1 minute ago, Chicago White Sox said:

How do the Sox feel about him exactly? You honestly think they feel he isn’t a high end defensive SS because they play him at 3B some? If not, why do you think they keep doing this? Do they just like playing guys out of their optimized spots for fun? You must have some theory on the why behind this malpractice.

Also, several cracks in your post. Colson definitely does NOT have the best range amongst SS’s per Statcast. Witt’s OAA is more than double Colson’s and is hands down the best. And while I do think Colson is a tremendous defensive SS, it’s funny that you ignore DRS where he’s currently at -1. Most importantly, Colson has also been elite at 3B, which is part of the reason his OAA is in the 100th percentile (that isn’t just SS). SSS, but when adjusted for playing time, his 3B defenses would amongst the very best by both OAA/FRV & DRS.

If you compare Colson’s fWAR per PA, it’s nearly identical between SS & 3B right now (and that’s using Statcast defensive data). As such, from a total value consideration, when Vargas or Murakami needs a day off, the question becomes who is the best backup at SS or 3B since Colson can provide high value at both spots. And it’s very clear they don’t love their other 3B options from a defensive standpoint, which is why we’ve seen Colson shift to 3B in such scenarios. So Venable isn’t really an idiot, but trying to optimize the roster as currently constructed. When Murray was on the bench, Venable kept Colson at SS when Vargas or Murakami needed time off and would play Tanner at 3B.

I will not defend the relentless bunting as I find it to be incredibly stupid, but I refuse to be upset about a manager rotating around a guy between two spots he’s extremely good at defensively to optimize the broader lineup.

Well pal, one of two things are true:

1. The Sox feel he's an elite defensive shortstop yet they play him once a week at 3rd base suppressing the defensive value of the team and him for reasons that make very little sense.

2. They dont care what the metrics say, and they think he's just fine over there and are going to move him off the position for a college kid.

I'm not sure why you continue to ignore this, but with the exception of A-Rod, no starting SS who has ranked top 3 at his position defensively has played anywhere but shortstop over the past 40 years in that season. Teams dont move elite defensive SS's off the position for someone else to play it. Period.

Shortstop is 3 times as valuable as 3rd, so acuna could be half as good as colson at 3rd and the team would still be better off starting him there and Colson at SS. There is literally zero precedence or reason not to play colson montgomery at SS. It would be almost the same thing as the Cubs moving PCA to left field because a back up is better in CF than LF. It's nonsense.

Edit: And Bobby is #1, but Colson in the 100th percentile. Partly because Colson does not have the chances/inning count Bobby does because... you know, the Royals don't randomly play one of the best defensive players in the world at a different position than the elite one he's dominating.

Also, not sure why you'd use fWAR by position. We're talking about defensive value here. Colson generates more value at SS than 3B, no matter what given that he plays both positions at an elite level. The issue is total defensive value add is not optimal, and it's very black and white. I'll add one more point that Acuna has a + arm and lesser range. That seems well suited for 3rd comparatively.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Look at Ray Ray Run

12 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

JJ Hardy…who some want in the HoF for defense alone.

LOL, I know you live in all corners of the internet but you've gotta show me these people who want JJ Hardy in the HOF.

https://birdswatcher.com/2022/01/31/j-j-hardy-baseball-hall-of-fame/

Mark Belanger had the better case

but I can't find the best stand alone article now presenting his argument

it would be like arguing Dansby Swanson or Brandon Crawford...team HoF but not Cooperstown

https://www.sportsinfosolutions.com/2014/02/06/digging-deeper-into-jj-hardys-defensive-performance/

one of those cases where he is later being recognized for excellence through the application of modern metrics even though he didn't win all those GG's like Smith or Vizquel at SS

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by caulfield12