Trying something new: Lopez at third base, Figgins at second
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Jose Lopez fields a ground ball this morning as he works out at third base. No, all those baseballs aren't the ones he missed. He would toss them there after fielding them.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 | 9:50 am
The day the Mariners signed Chone Figgins early in the offseason, nobody with the club would say for sure what position he would play. Could be third base, could be second.
That opened a few possibilities as the Mariners looked at ways they could improve their infield, especially after losing third baseman Adrian Beltre to the Red Sox via free agency. Nearly two months ago, in a Dec. 27 column based on conversations with the team, I wrote about the possibility of Jose Lopez moving to third base with Figgins playing ssecond.
Well, guess who was at second base and who was at third fielding ground balls in the Mariners' first full-squad workout this morning?
After practice, Lopez said he's on board with playing third. Or, at least the idea of seeing now if it's best for the team.
"We’ll see what happens the next couple of days, a couple of games," Lopez said. "If we like it, we’ll talk. If we don’t like it, I’m going to stay at second base."
Lopez has been the Mariners' regular second baseman the past four years, but his range has always been an issue and something the current regime has sought to do something about.
What the Mariners must learn at spring training is whether Figgins at second base and Lopez at third makes better sense than leaving Lopez at second and Figgins at third, where he has played most of his games as well.
"It’s a way different throw to first base," Lopez said. "But it’s no big deal. We’ll see what happens the next couple of days (as) my arm gets in shape. Taking ground balls in batting practice is no big deal. I want to play. Third base? We’ll see what happens.
"Figgins is a good guy, and he’s quick. He’s got the range that we need. I’ve got a better arm than Figgins at third base, especially with a diving catch.
But it’s no big deal. I’ll wait for the games and see how I feel in the games."
The Mariners must absolutely, positively be at their strongest up the middle, and Figgins gives that because of his range at second base in a tandem with shortstop Jack Wilson.
But there's another side that the Mariners have thought about as well. Would they be just as well off leaving Lopez at second base, figuring first baseman Casey Kotchman's greater range on that side of the diamond eliminates some of the ground he must cover? And with Figgins at third, would his range do the same for Wilson at shortstop, allowing the Mariners more opportunity to pinch their infielders up the middle?
There's no good answer to any of this right now, but spring training is about determining those things. Interesting that it started with the first ground balls of the first workout this morning.
A couple of other notes from this morning:
--Pitcher Doug Fister is scheduled to throw a bullpen today after being scratched yesterday because of a stiff right arm.
--Wakamatsu on Ichiro Suzuki: "He gave everybody hugs yesterday. That didn't happen last year, so we know we're headed in the right direction."
--Cliff Lee will do more agility work today and throw his first bullpen tomorrow. He had a bone spur removed from his left foot Feb. 5.
That opened a few possibilities as the Mariners looked at ways they could improve their infield, especially after losing third baseman Adrian Beltre to the Red Sox via free agency. Nearly two months ago, in a Dec. 27 column based on conversations with the team, I wrote about the possibility of Jose Lopez moving to third base with Figgins playing ssecond.
Well, guess who was at second base and who was at third fielding ground balls in the Mariners' first full-squad workout this morning?
After practice, Lopez said he's on board with playing third. Or, at least the idea of seeing now if it's best for the team.
"We’ll see what happens the next couple of days, a couple of games," Lopez said. "If we like it, we’ll talk. If we don’t like it, I’m going to stay at second base."
Lopez has been the Mariners' regular second baseman the past four years, but his range has always been an issue and something the current regime has sought to do something about.
What the Mariners must learn at spring training is whether Figgins at second base and Lopez at third makes better sense than leaving Lopez at second and Figgins at third, where he has played most of his games as well.
"It’s a way different throw to first base," Lopez said. "But it’s no big deal. We’ll see what happens the next couple of days (as) my arm gets in shape. Taking ground balls in batting practice is no big deal. I want to play. Third base? We’ll see what happens.
"Figgins is a good guy, and he’s quick. He’s got the range that we need. I’ve got a better arm than Figgins at third base, especially with a diving catch.
But it’s no big deal. I’ll wait for the games and see how I feel in the games."
The Mariners must absolutely, positively be at their strongest up the middle, and Figgins gives that because of his range at second base in a tandem with shortstop Jack Wilson.
But there's another side that the Mariners have thought about as well. Would they be just as well off leaving Lopez at second base, figuring first baseman Casey Kotchman's greater range on that side of the diamond eliminates some of the ground he must cover? And with Figgins at third, would his range do the same for Wilson at shortstop, allowing the Mariners more opportunity to pinch their infielders up the middle?
There's no good answer to any of this right now, but spring training is about determining those things. Interesting that it started with the first ground balls of the first workout this morning.
A couple of other notes from this morning:
--Pitcher Doug Fister is scheduled to throw a bullpen today after being scratched yesterday because of a stiff right arm.
--Wakamatsu on Ichiro Suzuki: "He gave everybody hugs yesterday. That didn't happen last year, so we know we're headed in the right direction."
--Cliff Lee will do more agility work today and throw his first bullpen tomorrow. He had a bone spur removed from his left foot Feb. 5.
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