4/19/08

Just a thought: Pagan to first?

Sure, Carlos Delgado added two RBI's tonight. Sure, Angel Pagan has never played a game at first base. Sure, it's late and this is a most likely misguided thought in a giddy, Pagan-loving, Mets fans head.

But.

What about Pagan at first?

After the spring training athletic contest amongst the player, and Pagan coming out on top in nearly every single event, we know he's a very athletic guy. He's still pretty young, and flashes a good glove in the outfield. Why not give him some reps at first, just to see what he's got?

Delgado is obviously not the player he was two years ago. Ravaged by nagging injuries, he just can't swing the same. He needs to start going with pitches and taking the the other way, but he seems unwilling to do that.

Pagan is athletic, young, and most importantly, hungry. Friday night's hustle double on a bloop to shallow right is just another notch for Pagan. When Moises Alou comes back, Pagan is the odd man out. If he wants to get as much playing time in as possible, he'll try to work as many positions as possible, right?

Put him at first a few hours before a game, and start knocking some ground balls to him. See what happens. He's 6-foot-2-inches tall, so he should have a decent reach at the bag. If we're talking moving David Wright to first, why not Pagan?