It isn't that often you see a player shift from the outfield to the infield. Well, perhaps it happens more often than you'd think with guys going from a corner outfield spot to a corner infield spot. Sure, guys who lose a step can easily transition to 1B and just stand around and make catches. But how often do you see Brewster MVPs shifting from an outfield spot to a middle infield spot?
"I'd have to say it's pretty rare" laughed Greg Squires. "I can't name too many, heck I can't name anyone, that's ever done it before me. Though I'm sure it has happened."
That's exactly what Squires has done. Last season, due to Portland's inability to find anyone who could play the position of 2B, manager Mons Raider asked Squires if he felt comfortable enough to make the transition. "I knew he had a played a little bit of middle infield in the minors" said Raider, "but I wasn't sure how comfortable he was there."
"I played like 4 games there total" added Squires again with a laugh. "I'm sure I told skip exactly how much time I had gotten there. I may have led him to believe I played there quite a bit. But yeah, I think I got a couple games at 2B and a few more at short during my stay in the minors. It wasn't much."
But that hasn't stopped Raider from using Squires at 2b last season and going into this season. And to this point in 2063, Squires is making the most of the position. Squires played 82 games last season at 2B, and while he didn't put up award chasing defensive numbers, he wasn't terrible either. The same can be said for his play this year. "Many forget this guy was a candidate for a Gold Glove in the outfield" commented Raider. "We moved a quality fielder to make room on the roster and in the Iineup for other guys. We needed a 2B and he was willing to give it a shot."
"I'm an outfielder at heart" Squires said, "but I also want to win. Whatever I need to do to get us back to the post-season and after another shot at the Landis I'm willing to do. Sure, my ego may take a hit from time to time when I misplay a ball at 2B, but winning ball games eases that embarassment. And that's the goal here, to win ball games."
And help win Squires is doing. His .306/.341/.529 start to the season has helped boost Portland to a 14-5 start to the season and good enough for a tie of the best record in the Brewster. His inferior defense at 2B hasn't shown to hurt the club any as his 0.8 WAR currently leads all Frick League second basemen. The 24 year old, now secondbaseman, is set to be a free agent at season's end. He's now making the team look long and hard at a contract extension as the team's 2B of the future.
