South Side Fireworks Man

Let's see if Abreu can tie this up.

Come on Robert, live up to your potential here!

Don't stop now boys!

Nah, third.

We're still in this, boys!

"Let's go, Tony!"

I'll be surprised if we make it to the 10th.

Well Stone was wrong that time.

Agreed. For now play Pollock in LF and Engel in RF. As you said, Vaughn/Abreu1B/DH, Burger 3B every day.

Now wouldn't it have been better to have Vaughn at DH and Burger at 3B?

I guess they can just keep him at 3B and punt the rest of the season. They' weren't going anywhere anyway even if they did make the playoffs.

OK, I didn't realize that. Thanks!

If he was really injured why are they playing him in the field again in a day game after a night game?

What do you mean? What's he going to do, quit?

If they don't want to move him off third, even temporarily, the there is the answer.

He's played there a lot before so it shouldn't hurt and maybe the change would help. It certainly couldn't get much worse at this point.

Pollock doesn't have the arm to play RF. Why does the worst hitter on the team get forced into four of the five combinations? Best would be Pollock/Vaughn/Eloy LF, Robert CF, Engel RF, Burger 3b, Anderson SS, Mendick/Moncada 2B, Abreu/Vaughn 1B, Whatever C, Eloy/Vaugh/Abreu DH

And if Eloy ever comes back, then what?

I doubt it. He never played there before and I wouldn't want to mess with the guy when he's been doing so well and is still adjusting to the Major Leagues. That's not how you develop a promising young player.

I know. If Grandal started at DH Burger would play 3B instead of Moncada. Would have been better.

The way Yoan has (or hasn't) been hitting, it doesn't make sense for this team to have him at 3B when you already have a black hole hitting at 2B. Plus moving Burger to DH forces Vaughn to the OF where his defense is lacking and also forces Pollock or Engel to the bench. It also stunts Burger's defensive development at 3B. Face it, for whatever reason Yoan has (or should have) lost his starting 3B job and should have to earn it back. Maybe an unforseen and unfortunate injury, or Burger turning out to be a flash in the pan will allow him back into the starting job at 3B but right now it's either 2B or the bench for him if he remains on the 26 man roster.

Yoan's defense at 3B is excellent. But his defense at 3B does not warrant him starting there and forcing Jake Burger to play a position he has never played before. I would bet Burger at 3B and Moncada at 2B would give the team better defense over all than Moncada at 3B and Burger at 2B.

Yeah, then Burger would have to play 3B and Moncada would have had to sit during a day game after he just started at 3B last night. Big problem. (I hope your sarcasm meter is working.)

There's my starting third baseman!