The biggest challenge facing Shapiro & Wedge this Season is the Tempation to Platoon.

[Alex]

When the Dodgers put their catcher, Paul Lo Duca, at first and in left-field, do you think he had extensive training at either?

the LA Daily News just ran an article about several catchers that went on to play virtually every position except for shortstop.

AROD is moving from short to third.

You fail to address the fact that Blake at second and Martinez at third INCREASES playing time for Bard, Ludwick, Broussard, Hafner AND Escobar.

[The Crank]

And you fail to address the one overriding question - when did Blake play second? More importantly how long would it take Martinez to learn to play third? Alex - have to have defensive skills. Please do not equate moving an of to first or moving a catcher who has played of in the past to lf - neither one of those are anywhere near the defensive position that second or third are....

You routinely overlook the importance of having a good defensive glove at the positions in question - especially for a young pitching staff.

Your constant harping and obsessing on this is becomign bothersome Alex.

[The Crank]

All you have shown is that the Dodgers are moving an OF to first base (used to be a regular move) and moving a catcher who played LF irregularly to LF....you fail to answer the pressing questions....

[Alex]

You attempt rework history with your comments. All I've done is show how more and more teams are moving players around to fill out their squad as best as possible.

Brandon Phillips might have been in the top five A.L. second baseman last year, yet his season was considered a disaster because of his .210 batting average.

This IS an excellent year to gamble and at the same time give as much playing time to all of our second and third year prospects as possible.

Just how is having a 31 year old journeyman at third base, a 36 year old shortshop, and an apparently fat 30 year second baseman a step forward for this team this year?