Mookie Betts at 2nd Base?

[Riverbrian]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/dodgers-rumors-mookie-betts-second-base.html

[chpettit19]

Contract the Dodgers! Playing a guy outside of his 1 main position guarantees either injury or poor production. They're going to ruin Mookie Betts!

I'm being sarcastic. It is an interesting move to make, though, to get his bat in the lineup while allowing him to ease himself back in on the throwing end. I'm sure he's taken some grounders while messing around during ST and batting practice over the last handful of years.

[bean5302]

How often is a strong throw from CF actually valuable? It would be seemingly just as easy to have an infielder designated to be Betts' short throw partner. 

[Trov]

45 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

How often is a strong throw from CF actually valuable? It would be seemingly just as easy to have an infielder designated to be Betts' short throw partner. 

There is a big difference if a throw is not needed, versus a knowing a throw cannot be made.  For example, few run on Buck unless they know he cannot make the throw because he is known for a strong arm.  However, if you know the guy has an arm issue and cannot make throws, you will run more on them.  If you ask the infield group to come further out for relays that affects many other things as well. 

[bean5302]

5 minutes ago, Trov said:

There is a big difference if a throw is not needed, versus a knowing a throw cannot be made.  For example, few run on Buck unless they know he cannot make the throw because he is known for a strong arm.  However, if you know the guy has an arm issue and cannot make throws, you will run more on them.  If you ask the infield group to come further out for relays that affects many other things as well. 

How often is it a problem is the question. Betts is potentially going to be trusted with throws under 100 feet which will require some haste. How often is Betts not being comfortable making long distance throws going to impact the Dodgers?

[chpettit19]

17 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

How often is it a problem is the question. Betts is potentially going to be trusted with throws under 100 feet which will require some haste. How often is Betts not being comfortable making long distance throws going to impact the Dodgers?

Mookie plays RF, not CF. He doesn't like to play CF, but does from time to time. Has played nothing but RF in his 59 games this year.

I'd say every time a ball is hit to right with a guy on it comes into play and teams will take the extra base at will if they know Mookie can't let it fly. So how many games will it be before he's good to really throw again? Is it 1 or 2? Then it's not a big deal. Is it 3 weeks? Then you may be talking a pretty decent sized sum of extra bases you're giving up by having a RFer who can't throw. Even if he's in center you're still giving up extra bases. But every ball to right with a guy on first means the guy is going first to 3rd. Guy on second is tagging on far more balls to right than they would with his usual arm out there. Same with 3rd. The Twins have shown us all year that every extra base you can take is big, and everyone you don't take can be a killer. I don't think it's a gigantic thing, but it's certainly not nothing either.