Corner infield situation

…. he would be okay with me. BUT that means he hits .300+ with 40 doubles and 15 HRs plus plays a solid defense. If Snyder hits, he will probably be about like that. IF HE HITS. I do not know about his defense, though. It’s a fairly new position for him.

Having said all that, if a 35+ HR hitter came along, I would upgrade in a flash. Some think Bell may become that masher at 3B. If so, no harm in a Grace/Olerud type hitter at 1B, but he needs to be a plus fielder.

Ishikawa had a bad season last year getting on base less than a third of the time and not being a slugger (granted he does play half his games at AT&T). As a below-average offensive contributor he deserves to be a backup at a prime location.Snyder projects to be an average regular at first but no star. If Snyder is below-average then he’s replaceable (although I’d hope that somebody would check his BABIP to see if he’s just incredibly unlucky. As a doubles-power player he’s more susceptible to bad luck). IF we can find a player who projects to be above-average at first it would make sense to take that player over Snyder.

Also Huff makes some sense because there is a chance he can rebound offensively since the year before he won a silver slugger at DH. If he rebounds great, if not he becomes a bench player or is cut to be replaced by a below-average player in Ishikawa.

Seeing as he hasn’t hit more than 13 at any stop in the minors. I’d be pleased if he can put up a .270+ average, hit some doubles, and maybe have 10-15 hr. That said, if MacPhail can find a better option, then I’m all for it

I think McPhail will add a corner infielder/bat before spring training starts, easily. Snyder is your prototypical AAAA player (as well as Scott Moore) and I would loved to be proven wrong. They’re not everyday pro players, and certainly not next year. Besides, aren’t they trying to make Snyder a DH? … I think McPhail is playing the corner infielder market perfectly by not going after anyone. Any of the names available would be an upgrade for the O’s (Delgado, LaRoche, Blalock, etc) so why not let the market settle itself with a few of those names coming off the list and then the O’s get a steal/deal from one of the few still standing?

has seemingly improved his defense so he should be at least average at first.
Without defensive skill he probably can’t hold down first but he may prove a decent but not outstanding first baseman. There’s also the outside chance that he’ll have a year like Aaron hill had this year where he hit a number of just enough homers to be one of the best second basemen

He did pretty well last year, both in NFK and BAL. Not great, but serviceable, no? Now that LaRoche is getting signed and Delgado is “not moving well”, you have to figure he’s in the mix, and a better option that Wigginton at this point.

So we start with Atkins and Aubrey at the corners, with Wigginton hanging around, platooning, etc. Neither of these guys are going to block Bell or Snyder if/when they prove themselves ready. (I refuse to put a date on either since everyone but me seems convinced that they’ll be starting in July).

was the best he’s had in a while. Of course this might have been the first time he was injury free in a long time
We have a number of potential first basemen, just none that seem outstanding. Atkins, Wiggy, Aubrey and Hughes while waiting for Snyder to be ready

As a side note (and maybe this would be better for tomorrow’s daily post), is anyone else curious to see LaRoche sign for so little, especially after he turned down the 2 yr deal from the Giants? I mean he’s being paid what, $4.5 mil for 1 year? Really shows you how interested the O’s were in him – not.