The Hot Corner

[JoJoforHeisman]

I was noticing that since CJW's arrival at Bama, no player that has started his career at third base has remained there and ended his career at the hot corner. Obviously there are a number of factors that likely led to the various position changes over the years (injury, graduation, etc.), but I just found it interesting to look back and see that those who start out at third base usually find themselves moving elsewhere before they leave.

In 1995, Tad Peterson started at third in his only season at the Capstone. The current cycle began in 1996.

Andy Phillips started out at third in '96, but finished his career at shortstop.

Brent Boyd was originally a third baseman as a freshman starter in '99, but was shifted to second as a junior and eventually to first late in his senior year.

When Boyd moved to second in 2001, Beau Hearod and Adam Pavkovich platooned at third. Pavkovich would move to shortstop the next year and Hearod would spend a season as the full-time DH before ending up in right field as a senior.

In 2002, Allen Rice and Carlos Sosa* started at third, as Pavkovich made the transition to short.

Rice was moved to second base in 2003, and it looks like he will remain in the middle infield. Freshman Evan Bush and JUCO transfer Nathan Meiners split time at third, replacing the injured Sosa.

2004: ???

*Sosa is somewhat different, because he is a JUCO transfer. Though he was recruited as a shorstop, he played mostly third during the 2002 season. We will have to wait and see where he ends up in 2004. Meiners is another JUCO transfer, but he is a utility player capable of filling in at either corner infield position or behind the plate.

If Evan Bush stays at third base for the duration of his career at Bama, he will be the first player to have done so under CJW. However, he's capable of playing just about anywhere in the infield, and there is definitely no guarantee that he will not be moved at some point.

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"When we put on that Alabama uniform, we felt like superheroes."
--Roberto Vaz, 5/10/03

 

[Bo]

Cool stuff JoJo. I've been thinking Carlos would carry the load at SS, but who knows, he could end up at third again. RTR

 

[BAMATRAML]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Bo:
Cool stuff JoJo. I've been thinking Carlos would carry the load at SS, but who knows, he could end up at third again. RTR</font>

I think Carlos' injury pretty much will have him at third now. He doesn't have the range needed for shortstop.

 

[bamajake]

Jojo, what do Andy Phillips, Brent Boyd, Adam Pavkovich, Alan Rice, Carlos Sosa and Evan Bush all have in common? They were middle infielders before coming to Bama. It's not that we are signing third basemen and moving them elsewhere. It seems that each year we think, "Who will play third?" The answer is usually whomever loses the battle for short or second. The following year, the "winner" at short or second graduates or leaves via the draft and the third baseman from the previous year moves to his more natural position. The simple way to break the cycle? Sign a true third baseman.

While you are thinking about this, when was the last time that we had an honest to Doubleday first baseman and not someone who was converted? Remember, Zac Welch was primarily an outfielder in high school. Aaron Clark was primarily a pitcher/outfielder. Brownie, as good as he was at first, played short and third in high school. I guess Robbie Tucker and "Big Daddy" Moeller before Brownie were true first basemen.

It seems that CJW has a philosophy of recruiting middle infielders and outfielders and catchers and converting them to corner infielders. Hey, it works for the most part.

 

[BAMAstudent2]

Allen Rice was signed as a true third baseman. That's what he played all through high school.

 

[JoJoforHeisman]

bamajake,
I completely understand your point, but I wasn't really paying much attention to where these guys might have played in high school. Oftentimes where one might have played at that level has absolutely no bearing on what their true position may be when they reach college and beyond. For example, Andy Phillips, IMO, is/was more of a true third baseman at the college level, even though he played shortstop in high school and ended up there at Alabama. However, at Demopolis Academy, where he was far and away the best player and had the best arm, etc., the coach was almost obligated to play him at short, because Andy was better than any other alternative. The same applies to others as well.

You bring up an excellent point, but sometimes where a guy might have played in high school can end up being completely irrelevant. Spencer Pennington - he played short, but was he a true shortstop? Not at all. Zac Welch may have played outfield in high school, but I think it's safe to say now that he is playing right where he will be the rest of his career - at first base.

You are exactly right, though, as it appears that CJW is just repeating the cycle that starts at the high school level. Take your best defensive options (more or less) in the infield and put them in the middle, then worry about the corner. You have to be strong up the middle above all. I was just observing that for whatever reason, players who start out at third at Bama usually move elsewhere, for whatever reason.

Perhaps CJW's philosophy of recruiting middle infielders stems from the fact that at the high school level, your superior defensive players will likely be found there, regardless of whether they may end up there in the future or not.

[This message has been edited by JoJoforHeisman (edited July 16, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by JoJoforHeisman (edited July 16, 2003).]

 

[bamajake]

I agree Jojo and I am not saying that I disagree with that philosophy. I am just saying that the reason that we have a history of guys coming in and playing a year at third and moving is that when they come in they are used to playing in the middle and when the position that they are accustomed to playing opens up, they move back. I agree completely about Zac and Andy Phillips. Zac is now where be belongs and Andy was, in my opinion, a true third baseman. the same could be said for Jeremy Brown. The first time that I saw Brownie I thought that he looked like a catcher. But for an emergency created by Kelley Gulledge going out after his junior year, Brownie may well have never played catcher. Look where he is now.