Blalock moving to first, is it a good idea thou?

Texas Rangers’ third baseman Hank Blalock is following the footsteps of other oft-injured sluggers, and that is moving to first base. Blalock is currently on the disabled list with a torn left hamstring since April 26th. Hank was actually the one who brought up the idea of him playing first, saying he thinks its best for the team. He’s now working with coach Ron Washington on how to play the position, he’ll spend a couple days in Arizona working on this. This should help Blalock stay healthy, but is it best for this team? The answer is Yes and No, lets take a look.

The minuses far outweigh the pluses in this positional switch, but in the short term it could help the Rangers and Blalock out. The Rangers have lacked a legitimate power supply at first base since trading Mark Teixeira, so in that aspect it could help. On the flip side, when is the last time Hank put up a power hitting first baseman type numbers? Regardless thou, he’s still a better option at first base then Chris Shelton. This would also enable the team to keep hot hitting Ramon Vazquez as the starting third baseman, splitting some time with German Duran. All positives are strictly short term thou.

Lets look at the minuses and long term ramifications. For one, like I said earlier Blalock hasn’t batted like a first baseman should in many years. The last time he hit 25 home runs was in the 2005, granted he has missed considerable time over the past few seasons. In 2007, he only played 58 games after missing most of the season with a Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (nerve damage). In those 58 games he did hit 10 homers, so you could argue over a full season those would of been big numbers.

Ramon Vazquez is also not a true viable option at third base. True he’s been on fire this year, currently batting a .338 (thru May 17th), with 2 homers and 7 rbis in just 25 games. But looking at his career he’s nothing more then about a .250 hitter. Last season, he received considerable playing time due to the Blalock injury and actually hit worse then that, going .230 over 300 at bats, with 72 strikeouts, yes almost 1 every 3 at bats. Vazquez is splitting time with rookie German Duran. Duran is pretty much a non-factor at this point at the age of 24, but does have some good potential, he hit .300 with 22 homers in the Texas League last season. Right now thou, he looks a little over matched, batting a .174 in 46 at bats with just 1 homer.

For Blalock, this move could also hurt him financially. Blalock could essentially be a free agent after this season, the Rangers do have a club option for 2009 thou at $6.2 million. If the Rangers don’t pick up his options you could see teams approaching him in the off-season like he is a first baseman. And once again, he doesn’t really put up first baseman type numbers. His numbers aren’t the greatest for third baseman either, but I’m sure he could make more money with that classification then he would at first.

Another downside for Blalock and the Rangers, big time first base prospect Chris Davis. Davis is waiting in the wings at AA-Frisco, and should be promoted to AAA-Oklahoma soon. He’s only 22 and is one of the team’s top prospects. He’s played some third in the minor leagues, but first base is his natural position. The Rangers currently look at Davis, as being an above-average first baseman once he reaches the bigs. Davis has a chance to be a September call up, and then a full-time player in 2009. So leaving Blalock at first could either impede this kid’s rise up the system, OR it could be the kid who squeezes Blalock out of a job all together.

Thanks to the Dallas Morning News for this information about the move.

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Tags: MLB, Texas Rangers