“Just Having Fun”: Royce Lewis and the Ironic Burden of Joy in Pro Sports

I didn’t find myself alarmed at his response to playing second base last year. In the minors he moved between shortstop, centerfield and third base. He had 5 innings of second base in 2019. It seemed reasonable to me that he would be uncomfortable being thrown into a position at the major league level that he hasn’t really ever played. That’s the kind of move you do in spring trading or you make sure players have experience in the positions they might be needed while in the minors.

If they foresee a fit for him at first base or second base that is a conversation they should have with him as they enter this winter. Playing 2B or 1B at the major league level isn’t trivial. The foot work will be different than he has experienced at both positions. The instincts at first base about going to his right will be very different. 

49 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Often referred to as being a "team player". 

Following two teams, I can readily compare them and see stark differences. Fun little tidbit, Royce was ranked 62nd in the 2022 Fangraphs Prospect rankings, right ahead of the Mets 3B prospects Brett Baty and Mark Vientos. Those two players have also come across some difficult times. And Brett Baty, a half year his junior, was ALSO asked to move over to 2B occasionally. And Baty did so without complaining to the media. He's not used a lot there, but funny enough does when the Mets primary 2B, veteran and former batting champion Jeff McNeil, is asked to play LF or even CF, again having never complained to the much more tenacious NYC media. 

Are Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil "utility" players? I guess you can make that argument. But they're also both helping their team more than Royce is. And no one thinks lesser of them because they happen to play out of position a day or two each week. Actually, McNeil was always thought of as a bit of a clubhouse cancer but his willingness to play out of position has won him a lot of good will. 

If you're not one of the 3 best players on your team, you should always happily play another position. And Rafael Devers found out that even team stars should be willing to put themselves into positions of discomfort for the betterment of the team, from time to time. 

If Royce doesn't want to be a "utility" player, maybe he'd be better off retiring and starting a small business or something. Something without utility is useless after all. 

According to my five minutes of research, Lewis played at 2B ONCE, in AA, prior to last year.  Considering what the commenters on here already think of his defensive skills, I would suggest that he was probably a little leery about whether he would be detrimental to the team playing a position that he doesn't know.  The FO didn't ask him in the offseason or in spring training about working on the 2B position although we had opined on it in many offseason threads about a way to plug a hole in the lineup.  Not all players have the confidence of Michael Cuddyer and just say F it and give me glove.

The Devers situation is even worse as the team had multiple chances to address it.  Once they signed Bregman, they could have approached Devers in the offseason about getting some 1B work in and heavily worked with him during spring training so he would have at least felt capable about fielding the position.  They didn't and when they tried to pressure him after Casas got hurt, he rightly pushed back.  Again, the team had a chance to smooth it over by suggesting that he include some 1B work as part of his daily routine so they can use him at 1B if they ever get healthy enough for all of their players to be on the field.  The FO has seemingly refused to talk to Devers about it.

Ultimately, I would like to see both Lewis and Devers become more flexible in the positions they play, but the quote: ‘Lack of Planning on Your Part Doesn’t Constitute an Emergency on My Part’, that I have heard much of my life, should also apply to front offices as well as in other instances in life.  That means better communication and giving them the time and space to prepare to actually play the position that you're asking of them.