the Lawrie/Bautista swtich (very convincing)

[number15]

I was listening to the Fan590 when a caller made a simple suggestion that made so much sense for the JAYS..... why not switch postions?

Pretty much all experts are saying Brett Lawrie is a future Right-Fielder, its bound to happen sometime, unless he somehow changes his whole defense game all the sudden. He doesent have the game for 3rd-base but he has a canon of an arm, which is why they say Right-field....... and then you think of Jose Bautista, who is known to be a steller 3rd-baseman, with experience.

Why not move Lawrie to RF now, rather than have him switch to another position again after so much failure at 3B. Make his life easier, cause thats where his future probably lies. While Bautista arguably will play an even more demanding position, as the leader of the team.

I mean the offense stays the same.... but the defense improves big time.

does this seem like an obvious move?

[Santoki]

No, Bautista is your franchise player and is clearly more comfortable and happy playing right field. Give Lawrie more than three games to figure out how to be a capable third baseman.

[Avp115]

Baseball wise yeah it makes sense but it would probably piss Bautista off which isn't really worth it. He said himself how much more comfortable he feels in RF and that he only moved to 3B to help the team. He was probably thrilled when Lawrie was called up.

[jaymeister15]

like the others have said, definitely not worth pissing off one of the best players in baseball.

[number15]

yeh, guess Bautista has earned the right to make his mind heard....

however, I think his defense in RF is not exactly gold glove caliber. They guy is better than most RF in the league and is steller non the less, but not gold glove. He's made a few questionable move there this season. He is just as good at 3B.

The reason Bautista wants to pay RF is because of last season, when he was putting up monster assists and playing the best defense of his career in RF........ i guess he started liking it.

Baseball wise.... he should move... its also his natural position

but his view has weight... and he JAYS must listen

[Weems]

Bautista is the best hitter in baseball, so I'd like him in the less demanding position in the field full time (especially when he's happiest there). I believe him to be average at best in right but that's good enough for me.

It'd be a huge boost for the franchise if Lawrie could stick at 3rd, too. We have a nice stable of OFers right now and possibly down the line, but 3rd isn't as easy a fill. I'm all for being patient with Lawrie at 3rd.

[Relentless88]

This is not even an option. You don't piss off the best player in baseball like that.

Also give Lawrie some time. Although it does look like he might have to eventually move to the outfield.