KC Star: Moustakas moved to third base

by DarthYoshi on Jul 3, 2008 12:32 AM EDT

Jeffrey Flanagan reports.

Could've seen this coming--apparently Moose Tacos has been playing pretty bad D in Burlington, but pretty much everyone knew he wouldn't last at SS, and he as much acknowledges that himself in the article.

I'm willing to bet that a couple of years from now, if Alex Gordon is still around and Moustakas is knocking on the door of the big-league club, we may see Moustakas move again to right field (or perhaps Gordon to first base if Moustakas can hack it defensively at third).

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still disapointing

he’ll be much less valuable at third

by royalsreview on Jul 3, 2008 1:38 AM EDT 0 recs

Its possible we could have 4 ex-3Bs on the team in a couple years

with Teahen, Butler, Gordon, and MooseTacos

by raefzilla on Jul 3, 2008 2:09 AM EDT 0 recs

Moose

Was moved like three weeks ago.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Jul 3, 2008 2:42 AM EDT 1 recs

yep, ever since the berroa trade

by ZeppelinDZ on Jul 3, 2008 9:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

Flanagan's late to this particular party

I wonder what this means long term in regard to Gordon?

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 3, 2008 9:29 AM EDT 0 recs

If everything pans out like projected (big if i know)

i think its moose who moves (likely RF), not gordon

by ZeppelinDZ on Jul 3, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes,

while Gordon rather average on defense thus far, I have to think that the FO thinks he’ll continue to improve enough that they’ll regard Moose Tacos as the one to shuffle around. Hopefully Mike gets that bat going, though.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 3, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up 0 recs

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Gordon will probably only have one year left under team control when Moustakas is ready to be called up.

by djk royal on Jul 3, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

3B or RF

His 80 arm is too valuable to stick him at 2B like many fans have speculated.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 3, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

But

Wouldn’t his bat be way more valuable as a 2B?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 3, 2008 10:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes

but theoretically (and obviously it hasn’t been the case for us) it is much easier to find a hitter that can play passable defense at 2nd, instead of a hitter that has a Vlad-like bazooka in a corner OF spot. That’s a pretty rare weapon.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 3, 2008 10:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

Arm is the least important tool

A 2B who hits like a RF is substantially more valuable than a RF with a great arm.

by Gopherballs on Jul 3, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

That could be argued

but the team will take their chances on finding a 2B who can hit and defend, while moving Moose to a suitable position where he will hit and can utilize his plus-plus arm.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 3, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

With Moose at 2b...

and Butler at 1b we could have the hardest throwing right side of the infield in MLB. Hooray!

by djk royal on Jul 3, 2008 2:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

+1

That is exactly right. He’d be much, much more valuable at 2B than RF.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 3, 2008 1:13 PM EDT up 0 recs

Maybe,

but you also have to take into account whether his bat will play in a corner outfield position.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 3, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up 0 recs

So...will it?

Million dollar question, I know. But I was under the impression that his value was tied up in his bat and that everyone looked at him as a “will likely never play SS” guy. It would have been great to have a good bat at short, but I thought there was no question about his projected ability to hit, even in corner OF. Boy, shit gets confusing when you’re talking projections.

by stuckinstl12 on Jul 3, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

Does it matter?

It sounds like if he hits like he’s projected to, then it doesn’t matter what position he plays.

What doesn't kill us only brings us closer to death

by ksuroyals on Jul 3, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

It matters a lot

because the same hitter can have a lot more impact as a 2B than a RF. It’s not easy to find a 2B who can crush the ball.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 3, 2008 3:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

It matters, but if he hits well he can be a success at any position

If he becomes a .850 OPS hitter in MLB, he’ll be a big success, regardless of position. But that .850 OPS would be much more valuable at SS or 2B than at 1B or RF.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 3, 2008 4:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not sure but

I was listening to some Burlington coach being interviewed on 610 yesterday. They were talking about the guy we drafted this year, Johnny Giavotella, and the tear he’s been on. I want to say though, that someone brought up Moustakas and the guy said that he ultimately saw him going to 1B. Now I could be we way off, but Giavotella’s only like 5’8” so I don’t think they were talking about him going to 1B in the future. Correct me if I’m wrong. Anyone else listening yesterday afternoon?

If that’s the case, I personally would be against wasting his arm.

by AtTheWall on Jul 3, 2008 12:26 PM EDT 0 recs

I wouldn't count on Giovotella

Not that he’s isn’t a nice prospect, but its way too early to be talking about the potential of Giovatella blocking Moose at 2B.

I still remember when people were penciling Jeff Bianchi as our future shortstop.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 3, 2008 12:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Little Guido PRETTY SOON!!!111

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Jul 5, 2008 12:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

I heard that interview.

He did say Moose may move to 1B/RF eventually.

Don't Stop Believing!

by KC Chris on Jul 3, 2008 1:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gordon stays at 3rd moose moves to outfield and hosmer at 1B

Yasuhiko Yabuta is to Major League Baseball as Drew Carey is to The Price is Right

by focs on Jul 3, 2008 12:38 PM EDT 0 recs

We have a winner.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Jul 3, 2008 3:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

i really do wish we'd just put him at a place where were fairly confident that he'll play in the majors...

now that weve found out he’s not a SS. I dont know if the position musical chairs is why teahen doesnt hit, but it worries me. Why do the same with Moose? Put him in RF already

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Jul 4, 2008 12:15 AM EDT up 0 recs

It's very common for players to play at try multiple positions in the minors

I don’t think there’s any good reason to believe that this hurts their hitting at all. I’d much rather he be tried at positions where his hitting would be more valuable to see if he can stick there.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 4, 2008 12:48 AM EDT up 0 recs

is a good stick really THAT much more valuable at 3b than RF?

Plus, if the dude made 18 errors or whatever this year, you gotta think alot of them were ground balls….including the 4 he’s made in the 3 weeks at 3b…plus we have gordon at 3rd…

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Jul 4, 2008 1:03 AM EDT up 0 recs

He's more valuable at 3B

And he’s too far away from the majors to be keeping him out of a position because he’s blocked at the major league level. The number of errors (which is a poor measure of defensive ability) he’s had this year don’t tell me anything about which position he should be playing. I’m sure his defensive skills can stand some improving (they almost always do for 19 year olds). But I’d like for him to continue playing on the IF where his bat would be more valuable. And if he masters 3B and is getting closer to the majors and is still blocked, then maybe they’d try shifting him to 2B if that position is essentially open at the major league level. But if they move him to the OF at this age, then he’s likely done as 2B/3B forever. It’s too early to give up on that. There’s no good reason to do so.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jul 4, 2008 1:24 AM EDT up 0 recs