Todd Walker to get 1B eligibility

[teddyballgamemvp]

According to The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan, Chicago Cubs 2B Todd Walker could shift over to first base and take over for 1B Derrek Lee (wrist) while Lee is out with a broken right wrist. Walker has backed up Lee at the position this year after only playing first in nine games prior to this season.

Walker should be owned in all leagues, IMO.

[Philliebuster]

Curious as to why you think that...this doesn't mean he will start hitting like a 1B. Please elaborate.

[teddyballgamemvp]

Curious as to why you think that...this doesn't mean he will start hitting like a 1B. Please elaborate.

Because he's a reasonable 2B starter in 10+ team leagues, and being able to plug him in at 1B in a pinch makes him completely worth the spot. He'll also probably hit higher in the order. And he won't be out of the lineup on any day unless he asks out.

[5]

I actually think he had more value with D.Lee in the lineup. The 1B elig. helps though.

[teddyballgamemvp]

I actually think he had more value with D.Lee in the lineup. The 1B elig. helps though.

Yes, but Lee will be back. So, you get Walker with 2B/1B eligibility hitting high in the lineup now and still having the 1B later on.

[5]

OK, I think we agree here

[ingov]

IMO, any team in mixed leagues needing to play Walker at 1st is in pretty bad shape.

[TonyCee]

IMO, any team in mixed leagues needing to play Walker at 1st is in pretty bad shape.

Word. It works the other way around, if he was a 1B and got eligibility at 2B than he gains value, sticking a 2nd baseman at 1st base doesn't help unless that player is a superstar.

[bAsKeTcAsE86]

Since when is having 1B eligibility valuable? Practically every player who is eligible at multiple positions can play there. Maybe if he could play SS or 3B, his value would be increased, but I'm not buying his 1B eligibility being a big deal. I guess if you own him, he will probably get more ABs, and bat higher in the lineup with Lee out, so that could be beneficial?

[AKhomebrewer]

I'm not convinced this changes anything for Walker (time will tell, though).

What Lee's injury does is open up more time at 2b for Hairston/Neifi when Walker moves over to 1b. But they've got Mabry raking pretty well at the moment, so he'll probably play first and Walker will continue to sit against lefties.

Unless I'm wrong ...