I would add Moore’s desire to improve MIF defense in the equation. True, Bert was a pretty awful 2B, and he has looked at least acceptable at 3B, but until Yu-Bet is benched/DFA’d he will not have addressed the situation. Aviles and Getz are a serious defensive upgrade over Yu-Bet and Bert, but I don’t see Getz as anything but a stopgap. And yes, Gordon “wanting” to move off 3B is bullshit.

I think they’d let him move to LF if he wanted it (given the other 3B options); I just doubt that he wanted. He’s been playing 3B full-time for several years. Why would he suddenly feel uncomfortable at the position. That just doesn’t make any sense. TPJ and Anderson wanted to try pitching because they had failed dismally as position players and needed something, anything to maybe save their baseball careers. Ankiel wanted to play CF because that is the position he’d been playing and likes most. Why would Gordon not want to play third base? It is possible, but it doesn’t make any sense.

I like that theory.

“You can play whatever position you want, despite your inability to have much value as a hitter.”

My whole time in organized ball, and I do think that play could have affected him. His UZR went from +8 in ’07 to -7 in ’08. That could be due to injury, too, as our crack medical staff probably let him play hurt the second half of ’08 until surgery was necessary in ’09.