Salome 1B possible?

[nate82]

If Salome can't get the defense down at catcher would the Brewers move him to 1B? Also would he be able to play 1B? Would his offense even justify playing him at 1B?

[Mass Haas]

Not a lot of 5'7" first baseman with short muscular arms pulling down high throws in the majors.

 

It's catcher or bust (or DH for an American League team).

[Hammer]

Not a lot of 5'7" first baseman with short muscular arms pulling down high throws in the majors.

 

It's catcher or bust (or DH for an American League team).

I know that this has been touched on before but wouldn't 3rd be worth a try as well?

[PeaveyFury]

Salome has huge upside offensively as a catcher in the bigs, but he'd be average at best at third in the majors. They'll keep him at catcher as long as possible, and if that doesn't work out, package him in a trade to an AL team, I'd think.

[CheezWizHed]

Salome has huge upside offensively as a catcher in the bigs, but he'd be average at best at third in the majors.

I'd take an average 3rd baseman. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Although, I would think 2B would be more likely. Why is it failed catchers get linked to 3B often? Just because of the normal strong arm/quick glove tranlates well?

[dadofandrew]

2B are usually very good athletes, most C's are not.

[mothershipconnection]

Just because of the normal strong arm/quick glove tranlates well?

 

I would guess that's it. You don't need blazing speed and range to be a mediocre 3B, but you need quick reflexes and a good/accurate arm.

[CheezWizHed]

2B are usually very good athletes, most C's are not.

Well, better athletes. Less of an arm than 3B, less range than SS. But I thought Salome was pretty fast. Doesn't necessarily translate to range, but...

 

Here is to hoping we don't have to find out! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[JohnBriggs12]

2B are usually very good athletes, most C's are not.

 

That's arguable. A lot of catchers are very good athletes.

 

Many over the years have transistioned to other positions. Think Charlie Moore, Joe Torre, even Yogi Berra. Heck, look how nimble Mike Rivera (who can also play 3B in a pinch) looked at 1B. Very few transition from other positions to catcher though.

 

Biggio for one successfully transitioned from catcher to 2B.

 

I'm biased in that I was a catcher at one time.

[nate82]

That's arguable. A lot of catchers are very good athletes.

 

Many over the years have transistioned to other positions. Think Charlie Moore, Joe Torre, even Yogi Berra. Heck, look how nimble Mike Rivera (who can also play 3B in a pinch) looked at 1B. Very few transition from other positions to catcher though.

 

Biggio for one successfully transitioned from catcher to 2B.

 

I'm biased in that I was a catcher at one time.

But Salome isn't a Biggio type of a player more like a Belliard than Biggio.

[yoshii8]

But Salome isn't a Biggio type of a player more like a Belliard than Biggio.

Not many people are a Biggio type of player, but what makes you say that he is more like Belliard, thats an odd comparison. And if he's like Belliard, are you saying he would be a good 2nd baseman?

[nate82]

Not many people are a Biggio type of player, but what makes you say that he is more like Belliard, thats an odd comparison. And if he's like Belliard, are you saying he would be a good 2nd baseman?

I was comparing his height and weight as compared to Belliard. I don't believe Salome will be as good as Belliard at 2B. But he is more like Belliard when his weight ballooned after his first year with the Brewers. I also don't think Salome would be any better than Weeks at 2B. Salome is not that far off from Belliard in weight and height proportions.

[Hate those Rodents]

He should be able to at least be a pretty good hitting catcher with fairly poor defense. These guys still make backups in the MLB for teams that want the opposite of Gary Bennett as their backup catcher. And some teams keep a third catcher that has a bat.

[yoshii8]

I was comparing his height and weight as compared to Belliard. I don't believe Salome will be as good as Belliard at 2B. But he is more like Belliard when his weight ballooned after his first year with the Brewers. I also don't think Salome would be any better than Weeks at 2B. Salome is not that far off from Belliard in weight and height proportions.

Except that Belliard is soft and Salome is ripped.

 

How can you say how good Salome would be at 2nd when he's only played catcher, what are you basing that on?

[colbyjack]

Despite the fact that Salome is indeed ripped, he's not very fast, as we've heard reports that his speed is below average even for a catcher. As Mass noted above, it's catcher or bust for Salome, and he'll be given plenty of opportunities to stick before anyone writes him off.

[nate82]

How can you say how good Salome would be at 2nd when he's only played catcher, what are you basing that on?

Basing it on how fast he runs and his reaction time.

[ILuvDaBush]

With Salome at second, can you imagine a David Eckstein-type attempting to break up the double play? Much like George Michael's girlfriend, Bland, we would call him "The Wall."

[yoshii8]

It would be like the opposite of the Vina, Albert Belle incident.

[bullox]

Basing it on how fast he runs and his reaction time.

Rickie Weeks would be a Gold Glover by those standards.

[nate82]

Rickie Weeks would be a Gold Glover by those standards.

Rickie has the speed but he has slow reactions when fielding and is the reason why he is always putting himself in bad spots to catch the ball. Plus he is also indecisive. I only used speed and reaction for Salome because the other things don't really matter if he can't get to the ball.

[DHonks]

Rickie Weeks would be a Gold Glover by those standards.

Rickie has the speed but he has slow reactions when fielding and is the reason why he is always putting himself in bad spots to catch the ball. Plus he is also indecisive. I only used speed and reaction for Salome because the other things don't really matter if he can't get to the ball.

 

Jeff Kent and Carlos Baerga had nice careers and were solid defensively, and both were quite possibly the slowest men in the majors for much of their careers

[yoshii8]

Jeff Kent and Carlos Baerga had nice careers and were solid defensively, and both were quite possibly the slowest men in the majors for much of their careers

I don't really get it either, I don't know how it is even close to possible to judge how good of a second baseman Salome can be.

[sheetskout]

I think first base is the last place on the field you want someone who is 5'7".