CBRACKE
Loading ...
I’m still waiting to hear whether or not Albert Pujols will be in the lineup at first base or second base tonight against the Pirates. Why must I even ask the question? Because of some shenanigans last night in a 12-inning loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
After second baseman Cesar Izturis was injured when an Eric Gagne pitch hit him in the arm and caused him to be unable to play second base when the game went into extra innings. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa met Pujols and third-base coach Jose Oquendo after the half-inning in which Izturis sustained the injury and explained the need to shift Pujols over to second base with the understanding that he wouldn’t attempt to convert double plays or make any fancy defensive plays. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, La Russa entertained putting Schumaker at second base but instead went to Pujols, who at first lobbied to play shortstop, his position at Maple Woods Community College.
So I realize that La Russa didn’t consider how this move would affect fantasy leagues and it’s laughable to suggest that he should have, but that doesn’t negate the fact that league commissioners need to react to the development in an appropriate manner.
I’m not going to suggest that every league needs to be run the way I would run a league, but it’s games like the Cards/Brew Crew contest yesterday that should cause you to evaluate your league’s position eligibility requirements. It’s safe to say that the majority of leagues require a player appeared at 20 games at a position last season to be eligible at that position this season. Typically a similar number is required to gain eligibility during the current season. There are however those leagues that award eligibility based on a single game which means Pujols will be appearing at second base for the next five-plus months.
I think I just lost my lunch.
You would’ve thought we would’ve learned back when outfielder Jermaine Dye played a single game at shortstop during the 2005 season, but the desire to differentiate your league can sometimes lead to overlooking logic. If nothing else, consider this post my attempt to stand on my soapbox and plead with commissioners everywhere to talk through and consider the effects of even the smallest rule in your league constitution, because no one wants to be beaten by Albert Pujols the second baseman.
EDITORS NOTE: I’m still just as worried about Pujols’ elbow injury as I was this spring and at some point this season, his fantasy owners will have a difficult decision to make regarding if they want to continue to gamble on his health or sell high.
Photo Courtesy of Fox Sports
No Comments so far
Leave a comment
Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>