Mazz Podcast: Mo Vaughn Explains The Challenges Awaiting Hanley Ramirez At First Base
BOSTON (CBS) -- Hanley Ramirez is in the process of making his second position shift in as many years, this time transitioning over to first base.
Considering Ramirez is a former MLB shortstop, the move should theoretically be fairly easy. Yet, as Hanley showed last year in left field, some skills are non-transferrable.
To get a better idea of the challenges that Ramirez will be facing, Tony Massarotti called up former Red Sox All-Star Mo Vaughn.
So, Mo, it's true that playing first base is easy, right?
"I think that's not true at all," Vaughn told Mazz. "It's a very tough position that other Red Sox in the past have tried to play. It's just very awkward. First, you're very close to the hitter, [especially] lefties. If you're right-handed, you've got to figure out how to turn and wheel on a double play. But just playing the angles, digging out balls, it's something that when it's done correctly, you don't notice it. So you've got to play first baseman like a Don Mattingly (back in my day) or a Keith Hernandez or those guys. You really don't understand what they do, because they don't make mistakes.
"But if you get somebody out there who really doesn't know what's going on, it can be overwhelming. Just knowing your throwers, where the ball's coming from, how to pick, and also the infielders expect you to pick up balls. It looks easy on TV and it looks easy as it's coming, but it's difficult to do."
Bottom line, Vaughn said, "The first baseman is expected to pick up your infielders?"
Can Hanley do it?
"He's a good athlete," Vaughn said. "He's a good guy, too. He's a good athlete. He played shortstop. The only thing is that the ball is going to get on him a little bit faster, so he's got to get set early. He's a good athlete. I think he'll be able to make an adjustment. But just don't assume because it's first base that you can just stick anybody over there and they're going to get it, because there's a lot to it. And as I said, if it's done right, you never notice it."
Listen to the podcast below:
