Second Base Is A Bad Idea for Jason Kipnis

It has been an extremely disappointing season for Jason Kipnis. After coming off of an all-star season last year and signing a six-year, $52.5 million extension, he has struggled immensely this season. It didn’t help matters either as he missed most of May with a strained oblique injury. Ever since that injury, he has not been the same player he was last season defensively or offensively. Coming into the game against the Houston Astro, Kipnis is batting ..243 with 6 homeruns and 41 RBI’s. That is a far cry from last year’s stats as he was batting .284 with 17 homeruns and 84 RBI’s.

A player making his amount of money should be hitting .290 at the least.

He doesn’t attribute his struggles to the injury.  “It’s been a bunch of things. I’ve learned a lot from it. I’ve grown from it. I’ve definitely learned to handle this game, the ups, downs, a lot better,” Kipnis said. That isn’t the answer most fans want to hear from their  supposed “franchise player.” There is speculation that Kipnis is alot more hurt than most know, however some fans believe he is just having an awful year which couldn’t happen at a worst time.

 It’s been a bunch of things. I’ve learned a lot from it. I’ve grown from it. I’ve definitely learned to handle this game, the ups, downs, a lot better,”

Coming into 2014, the Indians were supposed to build upon a great season in which the Tribe went to the playoffs for the first time since 2007. It has been the total opposite. They are now seven games out of the second wildcard spot and six out of the division lead. With only a few weeks left, the chance they make up those games and go on a hot streak is bleak. They just do not have the hitting or consistency and Kipnis is a big part of that.

Most fans will say that Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn have been an even bigger disappointment, in which they have, but they aren’t the future of the team, Kipnis is. He doesn’t have as many strikeouts as he did last year with 143 ( 96 this year), but he seems to strikeout at the most inopportune times and can’t seem to ever catch up to an opposing pitchers slider. He is also swinging at pitches that go in the dirt which is something he rarely did at all last season.

Aug 19, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) fields a ground ball against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

While Kipnis has struggled at the plate, he has struggled even more at second base. Countless times during this season he has failed to make the simple relay to first base and it has came back to hurt the Indians as the game went on. He holds on to the ball too long instead of just taking the ball and throwing it to first base. This is especially an issue when a double-play is in order. His fielding has taken a step back as well.  He is letting the ball play him instead of the opposite this year and it has led to many errors. He is also overplaying and misjudging where the ball will land on popups and on diving plays. Kipnis has been a bit lazy on easy plays instead of hustling as he did a year ago.

It has been quite the adventure. However I do believe there is a cure to these struggles of Kipnis. Put him back at his natural position in the outfield.  Coming out of Arizona State it is where he was most successful at and likely caught the eye of scouts. Who would be the replacement at second base? Jose Ramirez. Ramirez has proven in just his short time up here that he is above average defensively at second base and has already made numerous tough plays. He would be able to platoon there with Zach Walters if that is what Francona desired.

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An infield of Ramirez and future prospect Francisco Lindor would be entertaining and interesting for years to come. This move would be less wear and tear on Kipnis and it wouldn’t effect his hitting as it is now.  Most importantly it is his natural position and he wouldn’t have to think as much as he does now at second. Where in the loaded outfield would you put him? He played left and center field in college and obviously he isn’t going to replace Bourn in center and certainly not Michael Brantley at left. That would leave right field. The Indians have needed a right fielder ever since Manny Ramirez left in 2000.  Shin-Soo Choo was average but his defense was abysmal.

The conversion would be an easier transition since he is familiar out there and it could help his game completely. The Tribe needs to stop converting guys from their original positions and let them play where they are most comfortable.