Uncertainty in the Middle Infield

I didn't see much of the game today. I watched Team USA lose in the Confederations Cup final instead. (What can I say, I love my country) I saw that Linebrink pitched much better and Dye hit a home run, but that's about it. So I will use this opportunity to comment on some other issues going on.

I keep hearing that Alexei Ramirez needs to be moved back to second, or even move to center field but I think that would a terrible mistake. He obviously needs to stop the lackadaisical throws on routine ground balls, but for every error he makes on a routine play, I feel he makes up for it by making a great play that very few shortstops in the major leagues can make. He has outstanding range and a great arm. No one else on our roster has anywhere near the skills that Alexei possesses at short.

From what I have seen of Beckham at third, there is no way he is ready to be a shortstop in the big leagues. I think Alexei could certainly benefit from a few days off to clear his head, but I can't see Ozzie doing that. I am not sure how you cure a guy of lobbing the ball across the diamond, but eventually Alexei will learn and this issue will be a thing of the past.

The other problem I have with Alexei Ramirez is he is not a two-hitter. Unfortunately he is our best option there currently so you can't really blame him for his approach at the plate, it is who he is. I would love to have a two-hitter that is willing to take a few more pitches, hit the ball the other way, and not swing constantly at sliders three feet of the plate, but that just won't happen with Alexei. In the future, I could see either Beckham or Getz moving into the two spot and allowing Alexei to move down in the order where he would hypothetically get more fastballs but that brings me to my second point: second base.

I thought at the start of the year that by the all-star break we would have a second baseman fully in place, and I am not sure we do. It was clear that Lillibridge wasn't the answer, and Getz has certainly been the best, but he still hasn't been all that impressive. He got hot for a little bit, but I have my doubts that he can ever become a consistent major league player with the approach he currently has at the plate. He is a pull hitter, with a slightly uppercut swing, and has a really hard time laying off the high fastball. Not exactly what you want to hear for a guy who is only 185 pounds. He does have good speed, and I think he could really learn a lot from Scotty Pods on how to hit the ball the other way and basically slapping the ball between third and short. (I am by no means recommending using Podsednik's hopskip approach) I would like to see Nix get starts against lefties for the time being because I think he still has a chance to break out. I am not a big fan of platooning but I think that is the best option at second for now until someone really takes the position by the horns and claims it their own.