WTFchris
06-18-2008, 12:52 PM
The NBA hands out a Sixth Man Award each year, and the NFL recognizes a special teamer and kick returner with a trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii each February.
Meanwhile, the most team-oriented player in baseball must settle for a heartfelt thanks from the manager and an "I Played Five Positions and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt" T-shirt in his closet. No one even knows what to call the guy who stashes several gloves in his locker, shows up each day oblivious to where he'll be on the field -- if he plays at all -- and runs the constant risk of looking foolish for the sake of the club. Is he a utility player, a super-utility player, a super sub or simply multidimensional?
"He's a jack of all trades and master of none," said the Cubs' Mark DeRosa (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6094), a Mark-of-all-trades who is pretty good at several. One thing is for certain: He's becoming more prevalent than ever. In 1992, only seven big leaguers (Mariano Duncan, Casey Candaele, Lenny Harris, Jeff King, Dale Sveum, Rene Gonzales and Skeeter Barnes) played at least 20 innings at all four infield positions or three infield positions and the outfield. According to research by the Career Sports & Entertainment agency, which represents DeRosa, a total of 18 players achieved the feat in 2007. It's easy to see why. With teams routinely carrying at least 12 pitchers, benches have grown shorter and managers are desperate for players capable of plugging several holes. Versatile bench players are also pivotal with about 60 MLB position players currently on the disabled list. The role requires a special set of attributes. "From a physical standpoint, it's athleticism, a nose for the ball and baseball instincts," said a National League scout. "But the biggest thing is, you have to buy into the role. You can't look at it as a condescending move to change positions. You have to look at it as a valuable trait and an asset that you possess." In this week's installment of "Starting 9," we pay tribute to players who've made a contribution at three or more positions this season. If you're looking for such bastions of versatility as Chone Figgins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6986) and Casey Blake (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6310), sorry: They've only played two.
Brandon Inge (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6681), Tigers (C, CF, 3B, LF)
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/numbers/2.gif Inge is an athletic freak of nature. He reportedly can dunk a basketball and hit a golf ball 350 yards, and he once entertained his teammates by kicking a 50-yard field goal during a promotional event at Ford Field in Detroit. Rumor has it that Inge also enjoys blasting pregame fungoes off the roof of the Metrodome in Minnesota. Inge was a shortstop and relief pitcher at Virginia Commonwealth University before the Tigers selected him in the second round of the 1998 draft with an eye on shifting him to catcher. He switched to third base in 2004 and developed into a Gold Glove-caliber defender at the position. When Detroit acquired Miguel Cabrera (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7163) in December, Inge might have been traded if not for his substantial salary. Now the Tigers are glad they kept him. Inge played center field in Curtis Granderson (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7455)'s absence, moved back to third when the Tigers shifted Cabrera to first base and recently began splitting time behind the plate with Pudge Rodriguez (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4680). During spring training, Tigers coach Andy Van Slyke told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that Inge is the only player in the majors with the talent to play all nine positions at a high level. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Inge, Dale Murphy and Craig Biggio are the only players who've ever started at both catcher and center field on Opening Day. That's pretty select company.
Full list here (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3448689)
Meanwhile, the most team-oriented player in baseball must settle for a heartfelt thanks from the manager and an "I Played Five Positions and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt" T-shirt in his closet. No one even knows what to call the guy who stashes several gloves in his locker, shows up each day oblivious to where he'll be on the field -- if he plays at all -- and runs the constant risk of looking foolish for the sake of the club. Is he a utility player, a super-utility player, a super sub or simply multidimensional?
"He's a jack of all trades and master of none," said the Cubs' Mark DeRosa (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6094), a Mark-of-all-trades who is pretty good at several. One thing is for certain: He's becoming more prevalent than ever. In 1992, only seven big leaguers (Mariano Duncan, Casey Candaele, Lenny Harris, Jeff King, Dale Sveum, Rene Gonzales and Skeeter Barnes) played at least 20 innings at all four infield positions or three infield positions and the outfield. According to research by the Career Sports & Entertainment agency, which represents DeRosa, a total of 18 players achieved the feat in 2007. It's easy to see why. With teams routinely carrying at least 12 pitchers, benches have grown shorter and managers are desperate for players capable of plugging several holes. Versatile bench players are also pivotal with about 60 MLB position players currently on the disabled list. The role requires a special set of attributes. "From a physical standpoint, it's athleticism, a nose for the ball and baseball instincts," said a National League scout. "But the biggest thing is, you have to buy into the role. You can't look at it as a condescending move to change positions. You have to look at it as a valuable trait and an asset that you possess." In this week's installment of "Starting 9," we pay tribute to players who've made a contribution at three or more positions this season. If you're looking for such bastions of versatility as Chone Figgins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6986) and Casey Blake (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6310), sorry: They've only played two.
Brandon Inge (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6681), Tigers (C, CF, 3B, LF)
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/numbers/2.gif Inge is an athletic freak of nature. He reportedly can dunk a basketball and hit a golf ball 350 yards, and he once entertained his teammates by kicking a 50-yard field goal during a promotional event at Ford Field in Detroit. Rumor has it that Inge also enjoys blasting pregame fungoes off the roof of the Metrodome in Minnesota. Inge was a shortstop and relief pitcher at Virginia Commonwealth University before the Tigers selected him in the second round of the 1998 draft with an eye on shifting him to catcher. He switched to third base in 2004 and developed into a Gold Glove-caliber defender at the position. When Detroit acquired Miguel Cabrera (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7163) in December, Inge might have been traded if not for his substantial salary. Now the Tigers are glad they kept him. Inge played center field in Curtis Granderson (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7455)'s absence, moved back to third when the Tigers shifted Cabrera to first base and recently began splitting time behind the plate with Pudge Rodriguez (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4680). During spring training, Tigers coach Andy Van Slyke told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that Inge is the only player in the majors with the talent to play all nine positions at a high level. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Inge, Dale Murphy and Craig Biggio are the only players who've ever started at both catcher and center field on Opening Day. That's pretty select company.
Full list here (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3448689)