Melvin said Escobar will play second base as well as short in spring training, working with the team’s new bench coach, former major league second baseman Willie Randolph

I actually read an interview in a Venezuelan paper when he first went down there where he talked about how they wanted him to learn 2nd as well although to the best of my knowledge, he has never played 2nd down there.

Melvin also said in that fanposted interview that one place they had to cut payroll was bench and role players.

My guess and that is a true WAG, is that there is a good chance that “Esky” would be a backup infielder probably later in the year, but who knows.

I’d love it if they played Hardy at SS for awhile with Esky at 2nd. If Prince is on a treadmill these days like he should be and either Billy is more consistent or next year’s 3rd base is good we could really have a great defensive infield. I know I’m in the minority though.

Alcides’s MLE line last year was .282/.318/.367/.679. If he’s as good on defense as we’ve heard, he’s probably an average SS overall if he played there in the majors right now. He’s also cheap for three years.

At second base, if his defense is diminished to say +10 runs instead of about +20 at short (just a 100% guess), that line makes him below average and probably less productive overall than Weeks.

I’m fine with them playing him at 2B a little in spring to increase his versatility in case they need him as utility guy for a little bit or in case of an injury, but playing him full time at 2B in 09 is probably not a good idea.

I’d like to see him at AAA for most of the year, to see if improve the walk rate and sustain the power— and generally improve as a player. If you want a fun comparison, go look up Jose Reyes’s minor league numbers

“At the very least, I’d think the supporters of the "Move Rickie to Centerfield” campaign would see this as an encouraging sign."

Well, I did just make a “Rickie Weeks in Centerfield for ’09, Boner Jam in ’08” CD mix, if that’s what you’re asking.

Also, Hardy is the one who should be moving to second. For the above noted “range” reason.

Ultimately, I don’t think Hardy will be traded, because as an organization, we seem to always be coming up short on defense. I’m pretty sure the only above-average infielder we have defensively other than Hardy is, well, Kendall.

Since Melvin has also said that he sees Rickie Weeks as the leadoff batter if the season started today, perhaps we’re in the market for a new leadoff hitter.

Perhaps Escobar and Weeks would split time at 2nd. Would Escobar bat leadoff when he played?

Wouldn’t you agree that if Escobar puts up anywhere close to a .350 OBP it will be because he is hitting .330? Not that it couldn’t happen, but highly unlikely.