For anyone that's familiar with the classic Abbott & Costello routine I'm referencing in the title, the correct answer is yes. For those that don't know of the routine (and shame on you if you don't), who is always on first; that is of course unless it's naturally. Whatever. Ultimately, Oriole first baseman Derrek Lee will undergo an MRI in Sarasota tomorrow (Wednesday) as a precaution to check out his wrist. Doctors have stressed that this is merely a precaution, and that they're fairly sure that it's the result of tendinitis in Lee's wrists as opposed to there being any damage. However, what if they're wrong?
In last night's regionally televised Oriole game on MASN (where the O's played to a 0-0 draw with the New York Yankees), Luke Scott started at first base. Scott has played some first over the course of the past couple of years, along with previously in high school. Is this the Orioles' contingency plan? It might well be given that the majority of the utility infielders that are prospected to be on the roster are middle infielders.
Speaking for myself, while first base is a key position I think that any long-term absence by Lee would affect the Orioles more offensively than defensively. Lee would potentially bat somewhere between second and fifth in the batting order. Scott would potentially bat somewhere near the bottom (perhaps either seventh or eighth). Last night Luke Scott hit in the third hole; is that really where the Orioles want him long term? Probably not. Lee being gone for any amount of time (in the regular season) would put the Orioles in the same spot they were last year with all of the injuries in that the order would have the be reshuffled and there wouldn't be the necessary support in the middle of the lineup that's necessary to compete in the AL East.
Personally I believe that if Lee were to miss any signifigant time, we'll simply see Guerrero and Reynolds moved up a slot; there's still a lot of support in the linuep, however every little bit helps. I said above that there'd be more of an impact offensively than defensively. While I believe that's true, Lee is still a gold glove first baseman. With the Orioles' knack for playing one-run games, a first baseman being able to pick a ball out of the dirt to keep a runner off base in the ninth inning might be the difference between winning and losing on some nights. Furthermore, the difference between winning and losing might be the difference between starting 10-8 and...2-16.
Odds are that the doctors are right and this is nothing for Derrek Lee. My personal opinion is that he'll be the starting first baseman on April 1st in Tampa. However I applaud Buck Showalter for grabbing the bull by the horns early on and giving Luke Scott some reps at first. With the uncertain nature of today's world, you just never know.
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