Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
August 12, 2008
Where to Play Dunn?

Bob Melvin penciled in Dunn to start in right tonight, but that won't last with Upton returning to the majors soon.

It's unlikely that the Diamondbacks would leave Dunn in right field once Upton is healthy. They could put Dunn in left and move Conor Jackson back to first base or put Dunn at first base. Either of those scenarios would involve Chad Tracy moving to the bench.

A more complicated maneuver: Dunn to left, Jackson to first, Tracy to third and Mark Reynolds to second base to take the place of the injured Orlando Hudson.

Melvin wouldn't rule out moving Reynolds to second, but added, "At this point right now, he's playing third base."

Dunn's defense hurts the least at first base. Chad Tracy had his chance to hit his way into the job, but continued to show declining power as he entered his prime years. Putting Dunn at first is probably the best combination of increasing scoring without doing too much damage on the runs allowed side of the equation.


Posted by David Pinto at 08:42 AM | Players | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Dunn has played a little at first base, though not recently. He had 44 games at first in 2002, 19 in 2003, 10 in 2004, and 33 in 2005. He didn't make anybody forget about Keith Hernandez, with mediocre to poor fielding percentages and zone ratings. I'd keep him in left field, as far away from the action as possible.

Posted by: Casey Abell at August 12, 2008 11:51 AM
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