Who’s On 1st? Not Alec Bohm
The 2011 film “Moneyball” features a scene in which Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane and coach Ron Washington try to convince former catcher Scott Hatteberg to return to the Majors as a 1st baseman.
When Hatteberg protests, Beane offers up some advice.
“It’s not that hard, Scott,” retorts Beane. “Tell him Wash.”
“It’s incredibly hard,” Washington said.
Ron Washington was right; playing 1st base in the Major Leagues is no easy task. Playing 3rd base is even harder. The hot corner requires soft hands, lightning-quick reflexes, and a cannon for an arm. Not many are up to the task. Alec Bohm is.
Yes, Alec Bohm is already the starting 3rd baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, but his hold on the position is not set in stone. After all, it wasn’t his defense that propelled him to 2nd place in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. Given his stature (6’5, 218 lbs), offensive prowess, and defensive mishaps, some are calling for Bohm to be moved across the diamond to lessen his load. Here’s why those people are wrong.
Elite Traits and Long-term Value
Alec Bohm possesses a rare combination of size, fielding touch, and arm strength. At first glance, Bohm appears to be too long and lanky to be on the left side of the infield — that is, until you see him move. His feet move smoothly, dancing across the dirt as they turn his length into an advantage and set up his throws. His hands are soft and natural as they pick short hops and ground balls with aplomb, funneling the ball to perhaps his greatest strength: his arm. The ball explodes out of Bohm’s hand, his fluid arm action allowing him to snap off throws from a multitude of angles.
While these traits are all on par for what a Major League 3rd baseman should possess, it’s the fluidity and ease with which Bohm displays these traits that make him stand out. Since there are few infielders of Bohm’s stature that move with the same grace, why squander that potential at 1st base? Sure, 1st base isn’t easy, but playing 3rd base is at a much higher value defensively.
Moving Bohm to 1st would turn an exciting young player into a statue, rendering his arm strength useless and diminishing his overall value to the lineup. It’s the equivalent of buying a Lamborghini and always driving under the speed limit. What’s the point? Shouldn’t the Phillies try to wring every ounce of value out of Bohm that they can?
Impact on the Rest of the Infield
Bohm’s case for remaining at the hot corner is also helped by a logistical roadblock: Rhys Hoskins. While Hoskins’ season ended when he tore his UCL on September 12th, the damage was done to his non-throwing arm, giving hope that he could return by Opening Day. Although a streaky hitter, Hoskins’ positive presence in the lineup will be critical to the Phillies’ success in 2021, especially with the potential absences of both Didi Gregorius and J.T. Realmuto. A near defensive liability (-5 defensive runs in 2020), Hoskins fits the classic mold of a power bat whose poor defense can be “hidden” at 1st base. As the outfield has proven inhospitable to Hoskins and the National League DH not set for a return, the 1st base appears to be Hoskins’s only home in 2021.
Photo: Yong Kim/Philadelphia Inquirer
Save for Rhys Hoskins, keeping Bohm at 3rd base provides greater flexibility for defensive lineups. With Bohm at 3rd base, Jean Segura would be free to take over/platoon with Scott Kingery at 2nd base, where Segura excels defensively, or migrate back to shortstop in the event Didi Gregorius doesn’t return. While the veteran Segura is currently the more polished fielder, he has lost a step at shortstop and some zip in his arm. Bohm’s presence at 3rd could negate Segura’s diminished range — his athleticism and arm strength would gobble up balls in the gap, allowing Segura to shade closer towards the 2nd base gap.
In terms of the rest of the team, Bohm’s permanence at 3rd would grant Kingery a full evaluation in the infield/a super-utility role and let Adam Haseley and Roman Quinn duke it out in center field without Kingery interjecting in the competition. Furthermore, securing players at one position, particularly in the infield, provides a level of consistency and chemistry that is otherwise unattainable. The more players are shipped from one position to the next, the greater the team’s uncertainty as a defensive unit. The presence of Gregorius at shortstop and Realmuto at catcher last year gave the infield a level of confidence that they could handle anything thrown their way. Alec Bohm is the next player who can provide that surety.
Confidence and Growth
Despite all of the praise that I’ve heaped upon him, Alec Bohm did not have a perfect year at 3rd base. In fact, with 4 errors and -5 defensive runs saved above average, some would say he didn’t have a very good year at 3rd base. But numbers only tell part of the story, and different numbers tell a different story about Alec Bohm’s defense. My argument for Bohm’s future at 3rd doesn’t rest on just his performance this year, but rather the potential that he displayed in his rookie season. It is important to remember that this is a player who skipped AAA entirely and carries the weight of years of organizational failure. The Phillies were starving for a homegrown success story and added offensive production in the lineup. The pressure on Bohm was immense.
Back to the numbers. Yes, Bohm did commit 5 errors, but when and how those errors occurred is significant. Bohm’s defensive mishaps came early in the season and were all the result of a lack of confidence rather than a lack of ability. Bohm’s blunders happened when he double-clutched on an easy throw or overthought a routine ground ball. 3 out of Bohm’s 4 errors occurred in his first 9 games, including 2 in his 9th. Additionally, 2 of those errors came from overthrows on routine plays, 1 from dropping a routine catch, and only 1 from the act of fielding itself.
Although Bohm’s mishaps were anxiety-induced, it’s not as if his overthrows were an early sign of the dreaded yips. The poor kid was just nervous. You try jumping from AA straight to the big leagues. His improvement over the course of the season is a testament to his mental fortitude and natural fielding ability.
Moving Bohm to 1st base would erase the confidence he’s built at 3rd, potentially impacting his best skill as a player: his offense.
Featured Image: Yong Kim/Philadelphia Inquirer
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