JoeC

For 2B? I would disagree vehemently there. At least the 2B candidates that have been in play have had some sort of middle infield experience and track record at various professional levels up through the big leagues. Do they have big league bats? By the most generous of definitions, "arguably." Do they have big league gloves? Yes. Say what you will about the boundless void that is our 2B position, but at least (for the most part) they haven't COMPLETELY sacrificed middle infield defense yet, and it appeared that the front office did not have any realistic plan to do so either.

Yes, and in the NFL, there are clear and strict guidelines. The scandal was that the balls were altered and did not meet guidelines. In the NBA example, there appears to have been dialogue / feedback. League tried to change the ball, and players rejected it. In the MLB, who knows wtf is happening?

Why don't they just use the same baseball? Why is baseball the only sport that constantly changes its main game piece?

I love how 2B has turned into a "throw any schmuck with a bat out there" position on this board. Yes - Burger has had a great 20 at bats. Yes - Moncada came up as a 2Bman. Does that mean that either of them can actually consistently play 2B at the big league level? Does that mean that either of them can actually provide adequate defense at 2B at the big league level? Burger is a stopgap at 3B for the year, and a nice luxury bat off the bench. He's also a nice piece to trade and/or option with which to backfill a corner infield spot (3B) in the event a trade is required. Hell - I'd rather see Burger thrown into the rotation than at 2B. At least we wouldn't be disappointed with the inevitably bad results.

We can only hope. There's the whole "if he can stay healthy" thing, as well as the whole "if he can adjust to the adjustments the league makes on him" thing, too. Luckily he seems like he's able to develop some semblance of patience out there.

You rang?

Great. Now that he's got his fat contract he's just gonna mail it in.

We'll always have the pop-up RBI single to short.

I am liking McGuire back there.

This is one of those 60 you're gonna lose.

I'm hoping for a game-tying infield pop-up.

MLB Gameday PbP: "Jake Burger singles on a pop up to shortstop"

This is nuts.

Yes. Now for those damn "woo" kids we can hear over the broadcast....

Nice to see the healthy side of my Pollock - Engel platoon getting on base.

Late reply, but I was going to go the Moises Alou route for suggestions here.

I read this post right before Keuchel got a backwards K on a seamer / sinker down the middle.

Harrison I am hoping will turn out to be a NICE budget signing.

Damn I love Tim Anderson. I said it... man crush.

Seems like it's worthy of some sort of countdown thread.... the mandatory option thread.

Yes it was nasty. Crazy horizontal movement. Tight and late breaking. I'm OK with him not recognizing THAT pitch. It's the rest of the at-bat that I have a problem with. Putting yourself into a position to have to defend against that pitch to begin with? Not good.

That last slider that Eloy swung at near (not close enough to be "at") was nasty.

Some might describe that as "tradable"

Quintana, Sale, Eaton (2016 edition), capped off by Lynn dropping an F-Bomb.

If these things don't come to fruition, at least we will have had some good conversations / reading.