Last years team still fascinates me...

There are two Jeff D'Amicos. One played for KC in 2000. The other has played for several teams. He went 9-16 for Pittsburgh last year. Once, he went 12-7 for Milwaukee. I think if he's healthy, he should be decent at least as a number four or five guy.

While I agree with you that Blake would be better as a second baseman, he's not totally incompetant at third. In terms of RBI's, he was the number 8 thridbaseman in the AL. In terms of runs, he was number 5 in the AL. Now I don't know that much about OBP and other stuff, so I can't comment about those weaknesses. But I think he's an okay place holder for a .500 team. I think .500 is a distinct possiblity for this team. If they can win 87 or so games, I think they can contend for the division.

Just to clarify, according to what I've read, the Jeff D'Amico the Tribe signed is the one who pitched for Pittsburgh last year.

I have heard Alex' textbook examples of circular logic for this statement:

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Blake would be better as a second baseman,

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<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would like to hear yours.....

If hitting were the only issue, Blake would be better as a second baseman. 80 runs, 17 home runs and 67 RBI's is pretty good for a second baseman. However, it IS competant for a third baseman on a rebuilding team. Also, moving Blake to second simply isn't going to happen, so why dwell on it?

In fact, if we look at all the AL third basemen, ofensively, Blake is in the middle of the pack. That means he isn't great, but he is okay. The projected lineup (with the exception of Martinez) looks like it has average power. I think they can play .500 ball or maybe even a little better than that with this team.

The Flaw with your perception about Blake at third is that he may have been in the middle of the "pack" in terms of other teams third basemans, but the teams that Blake finished ahead of probably had a terrific second baseman or shortstop to take up the slack.

Actually, if the Tribe had a decent second baseman (and a decent hitting shortstop), Blake would have done better than he did. When you consider how weak the lineup was last year, Blake's stats really aren't too bad.

This year, barring injury, Omar should be a better hitting shortstop than Peralta, and Belliard should put up better numbers than Phillips. I'm not saying they will be better than Peralta and Phillips forever, but when you compare this season's lineup to last year's team, the infield is simply a better hitting one. I think Blake will do just fine this year.

Thats a tough call. Thome's agent claimed that because Thome had no "protection" his last year in Cleveland "suffered" as a result. Yet Thome's numbers actually dropped a little his first year in Philly even though he probably had stronger players hitting in front of him.

On the other hand, the less threatening the line-up, the MORE opportunities the pitcher gives the entire line-up because they are not in fear of the line-up. Blake appears to be a number two hitter, sure sounds like a second baseman to me.

Hey, I never said Blake won't improve this year, I'm saying that Blake at second and Martinez at third will yield a significant increase in offense while freeing more at bats for several of our players who are on the bubble.

If I were Blake or Martinez, and was told I could play everyday, but it would be at second or at third, I would be out there practicing everyday, and in the last couple of months I would have improved more than playing a full season in the minors.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 01, 2004 12:31 AM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>

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If hitting were the only issue

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<font size="3" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">But its not. You two do realize there is another half of the game where the players play in the field and wear gloves, right?

You do realize that everyone was happy with Phillip's defensive play and yet he still was considered a major disappointment.

I think Blake could play an adequate second base and put up top three offensive numbers in the league.

But has Blake even played second?
I mean besides one game as a late inning fill in....until that question gets answered this argument is a waste of time....