Jose didn’t seem very keen on the switch when he first heard about it but I don’t think Wak really gave him much of a choice. Since then there’s been some peer pressure to give in “for the better of the team” and Lopez at this point has submitted and is now just trying to salvage his future.

As a sidenote, he also seems to be taking a lot more pitches so far in the spring. He’s still swinging at high pitches but he’s been letting most of the other bad ones go. I haven’t looked at any stats but the games I’ve seen, he’s been pretty patient.

Yes, but I still submit worrying about the 2011 roster before Ackley has anything approaching a pro season because ZOMG TOO MANY PLAYERS AT A POSITION is just putting a cart before the horse. Let’s see how 2010 pans out

I’d submit as a better example our earlier case of “Too Many Shortstops!” in the form of Jones, Tui, Asdrubal Cabrera, and that guy whom we got Danny Cortes and Derrick Saito from the Royals for, but I wouldn’t say that’s much better because it’s not [edit for crucial not] unusual for shortstops to move off position.

I’d also say, it doesn’t seem likely based on them being the number one FA signing and the number one draft pick, but your point about the need to exercise patience is certainly valid. I think I’d say Ackley is about a year out.

Yes, but I still submit worrying about the 2011 roster before Ackley has anything approaching a pro season because ZOMG TOO MANY PLAYERS AT A POSITION is just putting a cart before the horse. Let’s see how 2010 pans out. Given that Zduriencik has turned over a HUGE portion of the roster in the space of 18 months, I think we can wait a bit to worry about 2B.

Everyone trying to put Dustin Ackley in a MLB uniform (and trying to shape the 2010 roster as a result) reminds me of everyone having orgasms over Piñeiro, Nageotte and Ryan Anderson in the future Mariners rotation.

First off, it was Piñeiro, Meche, Anderson in that group, Nageotte was with the Travis Blackley, Rett Johnson, Rafael Soriano wave that came a few years later.

Second, and I know you know this, but pitcher attrition rates are very different from those of hitters, particularly ~prep pitchers versus a college hitter.

There is a lot, lot more to this than just swapping some numbers around.

If this works, it’s a plus for the Mariners’ 2010 defense, not a step backwards. Read the original post, and then joser’s follow-up comment.

I’ve read them, I don’t buy it. Figgins at 3B and Lopez at 2B would almost certainly be a strong positive to the defense. With the switch, this seems unlikely to me. It’s not easy to switch position with one month to prepare.

Yes. I think the defense would be better for 2010 with Figgins at 3B (where he has been excellent) and Lopez at 2B (where he has been average). They should be ~+10-15 combined. I think they struggle to be avg. combined, with the switch, so it may cost the M’s a win or more.

There is a lot, lot more to this than just swapping some numbers around.

If this works, it’s a plus for the Mariners’ 2010 defense, not a step backwards. Read the original post, and then joser’s follow-up comment.

It’s hard to say if they’ve been that frank with him, but it would make things make more sense.

As compared to what? To having them play the other way?

Yes. I think the defense would be better for 2010 with Figgins at 3B (where he has been excellent) and Lopez at 2B (where he has been average). They should be ~+10-15 combined. I think they struggle to be avg. combined, with the switch, so it may cost the M’s a win or more.

The Ackley situation makes it even more curious. Given his injury history, I doubt Ackley has the arm for 3B. So, you’re setting up another position switch in 2011 or 12.