Pedroia to SS

[TheNamelessPoet]

Red Sox Ask Pedroia About Playing Shortstop

OK you guys with your defensive stuff... good move or bad? is he going to be a capable SS? If they move him we can give Kelly Johnson to the sox... no trade nessicary... just take him

[Alloutwar]

I was always wondering, he did come up as a SS. The move to 2B is obviously good, allowing for great range, and his average arm there - but I feel he could play SS without issue.

Brandon Phillips, welcome to the Red Sox.

[StreetMedic]

I was always wondering, he did come up as a SS. The move to 2B is obviously good, allowing for great range, and his average arm there - but I feel he could play SS without issue.

I'd heard that, too. I guess it makes a bit of sense.

A bit.

But, overall (between letting A-Gon go, and now discussing moving Pedey to SS), in this ignorant lay person's opinion, there's something about the whole thing that strikes me as being a classic fix-it-'til-it-breaks mindset.

[HoustonGM]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/pedroia-to-ss

This move won’t make Pedroia significantly more valauble, as what he adds in offensive scarcity compared to the average shortstop, he’ll probably give back with the glove, but it would give the Red Sox significantly more flexibility this winter. Rather than having to pay for Scutaro, they could set their sights on a second baseman such as Orlando Hudson, Placido Polanco, or Felipe Lopez.

It sounds like it is still in the conversation stages, but it is an idea with merit, and the Red Sox should strongly consider going forward with Pedroia as their starting shortstop.

[dickay]

wasn't one of the reasons he was moved to 2B because of his poor defense at SS in the minors? i don't know if it was his fielding or range, but i always thought there was something they didn't like about him at SS. If i'm not mistaken, didn't he play some at SS during one of the past two spring trainings, and Tito wasn't very happy with it? Again, not sure.

i don't see a real benefit personally. unless they have a 2B in mind that would be a big upgrade, i don't see how a potential downgrade defensively from the move can make up for a marginal offensive upgrade in a Brandon Phillips. I just don't see how it makes sense.

[StreetMedic]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/pedroia-to-ss

Thx for that link, HGM.

[dickay]

Rather than having to pay for Scutaro, they could set their sights on a second baseman such as Orlando Hudson, Placido Polanco, or Felipe Lopez.

It sounds like it is still in the conversation stages, but it is an idea with merit, and the Red Sox should strongly consider going forward with Pedroia as their starting shortstop.

they should've signed Gonzo. i don't see where any of those three, coupled with a potential downgrade at SS defense is any kind of an improvement. I like OHud alot, but he was a far worse hitter when playing in the AL than he was in the NL. I'm not sold he's much of an offensive upgrade in the AL. Polanco is OK..aging, not much an upgrade IMO. Isn't lopez a poor defender? decent offensively...but again, not enough of an upgrade to justify this IMHO;.

[HoustonGM]

Gonzalez is a pretty poor hitter, and his defense is no longer than what it once was. I'd take Pedroia at SS + any of Hudson/Polanco/Lopez at 2B over Gonzalez at SS and Pedroia at 2B.

Lopez is a brutal defender at SS but he's been solid at 2B.

[rschusta24]

Gonzalez is a pretty poor hitter, and his defense is no longer than what it once was. I'd take Pedroia at SS + any of Hudson/Polanco/Lopez at 2B over Gonzalez at SS and Pedroia at 2B.

Lopez is a brutal defender at SS but he's been solid at 2B.

I have been thinking about this possibility all day since the story broke and I would really like to see the Sox bring in another 2nd baseman, where there appears to be ALOT better players at that position rather than shortstops. I've been an Alex Gonzalez or bust person, ONLY because he has already proven he can handle the work load in Boston and has been solid, NOT AN EXCELLENT fielder, because that has declined over the years but he was solid enough for my liking after seeing Lugo player the position for the past 3 years. I say Pedroia to short and lets get another 2nd baseman.

[FloydtheBarber]

Lets get Chase Utley

[haveacigar]

wasn't one of the reasons he was moved to 2B because of his poor defense at SS in the minors? i don't know if it was his fielding or range, but i always thought there was something they didn't like about him at SS. If i'm not mistaken, didn't he play some at SS during one of the past two spring trainings, and Tito wasn't very happy with it? Again, not sure.

i don't see a real benefit personally. unless they have a 2B in mind that would be a big upgrade, i don't see how a potential downgrade defensively from the move can make up for a marginal offensive upgrade in a Brandon Phillips. I just don't see how it makes sense.

The upgrade wouldn't be Pedroia -> Phillips. The upgrade would be whatever bum plays SS -> Phillips, because the lineup would still have Pedroia in it. And I'm betting SS -> Phillips would be way more than marginal (especially if it's Alex Gonzalez)

[gosensgo101]

I've been saying the Jays should move Aaron Hill to shortstop for a few years now. Sure, he may be a gold glove caliber second baseman, but so would be the majority of Major League shortstops. It's just a lot easier to find a second baseman in the offseason who's a good bang for his buck than to find a shortstop.

[200tang]

Even GG second basemen can't make the transition easy. Unlike the OF, the infield positions are vastly different from each other. Could he do it? Yeah, but there's no way to know how good he'd be.

[OregonDuck1989]

Even GG second basemen can't make the transition easy. Unlike the OF, the infield positions are vastly different from each other. Could he do it? Yeah, but there's no way to know how good he'd be.

This.

He could do it, he's got great range for a 2B and an ability to make plays but we won't know until he plays the position if he can handle it. The left side of the infield is almost a thousand times harder then the right.

[gosensgo101]

Even GG second basemen can't make the transition easy. Unlike the OF, the infield positions are vastly different from each other. Could he do it? Yeah, but there's no way to know how good he'd be.

Both Pedroia and Hill were shortstops until they reached the big leagues. As long as they have the arm, they would adapt quickly to the rest of the quirks of being a shortstop instead of a second baseman.