Ryan Flaherty - Losing his lock on 2B?

[NCRaven]

Most people have thought that Ryan Flaherty started camp as the front-runner for the starting secondbase position and (I thought) Buck had even said that Flaherty would work at 2B exclusively early in the pre-season. But, with his start at 3B today, Ryan will have played more games at SS and 3B than 2B this spring.

Is this a sign that the team is no longer confidant in Machado's availability for the start of the season?

Or a sign that they now see Flaherty as more of a utility player than starting 2B?

Or a sign that Schoop and Weeks have made the position much more competitive?

Or just random noise during the early part of spring training?

[Frobby]

I think Buck is thinking this way: Flaherty has already proven he can play a very good 2B, and probably doesn't need a full spring of reps to get ready. Meanhile, Buck needs to figure out what his options are going to be if Manny isn't ready by March 31, or if Hardy goes down with an injury or just needs a blow. So, getting Flaherty some reps and SS and 3B is only prudent, even though it's likely that Flaherty will mostly be at 2B.

[Redskins Rick]

Most people have thought that Ryan Flaherty started camp as the front-runner for the starting secondbase position and (I thought) Buck had even said that Flaherty would work at 2B exclusively early in the pre-season. But, with his start at 3B today, Ryan will have played more games at SS and 3B than 2B this spring.

Is this a sign that the team is no longer confidant in Machado's availability for the start of the season?

Or a sign that they now see Flaherty as more of a utility player than starting 2B?

Or a sign that Schoop and Weeks have made the position much more competitive?

Or just random noise during the early part of spring training?

Honesty, I never felt that Flash had the lock on 2nd, especially considering what they gave up for Weeks.

They like Flash being the super utility guy on the bench.

As for Schoop, he probably will be in AAA at the start of regular season, but getting time in 2nd, even in ST at this level, helps his growth.

[Aristotelian]

They did the same thing last year. To me the thinking is that he is our backup SS and it's more valuable for him to get reps there in the spring than it is for him to play 2B where he is solid. The question is whether Weeks or Schoop can play themselves into a platoon role, or perhaps start the season as full time 2B if Flaherty shifts to 3B in the event that Manny is rehabbing.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Honesty, I never felt that Flash had the lock on 2nd, especially considering what they gave up for Weeks.

They like Flash being the super utility guy on the bench.

As for Schoop, he probably will be in AAA at the start of regular season, but getting time in 2nd, even in ST at this level, helps his growth.

Weeks was the throw-in in a salary dump. Barring injury Flaherty will be starting for us this year at second base imo.

[Frobby]

Weeks was the throw-in in a salary dump. Barring injury Flaherty will be starting for us this year at second base imo.

Probably, but I wouldn't undersell Weeks here. The guy did put up a full season at .761 OPS in 2011, and has a career .779 in AAA with good OBP skills. He could help us.

[33rdst]

I don 't get our manager's pronouncement that Flaherty will get the starts at second base. It seems contrary to the way he's handled these situations in the past. That is he's been non-committal. I like Flaherty a lot and I don't mind him at second base. I just think he is more valuable to the team in other roles.

[Redskins Rick]

Weeks was the throw-in in a salary dump. Barring injury Flaherty will be starting for us this year at second base imo.

Flash may very well be the starting 2nd, but I think its far from a lock.

[CA-ORIOLE]

Probably, but I wouldn't undersell Weeks here. The guy did put up a full season at .761 OPS in 2011, and has a career .779 in AAA with good OBP skills. He could help us.

Sure, he has upside. If Weeks can show that he can competently field I'd guess he'll be Flaherty's platoon partner at second. I have no idea what Flaherty's numbers are at this point but he looks pretty comfortable up there with his AB's imo. Nothing is a lock, but I'm pretty confident that Flaherty will be the starting second baseman and the moving him around stuff at this point is a contingency (i.e. Machado) and a way to look at other guys at second.

[vab]

They know what they have in Flaherty, they need to take a look at the other guys at 2B. Also the possibility that Machado will not be ready opening day factors in.

[El Gordo]

If Machado can't start, I think they play Gonzalez there.

[DrungoHazewood]

Weeks was the throw-in in a salary dump. Barring injury Flaherty will be starting for us this year at second base imo.

Baseball holds tight to the idea that trades can't be about money. That would be so unseemly, thought Mr. Kuhn.

I think the world would be a better and more honest place if you could, for example, just sell Jim Johnson to the A's if you wanted to.

[Rene88]

Probably, but I wouldn't undersell Weeks here. The guy did put up a full season at .761 OPS in 2011, and has a career .779 in AAA with good OBP skills. He could help us.

Thank you! I have been saying that...totally agree.

Good questions by NC Raven: makes me curious too...

My guess: Manny won't be ready. If so, I think AGon is the guy so I find it odd that Flaherty is playing there accept they are seriously considering keeping Jonathan as a starter at second. That is the only thing I can think of. I think Weeks has value but more in a platoon role, or at least to start the season.

[El Gordo]

Thank you! I have been saying that...totally agree.

Good questions by NC Raven: makes me curious too...

My guess: Manny won't be ready. If so, I think AGon is the guy so I find it odd that Flaherty is playing there accept they are seriously considering keeping Jonathan as a starter at second. That is the only thing I can think of. I think Weeks has value but more in a platoon role, or at least to start the season.

Weeks isn't much of a SS/3B so if they want to look at him, it has to be at 2B. Flaherty can play anywhere so it doesn't matter. It isn't that Flaherty's job is in jeopardy, it's just that they need to give Weeks a good look.

[Redskins Rick]

Weeks isn't much of a SS/3B so if they want to look at him, it has to be at 2B. Flaherty can play anywhere so it doesn't matter. It isn't that Flaherty's job is in jeopardy, it's just that they need to give Weeks a good look.

True and AGon is insurance in case Manny isn't ready to play for a few weeks.

Flash is the backup 3rd on the depth chart, and if he is starting 2nd, they move him and plug in the backup into 2nd.