Reese Kaplan -- Sometimes You're Not Where You're Supposed to Be

Some of you may have read the news that Eduardo Escobar in his rehab assignment in the minors is actually being asked to test drive playing shortstop while out of the spotlight of the New York media.  Escobar has been known primarily as a third baseman during his career having logged 698 games at the hot corner.  Surprisingly, he actually has appeared in 329 games at shortstop as well as 129 at second base.  He has also appeared in a handful of other games around the diamond, including DH, the outfield, first base and single game entries at both pitcher and catcher.  So maybe the idea he could be an emergency substitute for Francisco Lindor isn't as crazy at it initially sounded.

Of course, players taking positions other than what they're accustomed to playing is nothing new for baseball fans around the majors.  Mets fans are well aware of various players being forced to move to an unfamiliar spot on the field due to injuries to others or multiple substitutions that left the manager with very few options left to address defensive needs.

Who can recall the experiment of turning Todd Hundley into an outfielder?  In his case it wasn't injuries to other players that forced his manager's hand.  It was the combination of his own elbow injury leaving his defensive needs as a catcher somewhat wanting, but the bigger obstacles for him was future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza who arrived to New York from the Marlins after his banishment from the Dodger Stadium where he'd always called home.  Hundley was at it for less than five weeks worth of attempts at fielding left, only completed about 4 of those games and soon found himself packing to (ironically) Los Angeles to help replace the void created by the Piazza departure.  He did put together two credible years on the left coast, slugging 24 HRs during his age 30 and 31 seasons, but when he moved onto the Cubbies it was clear his career was over as he'd managed over the course of two seasons out there he failed to crack the Mendoza line.  He finished up in a welcome back/see ya later ploy by the Dodgers for his final season at age 34.

Some short term experiments are done out of sheer necessity.  Who fails to recall the Mets keeping two relief pitchers in the game at the same time with Roger McDowell and Jesse Orosco taking turns between the mound and the outfield?

Then there are the times a position player is sent to the mound to pitch, usually in a lost cause game when the team is slated to add a big "L" to their record.  The manager feels it is a waste of limited bullpen resources to ask the normal relievers to pitch multiple innings when they won't contribute to a victory.  Recently the Mets saw the usual right handed hitting DH Darin Ruf turn in a couple of surprisingly impressive innings in just such a scenario.  

Not all of the position changes are successful.  Who remembers Mike Piazza as a first baseman?  How about Juan Samuel as a centerfielder?  Then there was future slugger Kevin Mitchell trying to appear adept enough with his feet and glove to play shortstop.  Have a few adult beverages with your fellow Mets fan friends and start to compile a list of bizarre fielding assignments and the purported rationale for making them.  Escobar at shortstop may not make sense at first glance but we have all seen much worse.  Remember Travis d'Arnaud and Asdrubal Cabrera moving between second base and third base 22 times in a game against the Yankees?