Let's talk about backup first basemen and relief pitchers

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, um, call my agent. And save me a seat at that joint on the UES.

[RealityChuck]

It's a concern. The options seem to be:

1. Johnny Monell, who played around 100 games at first in the minors (though his defensive numbers are shaky).
2. D'Arnaud or Pawlecki. They were talking already of having them try another position.
3. David Wright. There's been talk for years of moving him to first. Why not now?
4. Bartolo Colon. Because Bartolo can do anything.
5. Ike Davis. He's a free agent, so what the hell.
6. [crossout:39ks1tfc]John Mayberry, Jr.[/crossout:39ks1tfc]

[Edgy MD]

I don't know that there's been talk for years about moving Wright to first. But I can think of some good reasons in response to "Why not now?"

[MFS62]

Flores has played 20 games (19 as a starter) at first base in the minors.

Later

[Centerfield]

Too bad Mike Hessman retired.

What is Val Pascucci up to these days?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'll bet Marlon Byrd could play first if we asked nicely enough. If he's ready for a role we'd carved out for Cuddy (RH PH, corner OF spot starts, occassional 1B) I'd welcome him back.

[Edgy MD]

Centerfield wrote: Too bad Mike Hessman retired. What is Val Pascucci up to these days?

He's been our hitting coach in the South Atlantic League the last two years.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Funny. Without looking here, and looking over a list of current FAs, I was JUST thinking of Byrdie.

If cheap, Steve Pearce might be an even better fit.

[Lefty Specialist]

Well that backup 1B guy should be a righty. So Ike will have to alibi elsewhere.

[Centerfield]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Funny. Without looking here, and looking over a list of current FAs, I was JUST thinking of Byrdie. If cheap, Steve Pearce might be an even better fit.

Byrd continued to be productive this year. Even at 38 years old. I have no idea what he would cost, but it looks good on paper. Like his .820 OPS against lefties.

Don't know anything about Pearce. Numbers don't look great.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

.824 career (with .481 slugging!) against lefties. Plays first and corner OF, mostly (so, Duda or Conforto OR Granderson speller), but also got in 13 starts at second last year. Likely to get a 1-2 year contract, due to age and a not-great walk year, but he fits our Cuddyer hole better than Cuddyer would, honestly.

[Centerfield]

And more importantly, .854 OPS versus lefties in the last 3 years.