Mike Napoli for Third Base (In my Dreams)

  It made me laugh. I picked the genius one by the way.

And no, Napoli couldn’t be a a major league 3B, they tried that in low minors, he couldn’t pull it off. If Naps would move anywhere, it would be DH or LF, but the Angels don’t seem to have any interest. You seem like a good writer, so stick around and comment on a few threads, maybe gains some friends around here, I don’t know if this thread will do.

and Baker is getting elbow surgery so they should be interested in Napoli the big question is what can we get from the Anibal Sanchez?

Jesus Christ kids these days and their inaccurate Ferrell references.

Napoli has had some looks at hot smashes and tricky grounders over at first, and he’s been mostly competent dealing with them. Throwing is the only skill in question before a move to third.

I think the toughest play a 3B has to make is the surprise bunt. The throw from third to first is the same as the throw from home to second, which Napoli is not particularly good at for a catcher. Would that make him better or worse than the average 3B? I really don’t know. But it’s worth a shot. Alberto Callaspo does not belong at a power position.

Of course, it will never, ever happen. I’m gradually being convinced that Scioscia just has an irrational hate for Mike Napoli.

Joe Torre comes to mind. He moved from C to 3B and in doing so, won a batting title and was NL MVP.

Unfortunately, Napoli isn’t Torre.

Didn’t pretty much everyone associated with the Royals say that he sucked at 2nd base even though it was his naural position? I seem to remember that much of the reason for him playing 3rd was that he was at least tolerable with the glove there compared to being a liability at 2nd.

but it seems pretty obvious to me that Soth is not a huge fan of a guy that can’t hit under pressure. Where do you fit a guy like that into your lineup? A DH that consistently chokes all the time and hits solo homeruns is worthless when your trying to put a lineup together.

Not that it matters when comparing oneself to Jeff Mathis.

Regardless, Napoli seems to get the runners home:

2010
RBI Opportunities 413
RBI’s 60
(ML Avg 45)

2009
Opportunities 432
RBI’s 56
(ML Avg 49)

2008
Opportunities 274
RBI’s 49
(ML Avg 31)

By comparison, Mathis has been below the ML average the last two years.

This year, his OPS+ with 2 outs and RISP is 121. To be fair, last year is was 36. But the year before it was 135. Inconsistent, but too good to be labeled “unclutch.”

Finally, BB-Ref has leverage statistics. Make of it what you will, but the general idea is the Napoli has been good this year when it’s counted, Mathis not.

I didn’t write a whole post, but I’ve been one of few advocates of giving it a shot. Why not at least let him mess around with it this spring? I’ve even made the same exact arguments: 1) it’s a reactionary position 2) throwing to 1B is easier than throwing out base stealers.

Another idea I’ve had is letting Naps play 1B and trying Morales at 3B. He may have a little more mobility.

That way, you could move Matsui to left and put Napoli in at the DH spot.

I think he might be more than a little peeved begin compared to Pablo Sandoval:

I always perceived third base to be a position of reaction and not athleticism. This is why guys like Pablo Sandoval and Troy Glaus played the position; not so much because of their athleticism but more because of their reactionary skills.

Glaus was the shortstop of the Bruin baseball team and was drafted as a shortstop, but converted to 3B while in the minors. I think he had plenty of athleticism in addition to good reactions. I don’t think you’ll find the same pedigree in Sandoval.