What's your plan for SS/3B?

So I think we can all agree that likely the only position left in which we could improve at is 3B or SS, one solving the other.

My personal opinion is that people are WAY over valuing Cruz and he was playing way over his head AND they have given up totally on Dee, which is crazy.

For me, unless we can trade Dee and Lee or Dee and Reed for Andrus, there is no doubt about it that I want Hanley and 3rd and Dee at SS. Dee solves the leadoff position and gives us another speed element teams will have major issues with.

 

I don't think Dee is the solution at SS either. He's not that much better defensively than Hanley is IMO. Obviously his speed is a weapon but if he can't hit a lick or get on base, his speed won't be utilized. Hopefully someone over values him and wants to trade for him, if not let's hope he's improved in both of those areas during the offseason.

 

Of course I would prefer to have Andrus...but we aren't getting him..so...

Giving up on Dee is not crazy. There is too much wrong with his game. How old is he? 25 isn't young any more with a player trying to figure out this game. He looks like a failed basketball player trying his luck in baseball. He isn't a baseball player. He's an amazing athlete playing baseball. I suppose the same could've been said for Kemp, but Kemp is just way more talented and god gifted in baseball. He has always been a very good player naturally and had realistic tools to become great. Dee doesn't. He can't even bunt. Can't hit the ball out of the infield. Can't throw. We want to wait for a guy who's 25 to learn rookie ball fundementals? He's fast as lightning but he does too much poorly. Too many guys can draw walks, bunt, get on base and play D. Gordon is exciting but I can't see him putting it all together.

He is one guy I never got the untouchable hype. He's fast as hell. Exciting. But he's not that good at baseball.

 

Please note, the title of the thread is "Whats YOUR plan for SS/3B" and not "Please hate bestlakersfan's idea for SS/3B".

 

Sadly (cuz we have no better option) I say go with Dee. I think he should be trying to make a move to 2B where his arm wont hurt as much. I do think he can turn into a decent leadoff hitter, but not a great one. He's another middle IF prospect we held for too long just to see him lose all value

 

Will playing 2B help him hit the ball more than twenty feet? Will moving him to 2B get him to hit the ball on the ground? Will moving positions help him bunt, and get on base? Doubt it.

 

And at least Hu was a great fielder

 

I'd go Hanley at SS, Cruz at 3B. Dee is worse both offensively and defensively. If things go well, it won't matter to have one below average guy in Cruz, and if not, worry about it in June.

 

At 2B he needs less range, so he can lose a step or two and trade them for lets say 15/20 lbs of mass and muscle. That should help him hitting the ball out of the infield.

 

This is pretty much my thinking. There are no obvious FA's to go after, and June/July will probably be a better time to go after someone via trade.

As far as Hanley playing SS vs 3B: he's just as bad a defender at both positions, so I say plug him in at SS so his offense is more of a premium (that's assuming we can find a better hitting 3B than SS for the other position).

 

My thoughts exactly.

Also, I think he's just more comfortable playing at short. I don't think he was ever too fond of moving over to third.

 

Dee had the worst UZR/150 for a SS in the majors last season (for players with 500+ innings)... -26.

For reference, second worst was Elliot Johnson & Derek Jeter tied at -16. Hanley was -10, making him Ozzie Smith in comparison.

VRP can back me up that my stats are correct.