hiding place, but never for huge power. Only a few seconds baseman hit for power.

Third and first were power positions. Which is more prevalent in today’s game.

Again, it’s also a function of their athleticism, being a bit slower, larger, etc. , to play a middle if position effectively.

You make a good point- size thus mobility. Couldn’t one say that third and first have been the hiding place for non atheletic types- Shannon. Boog Powell Mac

[RunSup]

Absolutely need good defense up the middle to win. You may stash a weaker bat at 2B if the defense is excellent and you have coverage elsewhere in the lineup.

Need a bat plus good defense at 3B. Several Cardinal championship teams have had that combo

But, in Nado, the cardinals have one of the best fielders at 3B right now and repeatedly want to ride him out of town because his bat has become poopy. So defense is wanted but not without a productive bat.

Gorman sucks at 3B at the moment. But his whiffs and inconsistent bat is why he'll be dismissed.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Absolutely need good defense up the middle to win. You may stash a weaker bat at 2B if the defense is excellent and you have coverage elsewhere in the lineup.

Need a bat plus good defense at 3B. Several Cardinal championship teams have had that combo

But, in Nado, the cardinals have one of the best fielders at 3B right now and repeatedly want to ride him out of town because his bat has become poopy. So defense is wanted but not without a productive bat.

Gorman sucks at 3B at the moment. But his whiffs and inconsistent bat is why he'll be dismissed.

You say you that defense up the middle is required to win; then by extension, Scott, and a suitable catcher, will seriously shrink the playing field.

[OldRed]

Absolutely need good defense up the middle to win. You may stash a weaker bat at 2B if the defense is excellent and you have coverage elsewhere in the lineup.

Need a bat plus good defense at 3B. Several Cardinal championship teams have had that combo

But, in Nado, the cardinals have one of the best fielders at 3B right now and repeatedly want to ride him out of town because his bat has become poopy. So defense is wanted but not without a productive bat.

Gorman sucks at 3B at the moment. But his whiffs and inconsistent bat is why he'll be dismissed.

You say you that defense up the middle is required to win; then by extension, Scott, and a suitable catcher, will seriously shrink the playing field.

Great defense up the middle starts with the catcher, SS and CF in that order in my opinion. Then if you have a good defensive second baseman you are really lucky. But a great catcher sees the field, calls the pitches and often moves an infielder a step or two in one direction or the other.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Gorman at third or second diminishes each position. The team has better options now much less in an acquisition.