Would you rather play Omar Vizquel or Albert Pujols at shortstop?

[Jack of Arcades]

Compared to the best shortstop in the game, Pujols would likely cost you 60 runs.

[JaredL]

[ QUOTE ]
Compared to the best shortstop in the game, Pujols would likely cost you 60 runs.

[/ QUOTE ]

How many runs a game is he better than an average shortstop from the plate?

[Jack of Arcades]

Last year he was roughly 70 run better than the average shortstop over a full season.

Given that we don't know just how bad he will be or any negative effects of him playing out of position, I say you play it safe and sign the shortstop.

[Pudge714]

Pujols > Vizquel
Pujols < An average hitting but very good fielding SS.

[NickMPK]

[ QUOTE ]
Pujols > Vizquel
Pujols < An average hitting but very good fielding SS.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know he's not "average hitting" this year, but I guess I'm referring to Vizquel "in his prime" (excluding that one freak season where he hit .333).

[Triumph36]

is it worth considering the effect pujols at SS will have on extending innings and thus pitchers and bullpens over the course of the year?

[kyleb]

why are we considering this. derek jeter already plays shortstop and is better than omar vizquel and probably isn't appreciably worse than pujols.

[LBJ]

Pujols has at least played 3b in his career. That coupled with him being one of the best pure hitters in the majors for the past 5 years makes this an easy decision.

If you take Mo Vaughn and give him Pujols/Arod hitting skills this would be a much more interesting question.

[prohornblower]

If they need to, they just make Gold Glover Scott Rolen play 1-2 steps to his left or back a couple steps and hope he can put more on his throws from 3rd if need-be, to help compensate for Pujols' lack of range. Also, throughout the season it is inevitable that Pujols will get better at playing Shortstop from day 1.

But in terms of batting there is no variable, so it's not like Vizquel gets any better at hitting while Pujols is learning and getting better at SS.

[NickMPK]

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If you take Mo Vaughn and give him Pujols/Arod hitting skills this would be a much more interesting question.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, this was more or less my intention. I have apparently underrated Pujols's fielding quite a bit.