Alex Blandino transitioning to shortstop

[Lark11]

www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140724&content_id=85986620&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

Pioneer notes: Blandino happy at shortstop
Converted Stanford third baseman feeling comfortable with Billings
By Greg Rachac / Special to MiLB.com07/24/2014 10:00 AM ET


The not-so-simple transition from playing third base in college to shortstop in the pros has been a smooth one for Cincinnati Reds first-round pick Alex Blandino.

And it's not like Blandino was pulled from his comfort zone kicking and screaming -- he's fully accepted the move.

"I played short primarily growing up, so it's nice to get back over there," said Blandino, a 21-year-old rookie with Billings, the Reds' Pioneer League affiliate. "We have a great coaching staff here that has really helped me ease back into it. I feel pretty good out there. Every night I feel like I'm getting the hang of it and the game has been flowing pretty nice."

Blandino, a heralded prospect out of Stanford, was a supplemental first-rounder (No. 29 overall) in June. He primarily played third base for the Cardinal and was named a second-team All-American by Baseball America in 2014.

But the Reds, who've also assigned touted third baseman and 2014 second-round pick Taylor Sparks to Billings, want Blandino at short, where he's so far flashed quickness, range and arm strength. Through his first 23 games, he had a .940 fielding percentage, making just six errors in 100 total chances.

First-year Mustangs manager candlestick Schofield, who played much of his 14-year Major League career at short, has helped ease the transition for Blandino. And there's no question about how he'll learn going forward, because he has been and will be in the lineup virtually every day.

"We've told him to just go out there and play," Schofield said. "He's done everything we've asked. We told him to not worry about statistics or anything like that, just go out and play."

"You just have to be a little bit more creative" at shortstop, Blandino said. "There are a lot more reads on different balls, and there are a lot of different plays. I don't always know what's going to happen on a play, but sometimes you just have to make it up as you go along. As long as you get the out, that's what matters."

At the plate, Blandino makes solid contact and has shown good discipline. He's got extra-base punch and the ability to hit to all fields, though some have questioned his power potential. Still, he's hit a couple towering home runs to this point, including one moon shot at Dehler Park.

Entering Wednesday, Blandino was hitting .292 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 18 runs scored. He had walked 13 times and his on-base percentage was a solid .402.

"I've been swinging at the pitches that I want to be swinging at; I haven't been chasing too much," Blandino said. "I've been putting good swings on the ball. For the most part I feel comfortable up there. Playing every night and getting to see live arms really helps.

"I think it comes down to controlling at-bats, being selective and swinging at the pitches that you want to swing at. Having a good eye is big, and that's still something I need to get better at."

[Lark11]

The Blandino pick grew on me as soon as the Reds made it. In fact, I'm still preferring it to the Nick Howard pick.

And, the highlighted sentiment in the above article is music to my ears. Finally adding a hitter who understands the importance of controlling the strikezone.

[The Duke]

Jul 24, 2014 15:25:15 GMT -5 Lark11 said:

The Blandino pick grew on me as soon as the Reds made it. In fact, I'm still preferring it to the Nick Howard pick.

And, the highlighted sentiment in the above article is music to my ears. Finally adding a hitter who understands the importance of controlling the strikezone.

Blandino, Sparks, and Brian O'Grady have all shown good plate discipline so far in Billings, each of them with OBP's over .400

If Blandino has the defensive chops to stick at SS, he has the opportunity to be a premium bat there.

Sure it's only 4 IP, but Nick Howard had been perfect thorough those 4 innings with 4 k's so far in Dayton. I feel better about the Howard pick than I did about the Lorenzen pick at this time last year.

[redsfanman]

A few quick responses...

Regarding the highlighted segment that shows that Blandino understands the importance of controlling the strike zone and being selective, blah, anyone can say that.  Anyone can read some book telling them what to think or say.  Whether they can carry that over into their game is a whole different question.  Even a very intelligent player can end up being completely overmatched.  I don't believe the problem in the Reds' farm system is that every player fails to understand the strike zone... the ones who do understand lack the talent to take advantage of it.

Is there any way to change the filters regarding 'candlestick'?  I mean, former pitching coach candlestick Pole and 'first year Mustangs Manager candlestick Schofield' are people... not furniture   candlestick candlestick candlestick.

Does anyone actually expect Alex Blandino to stay at shortstop?  Todd Frazier started lots of minor league games at shortstop and that hasn't made him a MLB shortstop, is Blandino any different in that sense?  Is this just an experiment until he gets to AA?

I have absolutely no idea what to expect from Blandino, but I'm happy to see how well he's hit.  14 walks and 16 strikeouts isn't too shabby.  Does 2016 seem like a realistic target for him to reach MLB?

Regarding Lorenzen vs Nick Howard, I guess I also feel better about Howard's selection this year than I did with Lorenzen last year, but that's mostly because of Lorenzen surprising me and seemingly justifying the whole philosophy (going back to Tony Cingrani) that resulted in Howard's selection.  Also everyone knows that Howard is a pitcher, without Lorenzen's questions about wanting time playing CF.  Some of the scouting reports on Lorenzen focused on questions about his bat, which is now irrelevant and always has been with Howard.  Last year I suspected that Mike Lorenzen would be a fast-rising reliever and closer candidate, but now it looks like he can, indeed, be a starter... and maybe Howard can too.

[The Duke]

Jul 25, 2014 8:46:46 GMT -5 redsfanman said:

A few quick responses...

Does anyone actually expect Alex Blandino to stay at shortstop?  Todd Frazier started lots of minor league games at shortstop and that hasn't made him a MLB shortstop, is Blandino any different in that sense?  Is this just an experiment until he gets to AA?

I have absolutely no idea what to expect from Blandino, but I'm happy to see how well he's hit.  14 walks and 16 strikeouts isn't too shabby.  Does 2016 seem like a realistic target for him to reach MLB?
.

Most of the professional websites (Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MiLB.com) thinks he has the tools to sign there, and unlike Frazier, Blandino has the body type to fit at SS (6'0 185 as opposed to Frazier's 6'3" 220)

2016 would be pretty aggressive, I'd say 2017 would be much more likely, unless something clicks and he just mashes and ends next year in AAA.
Mid 2018 may be the most likeliest scenario.

[Lark11]

Jul 25, 2014 11:53:34 GMT -5 The Duke said:

Jul 25, 2014 8:46:46 GMT -5 redsfanman said:

A few quick responses...

Does anyone actually expect Alex Blandino to stay at shortstop?  Todd Frazier started lots of minor league games at shortstop and that hasn't made him a MLB shortstop, is Blandino any different in that sense?  Is this just an experiment until he gets to AA?

I have absolutely no idea what to expect from Blandino, but I'm happy to see how well he's hit.  14 walks and 16 strikeouts isn't too shabby.  Does 2016 seem like a realistic target for him to reach MLB?
.

Most of the professional websites (Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MiLB.com) thinks he has the tools to sign there, and unlike Frazier, Blandino has the body type to fit at SS (6'0 185 as opposed to Frazier's 6'3" 220)

2016 would be pretty aggressive, I'd say 2017 would be much more likely, unless something clicks and he just mashes and ends next year in AAA.
Mid 2018 may be the most likeliest scenario.

Interesting. They think he *CAN* stick at shortstop???

I'm skeptical, but keeping an open mind.

[The Duke]

Jul 25, 2014 12:02:48 GMT -5 Lark11 said:

Jul 25, 2014 11:53:34 GMT -5 The Duke said:

Most of the professional websites (Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, MiLB.com) thinks he has the tools to sign there, and unlike Frazier, Blandino has the body type to fit at SS (6'0 185 as opposed to Frazier's 6'3" 220)

2016 would be pretty aggressive, I'd say 2017 would be much more likely, unless something clicks and he just mashes and ends next year in AAA.
Mid 2018 may be the most likeliest scenario.

Interesting. They think he *CAN* stick at shortstop???

I'm skeptical, but keeping an open mind.

Damn you autocorrect¡!

Yes, CAN stick there. He's played SS in the past as well

[schellis]

I like Bandino a lot more if he's a SS.

I also demand that we slap the nickname Beef on O'Grady.

[kinsm]

Blandino was promoted to Dayton, he'll fill in for Carlton Daal who was placed on the dl.

[mackenzie45220]

I don't think it's as black and white as "can he stick at shortstop?" I think the question is how much of a liability will he be at shortstop. Hanley Ramirez is a terrible defender for a shortstop, but he plays it anyway just because it's hard to find shortstops who can hit. He won't be a gold glover at short, but does he have enough range and arm strength to defend the position as adequately as Jhonny Peralta? Far from out of the question.

Like Redsfanman said, we tried Frazier at shortstop in the minors. But even if he played the position now, he would defend it better than Hanley Ramirez. Our standards for shortstop defense are a little higher. But if Blandino defends the position as passably as a guy like Peralta, Jed Lowrie, or Derek Jeter (he has no range, especially at this age), then he's our shortstop of the future.

[redsfanman]

Jul 30, 2014 8:24:03 GMT -5 mackenzie45220 said:

I don't think it's as black and white as "can he stick at shortstop?" I think the question is how much of a liability will he be at shortstop. Hanley Ramirez is a terrible defender for a shortstop, but he plays it anyway just because it's hard to find shortstops who can hit. He won't be a gold glover at short, but does he have enough range and arm strength to defend the position as adequately as Jhonny Peralta? Far from out of the question.

Like Redsfanman said, we tried Frazier at shortstop in the minors. But even if he played the position now, he would defend it better than Hanley Ramirez. Our standards for shortstop defense are a little higher. But if Blandino defends the position as passably as a guy like Peralta, Jed Lowrie, or Derek Jeter (he has no range, especially at this age), then he's our shortstop of the future.

Accepting a bat-first defensively challenged shortstop would be a pretty drastic change for the Reds.  Prioritizing defense, especially at shortstop, has been a trend that has lasted through multiple managers and GMs.  The organization has resisted pressure to use Frazier and Phillips at shortstop for years, and caving with Blandino would be a big change.  Pitching expert Bryan Price seems likely to manage the Reds for at least the next several years, and seems like an unlikely candidate to cave on the prioritization of good fielding, to the detriment of the pitching staff.

Yep, Hanley Ramirez is a shortstop.  Many teams, in my opinion, would have moved him off the position years ago... certainly the Reds would have.  Jeter, in my opinion, has stuck at shortstop more due to reputation than fielding success (how embarrassing would it be to move the team captain off his position when he's supposed to be ending his great career with dignity???).

Blandino seems to have pretty average skills across the board, will he become a great hitter to offset fielding concerns like Hanley Ramirez?  Will he become a household name like Jeter?  Is he the next superstar?  I'm very skeptical on all counts... it seems like being able to play shortstop signifies Blandino's best chance to be a standout player, and merely something they've deemed worth exploring at the moment...

[schellis]

Hanley doesn't hit when he isn't playing SS. Jeter should have been moved back when A-Rod was traded to the Yankees as A-Rod was the superior defensive player.

I think more and more teams are keeping players at SS for as long as they can be at least average at the position, if the Reds didn't have Cozart or had a legit 3B prospect in addition to Frazier they would have tried Frazier at SS.

[The Duke]

I'm going to a Dragons game at the end of August, I'll be interested to see how he looks in the field.

[mackenzie45220]

Jul 30, 2014 9:28:34 GMT -5 redsfanman said:

Jul 30, 2014 8:24:03 GMT -5 mackenzie45220 said:

I don't think it's as black and white as "can he stick at shortstop?" I think the question is how much of a liability will he be at shortstop. Hanley Ramirez is a terrible defender for a shortstop, but he plays it anyway just because it's hard to find shortstops who can hit. He won't be a gold glover at short, but does he have enough range and arm strength to defend the position as adequately as Jhonny Peralta? Far from out of the question.

Like Redsfanman said, we tried Frazier at shortstop in the minors. But even if he played the position now, he would defend it better than Hanley Ramirez. Our standards for shortstop defense are a little higher. But if Blandino defends the position as passably as a guy like Peralta, Jed Lowrie, or Derek Jeter (he has no range, especially at this age), then he's our shortstop of the future.

Accepting a bat-first defensively challenged shortstop would be a pretty drastic change for the Reds.  Prioritizing defense, especially at shortstop, has been a trend that has lasted through multiple managers and GMs.  The organization has resisted pressure to use Frazier and Phillips at shortstop for years, and caving with Blandino would be a big change.  Pitching expert Bryan Price seems likely to manage the Reds for at least the next several years, and seems like an unlikely candidate to cave on the prioritization of good fielding, to the detriment of the pitching staff.

Yep, Hanley Ramirez is a shortstop.  Many teams, in my opinion, would have moved him off the position years ago... certainly the Reds would have.  Jeter, in my opinion, has stuck at shortstop more due to reputation than fielding success (how embarrassing would it be to move the team captain off his position when he's supposed to be ending his great career with dignity???).

Blandino seems to have pretty average skills across the board, will he become a great hitter to offset fielding concerns like Hanley Ramirez?  Will he become a household name like Jeter?  Is he the next superstar?  I'm very skeptical on all counts... it seems like being able to play shortstop signifies Blandino's best chance to be a standout player, and merely something they've deemed worth exploring at the moment...

All I was really saying is that it probably won't be as simple as "can he stick at shortstop?" It strikes me as a little too black and white. If black means he can stick at shortstop and white means he's a terrible defender, he's going to be some shade of gray, hopefully a dark enough shade that we don't mind playing him at short, i.e., Jhonny Peralta.