How does a ballplayer get to be good...???

[Alex]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor=""><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Dr. Robert:
If Vic was going to play 3B, he would have to spend some time in AAA getting used to it. You can't just throw him out on a major-league field, never having played the position.

I noticed that he dropped the ball on a play at the plate, and threw high to 2B on a steal attempt the other day. Meanwhile, Bard is a rock back there.

Considering the options for the next several years, I like Victor at 3B. The defense might be rough for a while, but at least we get his bat in there. And, later, he could wind up at 1B. Just get his **** bat in there.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

My question is this. Couldn't Martinez learn third base within a month if he practiced a few hours a day with Travis Fryman and some hitting instructors.

In a matter of a couple of days, Martinez could field more balls than a whole season of playing third base in the minors.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 03, 2003 10:15 PM: Message edited by: Super-8mm in the DigitalAge ]</font>

[Alex]

If somebody said to me, teach Martinez to play third, you have one month and Travis and two hitting assistants will help you, I'd be all over it.

first off, I'd design the third base area with landing pads so that as he practicing diving for balls, he would get beat up right away.

Martinez would have good old third base dirt to roam around in, but I would only have him dive onto softened dirt.

I don't want the guy beat to pieces after one day of practicing. I'd get him as much practice moving around the base.

Travis would instruct him on fielding strategies depending on who's up to the plate. This whole Bard/Martinez thing is going to delay this team's success to the point where it may not happen.

You have third base wide open, a bonafide MVP minor league hitting champion two years in a row, and you don't play him there...???

The guy started as a shortstop, give him a hundred thousand dollar bonus and he'll be grinning from ear to ear.

[Alex]

Well, all positions are important. When you get to the 7th inning and suddenly that third base line can mean the difference between a taylor made double-play and a bases clearing double....

I think Haffner has to play everday, Bard seems the logical choice at catcher. Martinez at third for this year only.

Then, assuming Burks either retires or signs elsewhere if he plays next year, next year you can play Martinez 60 games at catcher, 90 games as DH.

I suppose the only problem is DH's can't play the field once they are named DH. Darn it! (or am I wrong?)

Or is it that if you transfer a DH to catcher, then you lose the DH and the pitcher has to hit?

If it's either one or the other, neither is too tempting I guess. On the other hand, Hinch this year, Laker next year, we probably have back-up catchers even if Martinez cannot come-in and sub for Bard.

Who DH's next year? It should be someone who played regularly this year. I'm worried that Shapiro might be emphasizing his "plan" to be competitive in two more years and may in the process not plant all of his seeds correctly this year that he needs to develop to be successful two years from now.

[Dr. Robert]

One thing's for sure- I don't want Victor getting beat up if he's our best hitter. Let Bard take the hits. If Victor only gets 400 ABs one year, and 300 the next, it would **** .

I think the line-up is going to be good enough without having to have the luxury of a great-hitting catcher. Defense up the middle is more important, anyway.